HAGERSTOWN, Md. — Tourism remains an important part of Washington County’s economy. In 2025, visitors spent $352.7 million and supported more than 3,200 local jobs, according to an annual report shared with the county commissioners.
Dan Spedden, who leads the Hagerstown-Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau, shared the findings at the commissioners’ Oct. 13 meeting. He talked about tourism’s economic impact, hotel growth, sports tournaments, and marketing efforts to bring more visitors to the area.
The report says about 1.38 million people visited Washington County in 2025. They spent money at restaurants, hotels, shops, attractions, and on transportation.
Tourism provided 3,232 jobs, making up 7.8 percent of the county’s workforce and 5.7 percent of local labor income.
Spedden said the county could grow its tourism economy by adding more attractions, places to stay, and activities for visitors.
Restaurants lead visitor spending
Visitors spent the most on food and drinks, which made up 29 percent of the $352.7 million total.
Transportation was next at 23 percent, followed by lodging at 19 percent, retail at 17 percent, and recreation at 12 percent.
Spedden pointed out that visitors spend more at local restaurants than on hotels, showing that tourism helps more than just the lodging industry.
Even though recreation is the smallest spending category, Spedden said it is still one of the county’s top draws.
Most visitors come to Washington County for its state and national parks, and using the recreational trails is the most popular activity.
Places like the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park, the Western Maryland Rail Trail, and other outdoor spots attract people looking for affordable recreation.
Spedden explained that many of these attractions are free or low-cost. This means people spend less on recreation itself, but it creates more business for nearby restaurants, hotels, and shops.
Hotel development supports tourism growth
The report showed that the county’s lodging industry has grown a lot since the Convention and Visitors Bureau started in 1997.
In 1998, visitors spent about $14.2 million on lodging in Washington County, or about $39,100 each day.
By 2025, that number had grown to $46.9 million a year, or about $128,600 per day.
Washington County now has 63 places to stay that collect lodging taxes, including hotels, bed-and-breakfasts, guesthouses, and short-term rentals.
The county’s 39 regular hotels offer 2,441 rooms.
The number of rooms grew in February 2026 when Tru by Hilton opened, adding 100 more rooms.
More development is happening, including a new hotel on All Star Court that should open in April 2027.
Spedden also talked about the Fairfield Inn on Dual Highway, which plans to add 72 suites and reach a total of 172 rooms.
The expanded hotel might also add a restaurant in the future, giving visitors more options.
The Convention and Visitors Bureau funds itself through lodging taxes, membership dues, advertising, and other sources.
Spedden said the bureau still operates on revenue equal to 3 percent of total lodging spending, as it did when it first started.
Youth sports bring thousands of visitors to Washington County
Sports tourism is playing a bigger role in the local economy, especially through tournaments that bring athletes and their families from other areas.
The Hagerstown Softball Association held tournaments that brought 368 teams to Washington County over the summer.
Spedden said each team usually brings at least 15 athletes, plus parents, siblings and other family members.
These visitors increase demand for hotel rooms, restaurants, and local businesses.
The Convention and Visitors Bureau also helped with the Hub City Showdown, a youth football tournament with over 50 teams from the Mid-Atlantic region.
The event used athletic facilities at North Hagerstown High School, South Hagerstown High School, and Saint James School.
Players and their families stayed in local hotels for three nights.
Another growing event is a volleyball tournament run by We Build, You Play, which brought 70 teams to the Hagerstown Fieldhouse.
Spedden said the organizers plan to come back and grow the tournament, possibly reaching 150 teams and using more facilities at Hagerstown Community College.
This event is especially helpful because it happens in February, when hotel bookings are usually at their lowest.
The bureau is also looking to host events like the USA Softball Eastern National Championship, the USA BMX Northeast Gold Cup, and amateur and youth golf tournaments.
These events are still in the planning stage and haven’t been confirmed yet.
Marketing campaigns target regional travelers
The Convention and Visitors Bureau keeps investing in ads to encourage people to visit Washington County or stay longer.
One big campaign targets drivers on Interstate 81, promoting the county as a convenient place to stop for hotels, restaurants, shopping and recreation.
The campaign, created with Manning Media, made about 5.3 million advertising impressions from January to October 5, 2026.
The bureau spent $132,400 on the campaign, which uses digital ads, online videos, connected TV ads, and electronic billboards.
Spedden also discussed a cheaper social media campaign promoting day trips to towns in Washington County.
Videos about places like Smithsburg and Williamsport are shown to people in the Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia, and Harrisburg areas.
One video released in July got about 26,100 views, reaching people not just in Maryland but in other states and countries too.
The campaign cost less than $1,000, showing that even small marketing budgets can spark interest in local places.
Tourism bureau expands training and visitor outreach
The Hagerstown-Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau, which started in 1997, will celebrate its 30th anniversary in July 2027.
The organization represents over 300 businesses in lodging, restaurants, retail, recreation, attractions, and services.
In 2026, the bureau started a Certified Destination Ambassador training program with Hagerstown Community College.
The program gives hospitality workers and volunteers information about local attractions, customer service, and tourism resources.
Spedden said the program is meant to help frontline workers promote Washington County when visitors ask for suggestions.
The bureau also attends travel industry conferences, organizes tours for travel professionals, and works with travel writers to promote local attractions.
A recent Maryland Motor Coach Association event brought 325 group travel leaders to Washington County, where they visited 40 member businesses.
Historic tourism offers additional opportunities
The bureau announced that a property at 125 W. Washington St. in Hagerstown was recently added to the National Park Service’s Underground Railroad Network to Freedom.
This historic property, near the Miller House, is linked to documented escapes from slavery in 1847 and 1854.
Spedden credited historical research for helping with the designation and said the bureau is working to get recognition for three more properties.
This designation gives the county another way to promote its history to visitors interested in heritage tourism.
Continued investment expected
The Convention and Visitors Bureau also got grant funding for tourism projects, like a new visitor center, heritage tourism marketing and promoting Meritus Park.
Spedden pointed out that these grants can only be used for certain projects and don’t cover the bureau’s regular operations.
The commissioners thanked the organization for promoting Washington County and helping local businesses.
Spedden said that keeping up investment in attractions, places to stay, sports events, and marketing is key to growing tourism’s impact on the local economy.
The bureau’s annual report shows that tourism is about more than just vacations. It brings business to restaurants, hotels, shops, and other businesses all over Washington County.
