CVB Update
Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County (VAAAC) on August 26 announced a partnership with Portsmouth Football Club (Pompey) that will promote tourism and international connections between Annapolis, Maryland, and Portsmouth, England.
The partnership brings together two historic waterfront destinations with deep naval roots. Annapolis is home to the U.S. Naval Academy, while Portsmouth is home to the Royal Navy’s principal naval base, creating a natural connection between communities that have long played important roles in their nations’ maritime history.
“Our partnership with Portsmouth FC is about building a meaningful connection between two communities with a shared maritime heritage,” said Kristen Pironis, CEO of Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County. “As we continue to grow our presence in the UK, Portsmouth is a natural partner, with strong ties to Annapolis through our shared naval history and waterfront identities. We look forward to strengthening that connection and welcoming more UK visitors to Annapolis and Anne Arundel County.”
As part of the agreement, Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County branding will be featured throughout Fratton Park, home of Portsmouth Football Club, during the 2026-27 football season. The visibility will introduce Annapolis and Anne Arundel County to thousands of supporters attending matches from August 2026 through May 2027 and extend the destination’s reach among the club’s broader fanbase across the United Kingdom.
“We’re incredibly excited to welcome Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County as a partner of Portsmouth Football Club and to establish an international partnership, within the United States,” said Portsmouth FC Chief Commercial Officer Mark Judges. “Annapolis is a fantastic destination with such strong parallels to Portsmouth, particularly through our shared maritime heritage, naval history and proud waterfront identities. We’re delighted to welcome Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County into the Portsmouth family and look forward to building a strong relationship together.”
Wyoming’s Visit Casper is inviting singers, songwriters, and musicians to tell the story of Casper through an original song with its new Visit Casper Anthem initiative.
The winner will receive $10,000, with the song becoming the soundtrack for future campaigns planned and managed by Visit Casper.
“Casper is a place with so many stories,” said Annette Pitts, CEO of Visit Casper. “As we continue to market this region as a travel destination, we want to lean into the universal language of music and invite artists to produce a song our locals can be proud of, that celebrates the one and only Casper, Wyoming.”
The winning artist or group will receive $10,000, while the anthem will be featured in Visit Casper’s promotions and marketing, across a variety of owned and paid media platforms. Plans are currently to roll out the winning song as part of a promotional video scheduled to debut in summer of 2027. All submissions will also be featured on a landing page on the Visit Casper website.
Submissions must be original and created by singers, songwriters and artists, and are due by October 31, 2026. Complete rules and details—including audio file information, programs, rights and more—can be found here.