Click each section below to learn more about the activities planned for each day during the 2023 MATPRA Media Marketplace.

3:00 pm – 6:00 pm: MATPRA Board Retreat at Pinstripes

Presented by: Pinstripes

10 am – 5 pm: DMO and Media Registration Opens in Canopy Ballroom past Hello Betty

Don’t forget to pick up your exclusive 2023 MATPRA Media Marketplace tote bag, presented by Upper Bay Best Bets – Maryland’s Harford, Cecil and Kent Counties. Tote bag goodies include a special gift from Juniata River Valley Visitors Bureau and Explore York. Stay hydrated with your refillable water bottle provided by Visit Hagerstown. Lanyards are sponsored by Visit PA.

3:00 pm: DMO and Media Hotel Room Check-In Available at Canopy

Canopy’s front desk and lobby are located on the third floor of the hotel. Elevators are easily accessible inside the front entrance. All Marketplace activities, including the registration table, are also located on the third floor past the Hello Betty restaurant.

Valet parking is available at the Canopy for $35 per night. Self-parking is available in three parking structures within a 5-minute walk of the hotel for $25 per night. Valet parking is provided for media.

MATPRA Annual Meeting at AMP by Strathmore – DMO Only

• 1:00 pm – 2:15 pm: DMO Welcome Mix and Mingle
• 2:30 pm – 3:15 pm: MATPRA Members Annual Meeting
• 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm: MATPRA Professional Development

5:00 pm – 6:15 pm: Welcome Reception at Hello Betty Boat Bar at Canopy

NOTE: The media portion of the event begins here.

Enjoy a signature cocktail around an authentic Chesapeake fishing boat converted into one of the most Instagrammed rooftop bars in Montgomery County. Hello Betty Boat Bar is located outside with shade covers and lounge chairs.

Presented by: Maryland’s Eastern Shore Destinations – Caroline County, Queen Anne’s County, Talbot County and Wicomico County

6:15 pm: Board Motorcoaches for a Welcome Farm-to-Table Dinner Experience

6:30 pm: Depart for the Comus Inn

Once you depart the Canopy, enjoy a leisurely ride along Maryland’s C&O Canal Scenic Byway to Montgomery County’s 93,000-Agricultural Reserve to The Comus Inn. Learn about the C&O Canal Experience with a discussion and trivia presented by Visit Hagerstown & Visit Frederick.

7:15 pm – 9:00 pm: Welcome Farm-to-Table Dinner in Montgomery County’s 93,000-acre Agricultural Reserve at The Comus Inn

Offering unequaled panoramic views, sweeping landscapes and historic charm, The Comus Inn is located on 5.26 stunning acres at the base of Sugarloaf Mountain in Montgomery County, Maryland. With sprawling park-like grounds, The Comus Inn provides ample exploration and play opportunities for adults and children alike.

Presented by: Visit Montgomery, Maryland Office of Tourism and Comus Inn

9:00 pm: Begin boarding motorcoach #1 for the Canopy

9:15 pm: Begin boarding motorcoach #2 for the Canopy

9:30 pm: Begin departing motorcoaches for the Canopy, stagger departure

6:00 am – 8:30 am: Marketplace Room Available for DMO Setup at Pinstripes

6:30 am – 7:30 am: Casual Walk or Run on Bethesda Trolley Trail (optional)

Enjoy a casual walk or run along the Bethesda Trolley Trail, surrounding the Pike & Rose neighborhood. This former rail line is now a dynamic urban greenway that provides the most direct link between Bethesda and Rockville for bicyclists, runners and pedestrians. This is an optional, self-guided experience.

7:30 am – 8:30 am: Casual Breakfast at Pinstripes

Breakfast will be located across the street from the Canopy at Pinstripes. Enjoy breakfast with sweeping views of Pike & Rose on Pinstripes’ rooftop lounge, next to the Marketplace ballroom. The ballroom is located on the second floor.

Presented by: Pinstripes

8:30 am – 11:30 am: MATPRA Media Marketplace at Pinstripes

Meet with destination representatives from Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania and Delaware. Media check-in will be required before entering the Marketplace show floor. Destinations are assigned table numbers and are clustered by state. Journalists are free to meet with destinations representative at their leisure.

Presented by: Pinstripes

11:30 am – noon: DMO Marketplace Tear Down and Media Prepare for FAMS

While destination representatives tear down their Marketplace tables, media attendees have the opportunity to prepare for an afternoon of touring Montgomery County.

Noon – 1:30 pm: Lunch in Canopy Ballroom

Return to Canopy for an engaging lunch in the Canopy ballroom. Enjoy a panel discussion “Presenting Your Destination Through a Different Lens” Panelist include Chris Temple, Director of Communications, VisitErie (PA)| Angela Kuemmel, Journalist | Tykesha Burton, Travel & Lifestyle Journalist and Photographer

Presented by: Visit Howard County, Maryland

1:45 pm: Begin Boarding for Themed Familiarization (FAM) Tours

Transportation Presented by: Visit Frederick

2:00 pm – 5:15 pm: Themed Familiarization (FAM) Tours

Meet the motorcoach assigned to your FAM tour at the Canopy entrance.

FAM Tours:

• Tastemakers Trail & Culinary Delights
  • The Crossvines
  • Marriott Gaithersburg Washingtonian
• Network to Freedom
  • Josiah Henson Museum & Park, Montgomery Parks
  • Sandy Spring Museum
• National Parks Experience
  • Glen Echo Park
  • C&O Canal Trust

Presented by: Visit Montgomery Attraction Partners Listed Above

5:45 pm: Begin Boarding for Hotel Dine Around

6:00 pm – 8:45 pm: Hotel Dine Around

Montgomery County is a hospitality hub with Marriott International, Choice Hotels, PM Hotel Group and other hospitality companies headquartered in the county. Enjoy a unique spin on a traditional dine around by visiting three of Montgomery County’s premier hotels during a progressive dinner experience.

Attendees will be split into two groups and assigned a dine around tour.

• Hotel Dine Around 1: Bethesda Hotels
  • Bethesda Marriott
  • The Bethesdan Hotel, Tapestry Collection by Hilton
  • AC Hotel by Marriott Bethesda Downtown
• Hotel Dine Around 2: Rockville/Gaithersburg Hotels
  • Bethesda North Marriott Hotel & Conference Center
  • DoubleTree by Hilton Washington DC North/Gaithersburg
  • Best Western Premier Rockville Hotel & Suites

Presented by: Visit Montgomery Hotel Partners Listed Above

7:30 am – 8:30 am: Casual Breakfast at Hello Betty

Breakfast will be located in the Canopy restaurant. Each attendee will receive a voucher in their welcome bag for their meal and can order from the menu.

8:30 am: Begin Boarding for Community Immersion FAMS

8:45 am – 11:45 am: Community Immersion FAMS

Meet the motorcoach in front of the Canopy and explore a selection of Montgomery County’s downtown communities and attractions. Attendees are assigned one of two Community Immersion FAMs. Presented by: Visit Montgomery Attraction Partners Listed Below

North Bethesda and Rockville

• Music Center by Strathmore
• MWBC Shop Local Incubator Store
• Rockville Town Center

Silver Spring and Takoma Park

• Main Street Takoma
• AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center

1:00 pm – 3:30 pm: Marketplace Conclusion and Lunch at Pinstripes

We will return to Pinstripes for the conclusion lunch that will include a brief program, 2024 Marketplace location reveal and more.

Be sure to attend the conclusion lunch to take part in the MoCo Makers Meet & Greet! Destination representatives and media will be given three tokens to “purchase” goods from local makers including The Joyful Bath, Rustic Root Coffee, Open Book Chocolate, Green Papaya, Dress It Up Dressing and Lynda’s Glassworks.

Presented by: Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC)

3:30 pm: 2023 MATPRA Media Marketplace Concludes