Black Meetings & Tourism - VISIT BALTIMORE LAUNCHES REFRESHED WARM WELCOME PROGRAM

Industry Briefs
VISIT BALTIMORE LAUNCHES REFRESHED WARM WELCOME PROGRAM
New Refreshed Content Includes Video from DEI Expert Deanna Singh Visit Baltimore is proud to announce the refresh of its award-winning Warm Welcome program, an initiative designed to promote inclusivity and exceptional hospitality throughout the city. This revamped program reinforces Baltimore’s commitment to being a welcoming destination for all visitors. New Warm Welcome content includes a video module created in collaboration with renowned diversity, equity and inclusion expert Deanna Singh, founder of Uplifting Impact, an organization dedicated to building bridges across differences and fostering inclusive leadership. This new resource offers tools for embracing differences through our daily interactions with guests and explores the benefits of welcoming people from all backgrounds, while providing tips on how to become a steward of inclusivity within their organizations. "It's been an honor to contribute to the Warm Welcome program, which gives Baltimore's hospitality community the tools to make every visitor feel they truly belong here,” said Deanna Singh, founder of Uplifting Impact. “When we lead with empathy and understanding, we create meaningful connections that benefit everyone." The initiative now features a refreshed web page, logo and brand completed in partnership with Coven, a Baltimore-based women-owned creative agency. As part of this transformation, Visit Baltimore will sunset the original Warm Welcome content to make way for updated materials, ensuring the resources remain current and relevant. Tourism Academy, will serve as the new online platform for Warm Welcome and more. When fully launched next year, it will become a hub for professional development with free courses to support Baltimore's hospitality sector, including resources that celebrate Baltimore’s rich cultural heritage and diverse community. Al Hutchinson "At Visit Baltimore, we recognize that the world is constantly evolving and that the needs of our community have grown in terms of relevant and dynamic diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility content” said Al Hutchinson, President and CEO of Visit Baltimore. “We are all humans who are trying to build a better world every day and this refresh provides a reminder to our hospitality community to welcome and embrace people from all backgrounds. We are excited to continue working with experts to create resources for our community that inspire allyship and foster ongoing education.” The Visit Baltimore Warm Welcome program aims to establish Baltimore as a top destination for all people, regardless of race, gender identity, nationality, ethnicity, disability and more. The program encourages local hotels, restaurants, attractions and other businesses to sign an online pledge committing to train their staff and stakeholders to use supportive, affirming language; inspire proactive allyship; encourage productive dialogue about race, accessibility and bias; and foster active listening and learning. Pledge signers receive a link to the exclusive training toolkit created specifically for the tourism and hospitality community in Baltimore. Once an organization completes the training with their entire staff, Visit Baltimore will provide a Warm Welcome window cling and lapel pins for staff to show visitors they are seen and respected in that place of business. Visit Baltimore is continuously working with local experts to enhance its Warm Welcome resources and has plans to release an additional module in 2025. For more on how the Warm Welcome Program works, visit the program landing page at Baltimore.org/Warm-Welcome. ABOUT VISIT BALTIMORE Visit Baltimore is the official sales and marketing arm for the City of Baltimore. The 501(c)(6) non-profit organization generates economic benefits for stakeholders through the attraction of convention, group and leisure visitors. In 2023, 27.5 million people visited Baltimore for overnight and day trips, generating a total of $4 billion to Baltimore’s economy. For more information, please visit Baltimore.org.

Industry Briefs

VISIT BALTIMORE LAUNCHES REFRESHED WARM WELCOME PROGRAM

New Refreshed Content Includes Video from DEI Expert Deanna Singh

Visit Baltimore is proud to announce the refresh of its award-winning Warm Welcome program, an initiative designed to promote inclusivity and exceptional hospitality throughout the city. This revamped program reinforces Baltimore’s commitment to being a welcoming destination for all visitors.

New Warm Welcome content includes a video module created in collaboration with renowned diversity, equity and inclusion expert Deanna Singh, founder of Uplifting Impact, an organization dedicated to building bridges across differences and fostering inclusive leadership. This new resource offers tools for embracing differences through our daily interactions with guests and explores the benefits of welcoming people from all backgrounds, while providing tips on how to become a steward of inclusivity within their organizations.

"It's been an honor to contribute to the Warm Welcome program, which gives Baltimore's hospitality community the tools to make every visitor feel they truly belong here,” said Deanna Singh, founder of Uplifting Impact. “When we lead with empathy and understanding, we create meaningful connections that benefit everyone."

The initiative now features a refreshed web page, logo and brand completed in partnership with Coven, a Baltimore-based women-owned creative agency. As part of this transformation, Visit Baltimore will sunset the original Warm Welcome content to make way for updated materials, ensuring the resources remain current and relevant. Tourism Academy, will serve as the new online platform for Warm Welcome and more. When fully launched next year, it will become a hub for professional development with free courses to support Baltimore's hospitality sector, including resources that celebrate Baltimore’s rich cultural heritage and diverse community.

Al Hutchinson

"At Visit Baltimore, we recognize that the world is constantly evolving and that the needs of our community have grown in terms of relevant and dynamic diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility content” said Al Hutchinson, President and CEO of Visit Baltimore. “We are all humans who are trying to build a better world every day and this refresh provides a reminder to our hospitality community to welcome and embrace people from all backgrounds. We are excited to continue working with experts to create resources for our community that inspire allyship and foster ongoing education.”

The Visit Baltimore Warm Welcome program aims to establish Baltimore as a top destination for all people, regardless of race, gender identity, nationality, ethnicity, disability and more. The program encourages local hotels, restaurants, attractions and other businesses to sign an online pledge committing to train their staff and stakeholders to use supportive, affirming language; inspire proactive allyship; encourage productive dialogue about race, accessibility and bias; and foster active listening and learning. Pledge signers receive a link to the exclusive training toolkit created specifically for the tourism and hospitality community in Baltimore.

Once an organization completes the training with their entire staff, Visit Baltimore will provide a Warm Welcome window cling and lapel pins for staff to show visitors they are seen and respected in that place of business. Visit Baltimore is continuously working with local experts to enhance its Warm Welcome resources and has plans to release an additional module in 2025.

For more on how the Warm Welcome Program works, visit the program landing page at Baltimore.org/Warm-Welcome.

ABOUT VISIT BALTIMORE

Visit Baltimore is the official sales and marketing arm for the City of Baltimore. The 501(c)(6) non-profit organization generates economic benefits for stakeholders through the attraction of convention, group and leisure visitors. In 2023, 27.5 million people visited Baltimore for overnight and day trips, generating a total of $4 billion to Baltimore’s economy. For more information, please visit Baltimore.org.