Hello Harford Wins National Award

HARFORD COUNTY, MD — Hello Harford, the destination marketing organization for Harford County, has received a 2026 Achievement Award from the National Association of Counties.

Hello Harford focuses on attracting visitors to the county and supporting local tourism organizations.

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"Tourism is serious business and an important part of Harford County's economy," Harford County Executive Bob Cassilly said. "Our approach with Hello Harford is to use data that gives us a better understanding of who is visiting, what brings them here and where there are opportunities to grow. This information, combined with tourism marketing, grant funding and partnerships with local organizations, helps to strengthen the events, attractions and experiences that encourage people to stay longer, spend more and come back to Harford County."

Recognized in NACo's Community and Economic Development category, Hello Harford works with tourism-related nonprofits, event organizers and hospitality businesses throughout the county, providing access to visitor data, customized reports and marketing tools. These resources help local organizations better understand their audiences and see where visitors are coming from to identify opportunities to reach people beyond Harford County.

That same information also helps the county make "fiscally responsible decisions" about how tourism dollars are invested. Hotel tax revenues are reinvested into events and experiences that bring visitors to Harford County. A particular focus is encouraging overnight stays, which means more spending at local hotels, restaurants, shops and other businesses.