Did you know that Baltimore has experienced one of the largest millennial booms in the nation?
As you might have guessed, with that younger generation has come an influx of eclectic neighborhoods, restaurants, markets and breweries along with new hotels and waterfront renovations. “New developments in Baltimore are transforming its horizon, both literally and figuratively. Instead of wiping the character away from the city, hotels, restaurants and attractions are thoughtfully reusing historical spaces to bring old buildings back to life in a charming, sustainable way,” says President and CEO of Visit Baltimore Al Hutchinson. “This urban renaissance combined with Baltimore’s rich history, architecture and world class museums makes for an incredibly authentic, yet new, visitor experience.”
Here are some of the key developments for meeting planners to check out when considering Baltimore for meetings in the near future.
Sagamore Pendry Baltimore
On March 25, the 129-room Sagamore Pendry Baltimore set up shop atop the city’s iconic Recreation Pier overlooking the Inner Harbor. The property commemorates the pier’s history as a dance hall and social hub for Baltimore immigrants at the turn of the 20th century, especially in its 4,565-square-foot ballroom restored to its classic aesthetic. F&B highlights include the Rec Pier Chop House and The Cannon Room, an American whiskey bar.
Sagamore Spirit Distillery
Speaking of spirits, the Sagamore Spirit Distillery opened earlier this year in Port Covington. The five-acre complex takes groups on an exploration into how whiskey is made in the 22,000-sf distillery space. Tastings and tours of this waterfront space are available for group offsites.
Harbor Point
Harbor Point, the former industrial site of the old Allied Signal chromium plant property, is in the midst of a transformation into a 3 million sf mixed-use development with a hotel, office space and 9.5 acres of waterfront parks. Already opened is “the Sandlot,” a 30,000 sf open space available for outdoor dining, live performances and other outdoor events.
Food Halls
Located in Remington, R. House is the reinvention of a historic auto shop into a 50,000-sf food hall. Roll-up garage doors welcome groups into the space featuring open seating and 10 chef-driven F&B concepts. Similarly, Mount Vernon Marketplace features more than 14 artisans that showcase Baltimore’s best cuisines. Everything from local oysters to gourmet cheeses to craft beer are available for groups to experience.
