Report suggests Baltimore City tourism is on the rebound.

Byline: Kara Kridler

Hotel reservations surged 24 percent last quarter in Baltimore City, Maryland's No. 1 tourism destination, signaling that the vitally important industry is on the verge of a rebound, the city's top tourism official said yesterday.

Nearly 47,000 rooms were booked between October and December, roughly 9,000 more than during the same period in 2002, according to a quarterly business report released by the Baltimore Area Convention and Visitors Association yesterday.

"We are pulling out of the dark days that the industry had, and we see the light at the end of the tunnel," said Leslie Doggett, president and chief executive of the association responsible for promoting the city to meeting planners and tourists.

Doggett attributed the improved performance to short-term marketing strategies and a renewed interest and willingness to travel. Tourism suffered across the country in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks.

The tourists who booked between October and December last year are expected to spend $43.5 million in the city during their visits, some $15 million more than people who reserved rooms during the same period the previous year.

BACVA's new direct-mail, telemarketing and sales tactics are being hailed for bringing 13 conventions to Baltimore in fiscal year 2004, which ends in June, with an estimated spending of $8.4 million. An additional nine conventions are scheduled for next fiscal year, estimated to bring in $20 million.