Partner Organizations and Affiliates

Collaboration of key heritage tourism partners is required for Accokeek to succeed in attracting small groups. Communication recommendations to support this effort are included.

Accokeek is fortunate to have two partnership opportunities (Experience Prince George’s and the Maryland Office of Tourism) and two upcoming partnerships

(Anacostia Trails Heritage Area Inc. boundary amendment and Southern Maryland National Heritage Area) that will provide myriad ways to promote the region, its attractions and experience opportunities. This section focuses on marketing opportunities available through partnership with these agencies.

• Share small-group experiences as programs and packages are developed— request feedback and incorporate recommendations to ensure a saleable product.

• Explore opportunities to promote group packages. Based on financial resources and staff capacity, participate in group travel organizations as members or through Experience Prince George’s including SYTA (StudentYouth Travel Association), GLAMER (Group Leaders of America), African American Travel Conference, Going on Faith, Road Scholar, and others.

• Provide information and promotional materials to Experience Prince George’s for use at travel trade shows when unable to attend in person.

• Follow-up on leads to tour groups provided by Experience Prince George’s.

• Network through Experience Prince George’s to package and promote with attractions and visitor services with nearby communities.

• Network through Experience Prince George’s to identify nearby hotels to partner with in tour group packages and set rate structures.

• Participate in familiarization tours for small group tour operators.

• Provide Accokeek information for Experience Prince George’s website.

ACTION STEP P3: Get Involved with the Maryland Office of Tourism

Place brochures in state welcome centers (the Crain Memorial Center at 12480 Crain Highway, Newburg, Maryland, 20664 is operated by Charles County Tourism.)

• Collaborate with the tourism office (visitmarland.org) to promote Accokeek through three of the four “Big Four” goals: The Most Powerful Underground Railroad Storytelling Destination in the World; Trail System Second-to-None; and Open Road Scenic Byways.

• Explore new promotional opportunities as identified by the tourism office.

• Participate in the tourism offices “Be More Open for More Customers” promotion. The program offers a variety of ways to partner with the tourism office to promote destinations and attractions including meeting with travel counselors at welcome centers, submitting press releases, participating in travel media familiarization tours, host Maryland Office of Tourism staff on a tour and many other opportunities.

• Work with the office’s group travel staff to promote small group tour experiences.

ACTION STEP P4: Continue to Engage with the Heritage Areas

As discussed previously, plans are currently in development for a boundary expansion for the Anacostia Trails Heritage Area (ATHA) and for Congressional designation of the Southern Maryland National Heritage Area (SMNHA). Accokeek stakeholders are engaged in both endeavors and are positioning Accokeek to become a strong partner to ATHA and SMNHA. As the process continues, Accokeek stakeholders can continue to engage with organization leaders to seek out tourism marketing opportunities. These include representation on websites and collateral materials, participating in joint marketing and supplying brochures to welcome centers. Most beneficial to Accokeek will be the opportunity to apply for ATHA marketing grants and to generate national awareness through SMNHA.

ACTION STEP P5: Join Prince George’s County Scenic America Chapter

Engagement with Scenic America’s newly formed Prince George’s County chapter offers the opportunity to network with others who share Accokeek’s desire for landscape conservation and to stay informed about potential National Scenic Byway grants.

Scenic America is a national nonprofit which works with communities to safeguard the scenic qualities of roadways, the countryside landscape, towns and cities. Issues for advocacy, education and programming include gateway communities to national and state parks, tree conservation, billboard control, and scenic byways. Two opportunities of particular importance to Accokeek are 1) the recently formed local chapter, Scenic Prince George’s. The chapter’s mission is to preserve, protect, and enhance the visual environment, scenic beauty, and economic development of Prince George’s County. Among the chapter’s goals is to investigate potential new scenic byways; and 2) the National Scenic Byways grant program which Scenic America and partners successfully advocated for Congress to reinstate after a 10-year lapse in funding. The first grants were announced in August 2022. The FY2023 bill passed by the House of Representatives includes $30 million in funding for the National Scenic Byways Program.