Michele Burke Named 2025 Tourism Ambassador of the Year Award
Worcester County Business Development and Retention Specialist Michele Burke brought home the esteemed 2025 Tourism Ambassador of the Year Award, which was presented by the Maryland Tourism Coalition (MTC) during the Maryland Tourism & Travel Summit.
Burke, a key member of the Worcester County Tourism and Economic Development (WCTED) team, received this accolade for harnessing Worcester County’s unique assets—from small businesses to tourism, agriculture, and coastal industries—to help tell the story of Maryland’s Eastern Shore, and for consistently connecting local business owners to the benefits of membership in the MTC, which acts as a unified voice for Maryland’s tourism industry in Annapolis.
MTC Members benefit from shared professional development resources, networking, and industry insights, increased visibility for their destinations and businesses, and a coordinated tourism message designed to help strengthen Maryland’s visitor economy.
“Michele is fully immersed in Worcester County’s landscape, building meaningful business relationships and connecting entrepreneurs and community partners with state and county resources, so I’m thrilled that the MTC recognized her contributions to supporting local businesses,” WCTED Director Melanie Pursel said. “I am also thrilled that the MTC recognized the valuable contributions of all of our outstanding tourism partners whose innovative campaigns and projects play a strategic role in introducing Maryland destinations to new visitors.”
The MTC awarded a number of top honors to destination marketing tourism partners across the county.
Beach to Bay Heritage Area won the Best Product or Event Award in the medium budget category for History, Heritage & Homelands of Maryland’s Lower Eastern Shore. This project, anchored by the Beach to Bay Indian Trail—a designated National Recreation Trail, inspires visitors to explore the rich Native American, Black, and European histories that have shaped Maryland’s Lower Eastern Shore.
Ocean City Tourism won the Best Product or Event Award in the large budget category for Boardwalk Rock, a large-scale concert series that brought national talent to the resort during offseason months and generated more than $55 million in economic impact, attracted tens of thousands of attendees, and drew national media attention, culminating in the resort being recognized as a premier music destination.
The Town of Ocean City also won the Best Media and Public Relations Campaign Award for the “Catch a Ride” campaign.
Chesapeake Country All-American Road Alliance won the Best Website Award for enticing users to embark on a journey to explore a byway connecting charming small towns, working waterfronts, historic sites, and breathtaking landscapes across the Eastern Shore.
D3 captured the Small Business of the Year Award for spearheading a project with regional partners that redefines the Eastern Shore’s digital footprint and offers visitors a fully immersive journey through scenic communities and culturally significant travel routes.
Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County, Visit Baltimore, Visit Howard County, Visit Montgomery, Ocean City Tourism, and Experience Prince George’s earned the Cooperative Partnership Award for pioneering “Meet in Maryland,” a unified campaign to promote Maryland’s top destinations on the national stage.
Renee Seiden of the Harrison Group Hotels & Restaurants received the coveted Audrey Davenport received the Hospitality Person of the Year Award for being a shining example for hospitality professionals statewide, for being a force in Maryland tourism, for hosting countless MTC events, and supporting fellow professionals across the state.
These awards celebrate the diverse group of tourism partners whose extraordinary innovations, collaborations, and leadership are making an extraordinary impact on Maryland’s tourism industry.
To view WCTED resources and happenings, visit www.marylandscoast.org.