EDC launches tourism and hospitality master plan process; consultants to phase actions

The St. Mary's County Economic Development Commission on Sept. 16 received a kickoff update on a tourism and hospitality master plan and heard that consulting principals will lead a phased approach with early, implementable steps.

Bill (EDC member) and Phil (EDC member) reported on two meetings held the prior week with the consultant team, and identified Dan Fenton and Bethany Parker as the two principals who will work directly with the commission. Bill said he was “pleased with the contractor so far” and noted the firm's principals will be personally involved.

Phil said he was “pleasantly pleased” with the consultants' introductions and commended their plan to identify near‑term actions while working toward longer‑range goals. The commissioners emphasized that the plan should produce some results early without relying entirely on large financial investments.

Commission staff said the tourism and hospitality master plan will be a chapter of the county's Strategic Economic Development Strategy (SEDS) and will be integrated into that broader document. The consultants originally proposed a one‑year timeline for ample community input; staff said they asked the consultants to return with a shortened schedule that still allows adequate outreach. The consultants will be introduced to the commission in a future meeting, possibly in November, to present scope of work and gather input.

Materials provided to commissioners include stated objectives for the tourism and hospitality master plan; staff asked members to review those objectives before the next meeting.