experience.expand.explore
   
     attractions   |   events   |   accommodations   |   dining    
 
GET THE GUIDE 
 
 
 
GET THE
APP
ExplorePGC 
The official mobile app of things to see, do & discover in Prince George's
 
 
GET THE
INSIDE STORY
Join Our Mailing List
  
TOURISM NEWS & NOTES
JANUARY 2015
Prince George's County Tourism News & Notes is presented by the Prince George's County Conference & Visitors Bureau (CVB), the official Destination Marketing Organization of Prince George's County.
APP-SOLUTELY, BEST NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION - EXPERIENCE, EXPAND, EXPLORE PRINCE GEORGE'S!
Mobile tourism app provides easy access to attractions, events, dining, hotels, and more...
The CVB's ExplorePGC app puts Prince George's County at your fingertips with quick and easy access to the many amenities that make Prince George's a wonderful place to visit, live, work, play, and do business. Experience attractions, events, dining, and hotels at your fingertips. The FREE ExplorePGC mobile app is available on

ONE OF MID-ATLANTIC'S MOST POPULAR AIR SHOWS PREPARES FOR TAKE-OFF AGAIN IN 2015

After a two year absence, the big Air Show is back at Andrews, Sept. 19...       
The Defense Dept's free Joint Service Open House & Air Show returns to Prince George's on September 19. After a two-year hiatus, it's a welcomed addition to the County's exciting menu of events for 2015. Along with other magnificent aerial acts, one of the "show-stoppers" will be the Air Force Thunderbirds.
  
This will be the first air show at Joint Base Andrews since 2012. In 2013, due to dramatic defense budget cuts for community outreach programs, officials could not say when and whether the popular event would ever return. Important to note that the event is now one day (Saturday), instead of its usual two. In 2012, it drew over 200,000 patrons. Full details will be announced, but mark your calendar. 

COUNTY BRAND ON A ROLL, MESSAGE MAKES WAY ACROSS THE REGION

Joining radio ads, the new PGC Experience.Expand.Explore campaign travels on for 2015...  
 
Have you seen it...those beautiful signs extolling the wonders of Prince George's County? For the past few weeks, along select routes, Metrobus and the County's local transit bus have been traversing the region with the exciting Experence.Expand.Explore message. The Metrobus pictured is in downtown DC - encouraging area residents, commuters, and tourists to experience PGC. The bus wraps join an integrated marketing campaign that includes advertising, social med, billboards, and other signage throughout the DMV.
HIE & SUITES LARGO UNDERGOES MILLION DOLLAR RENNO, COMPLETION EXPECTED EARLY SPRING 
Property will be fully operational during the interior & exterior upgrades...
The New Year will bring a new stay at the Holiday Inn Express I-95 Capital Beltway. The Largo property is currently undergoing a top-to-bottom Million Dollar renovation.

The interior enhancements will be finished within a couple of months, and the exterior makeover will be completed early Spring.

 

Patriot Hospitality owns and operates this franchised hotel. "We feel optimistic that our investment in this market will be worthwhile as the area is growing substantially with corporate developments all around the area." said Shuneda Sterrett, VP of Sales & Marketing for Patriot Hospitality.

WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND, AS DC VEGAN BISTRO SETS TABLE FOR CP
PGC-inspired dine spot makes name in DC, now looks to expand in College Park...      
Here's the scenario. The former Everlasting Life Vegan Cafe in DC was once affiliated with Prince George's County's Everlasting Life Vegan Restaurant & Lounge (in Capitol Heights). About five years ago, that DC location was sold (by original owner Dr. Baruch Ben-Yehudah - who also owns E-Life Capitol Heights). New owners Mickiyah & Vernon Woodland, after a brief stint as Everlasting Life Cafe, decided it was time to rename the baby. Henceforth, Woodlands Vegan Bistro was born. Now, the Woodlands are bringing their southern/soul vegan nameplate to Prince George's County.
  
Important to note that this new southern/soul vegan bistro - although sharing a similar nameplate - is not in any way related to Langley Park's very popular Woodlands Vegetarian/Indian Restaurant.  
  
Woodland's Vegan Bistro is schedule to open in February at 8150 Baltimore Ave at The Varsity in College Park. They also operate a very popular food truck, so keep an eye open for them to possibly pop up at Prince George's County foodie events. 

YELP ME! USING SITE DATA, UMD RESEARCH FORECASTS DC RESTAURANT SUCCESS OR FAILURE

Using database from the popular website, team at University of MD finds keys to restaurant viability...      
Forget UMD's popular slogan, "Fear the turtle". Area restaurants need to "Hear the turtle". Using data from the crowd-sourced review site "Yelp", a team from the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business were able to calculate the formula for Washington, DC restaurant success or failure.
AS COUNTY WELCOMES FAMOUS DAVE'S LARGO, A SECOND UNIT ON THE PGC HORIZON
Famous Dave's fills long-standing Boulevard vacancy, with a bit of a twist...  

Sidelined no more. The new Famous Dave's at the Blvd at the Capital Centre in Largo brings a lot to the table. First, the long-vacant, massive space is now alive and kicking with the irresistible scent of "Q" - to the delight of families and rib seekers. Second, based on the footprint, its interior decor and mural ambiance is unique to this location. And third, this location will ultimately feature something most FD's do not - entertainment. This is Famous Dave's Bar-B-Que & Blues. The only other location with such a designation is the mothership in Minneapolis, MN. So, once the dry rub permeates, look for the restaurant to offer nights of jazz and blues.

 

The franchisee is Florida-based developer Eric Bachelor of Bachelor Restaurant Holdings, LLC. Bachelor has a variety of restaurant, real estate, and hotel ventures in his portfolio. Famous Dave's Largo is BRH's first under this brand. And, this is the first of a two-unit FD development deal in the county, so a second Famous Dave's location under BRH is in the works.

EXCITING EVENTS ON THE DECK THIS MONTH IN PRINCE GEORGE'S

Extraordinary things are happening every day in Prince George's. Here's a taste. Click each for details and visit us online (or on app) for more. 

 

jan 8 VINCENT E. THOMAS - VT DANCE Joe's Movement Emporium, Mt. Rainier

jan 15 TWELFTH NIGHT BALL Riversdale, Riverdale Park

jan 17 MEN'S B'BALL: TERPS VS MICHIGAN STATE Xfinity Center, UMD, College Park 

jan 24 32ND ANNUAL CHOREOGRAPHERS SHOWCASE Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, UMD, College Park

jan 24 POLAR BEAR PLUNGE National Harbor

jan 30-31 MACBETH The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, UMD, College Park

 

REPRESENT! MARYLAND TOURISM DAY, FEBRUARY 13

MARYLAND TOURISM DAY IN ANNAPOLIS
Maryland General Assembly 
State House | 100 State Circle
February 13, 2015    
Join the Coalition! This is a FREE legislative event & we need your support! Join tourism industry professionals from across the state as they meet with legislators and share stories about their businesses and the profound impact tourism has on Maryland's economy.
BY THE NUMBERS: TOURISM'S IMPACT IN PGC
Prince George's County Tourism's impact - thru visitation and taxes generated - runs across every aspect of development including lodging, food & beverage, retail, recreation, major events, transportation, and transportation-related services.
  • Visitors - Over 6 Million
  • Total Tourism Employment - Over 31,000
  • Total Tourism Tax Receipts (combined Federal, State/Local, Hotel) - $565,700,000
  • Admission/Amusement Taxes Collected - $15,860,936
  • Room Taxes Collected - $20,573,759
  • Tourism Promotion Act State Sales Taxes - $52,408,296

  • Total Direct Consumer Tax Impact - $88,842,991

Source: Tourism Economics, December 2014
   
9200 Basil Court, Suite 101

Largo, MD 20774

301.925.8300 | visitorinfo@co.pg.md.us

 

Visit us online at: