After eight years, Al Hutchinson is leaving his position as president and CEO of Visit Baltimore, the official destination sales and marketing organization for the City of Baltimore.
Visit Baltimore announced on Thursday that Hutchinson has decided not to renew his contract when it expires on June 30.
A committee made up of six members of the Baltimore Convention & Tourism Board (BCTB), led by Chair Charles “Chuck” Tildon III, has been formed to help ensure a smooth transition, and Hutchinson has agreed to stay on in a consultant role to assist with the transition at least until his successor is identified, the organization said.
“Serving as President & CEO of Visit Baltimore has been the opportunity of a lifetime,” Hutchinson said in a statement. “It has been the most challenging job that I’ve ever had and also the most fulfilling. After careful consideration, I’ve decided to step back from full-time executive leadership to focus on other personal interests and opportunities, once my existing contract concludes. Baltimore’s potential as a premier destination continues to flourish, and the foundation we’ve built over the past several years ensures that our city’s tourism industry will continue to thrive.”
Visit Baltimore is a non-profit organization that works to generate economic benefits for stakeholders through the attraction of convention, group and leisure visitors. In 2023, an estimated 27.5 million people visited Baltimore for overnight and day trips, generating a total of $4 billion to the city’s economy
The organization put out a list of “milestones that transformed the city’s tourism landscape” during Hutchinson’s tenure. They include:
- Record-breaking visitation of 27.5 million visitors in 2023, with domestic travel generating $4 billion for the city’s economy
- Winning the bid to host the prestigious 2033 American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) Annual Meeting and Exposition, projected to generate $15-$18 million in economic impact for Baltimore
- Establishing a Tourism Improvement District, which provides additional resources directly from the city’s hotels towards sales and marketing efforts that generate tax revenue from visitors
- Leading a full marketing rebrand and launching “Smalltimore,” an innovative mobile visitor center that showcases Baltimore’s arts, history and culture
- Fostering initiatives built on social inclusion, such as the Warm Welcome Program, BoP Pass, Apprenticeships and an enduring National HBCU Scholarship
- Securing Baltimore as the host city for the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournament, which generated $32.5 million in economic impact, $3.1 million in state and local taxes, and created 1,315 part-time and full-time jobs in 2024. CIAA will return to Baltimore February 25-March 1 for the fifth year and is committed to the city through 2026.
- Strengthening community partnerships by highlighting local artists and makers while celebrating local visionaries who have enhanced the city’s cultural landscape and tourist appeal.
“Under Al’s transformative leadership, Baltimore’s tourism industry has thrived, bringing visitors, investment and new opportunities to our city,” Mayor Brandon M. Scott said in a statement. “We are grateful for Al’s many contributions to Baltimore. His commitment to telling positive, community-focused stories that showcase the breadth and diversity of our neighborhoods has set the stage for a bright future.”
“Al’s vision and dedication have been instrumental in elevating Baltimore’s profile on the national stage,” Tildon said in a statement. “Under his leadership, we’ve seen Baltimore transform into a destination that not only attracts significant leisure visitation but also draws marquee conventions and events that drive critical economic impact for the city. His most enduring legacy is the world-class team he has built and the collaborative culture he has fostered within the organization.”
In a phone interview on Thursday, Tildon said he learned about Hutchinson’s decision in early January. He said the Convention & Tourism board was just starting to talk about renewing his three-year contract when Hutchinson told him that he had decided not to renew it. Tildon said his board was prepared to extend Hutchinson’s contract.
“I want to be very clear that this was wholly Al’s decision and the board would have kept him – not only for another three-year contract but probably more, if we could have,” Tildon said. “This was Al’s decision and we are supporting him because he has been so instrumental to the growth of tourism in Baltimore…We the board are a little broken-hearted, but we are also happy for Al following his own path.”
Asked if he tried to get Hutchinson to change his mind, Tildon said he didn’t. He said Hutchinson had thought about his decision so much and was so firm about it that he didn’t think he could have persuaded him.
“We as a board were just beginning our conversations about what his new contract should look like, and when Al told me of his plans and desires, he was so clear that even if I had wanted to counter, he had clearly thought this through,” Tildon said. “So no, I didn’t.”
Tildon, who was on the search committee that recommended Hutchinson, said the new committee hasn’t met yet but will do so in the near future. At this point, “we’re at Square One,” he said.
He said he’s grateful that Hutchinson gave Visit Baltimore five month’s advance notice and has offered to stay on during a transition period, but his departure will still be a big loss.
“Al is a very gifted leader and he has built a very, very strong team, and I think to the extent that we can create continuity, with his leadership helping to guide this transition, I think we’re all going to be better off,” Tildon said.
At the same time, “it’s a loss for the city,” he said. “Because he is a national leader in tourism and he is sort of a beloved leader locally, yes, it is a loss. We’re not mourning. We’re happy for him. But we’ll miss him.”
