Destination: Montgomery County, MD
Montgomery County, Maryland is in one of the most bustling regions in the nation, the Capital Region.
Montgomery County communities include: Silver Spring; Pike & Rose; Bethesda/Chevy Chase; Rockville; and RIO Washingtonian in Gaithersburg.
“Planners tell us time and again that they love our vibrant communities and urban districts because they are a ‘one- stop-shop’ of amenities that attendees are looking for, includ- ing: dining, attractions, entertainment options and shopping - all within a safe walking distance to their chosen meeting location,” states Kelly R. Groff, CDME, president and CEO of Visit Montgomery, MD.
Montgomery County is just north of Washington, DC and has several hotels and unique venues positioned along the Metro Red Line with easy access into downtown DC. Planners also have three airport options for their attendees: Ronald Reagan National; Dulles Inter-national; and Baltimore Washington Thurgood Marshall International.
“There are nearly 50 hotels and 10,000 hotel rooms within the county,” explains Groff. “Our non-traditional meeting and event spaces give event professionals a variety of options from which to select, including the Bolger Center, Silver Spring Civic Building, AMP by Strathmore, Pin Stripes, and iPic.”
“Our cultural and entertainment attractions serve as one of our best amenities,” she continues. “In 2001, Maryland creat- ed a program that designates Arts and Entertainment Districts throughout the state. These districts help develop and pro- mote community involvement and tourism to attract artists, arts organizations and other creative enterprises. There are 25 of these districts in the state of Maryland, and Montgomery County has three: Wheaton, Silver Spring and Bethesda.”
With over 1,000 restaurants and a variety of local breweries, there is no shortage of world-class cuisine in the county.
Perhaps one of its most unique offerings, however, is its Agricultural Reserve. In 1980, the Montgomery County Council created a 93,000-acre zone in the northwestern part of the county to preserve farm land and rural space. This farmland protection program is one-of-a-kind in the U.S. Through this area, attendees can partake in various tourism activities that include flower farms, an animal sanctuary for abused, stray and neglected farm animals, a cable ferry that’s been operated since 1782, a glass blowing studio and more.
“The availability of options for transportation to a destination is important,” says Groff. “In Montgomery County,
the Metro
Red Line and proximity to three airports… makes it easier for attendees to arrive at the destination.” “Additionally,” she con- tinues, “we find that often our hotel partners are priced very competitively in comparison to Washington, DC, where plan- ners can often struggle with availability, pricing and logistics.” As for ways to help planners reduce costs, she suggests plan-
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