Harford County earned a 2026 National Association of Counties (NACo) Achievement Award for a data-driven tourism initiative that uses marketing and strategic investment to attract visitors and strengthen the local economy.

Hello Harford, the County’s tourism brand, earned recognition in NACo’s Community and Economic Development category for its coordinated approach to destination marketing and visitor engagement.

The program works with tourism-related nonprofits, event organizers, and hospitality partners to strengthen Harford County’s destination marketing. Through data and marketing platforms, Hello Harford provides customized reporting and actionable insights that partners can use to inform planning and expand their reach beyond county borders. That data-driven approach also helps the County connect its tourism investments with measurable outcomes. Hello Harford has helped strengthen the effectiveness of Harford County’s tourism grant funding program and guide the reinvestment of hotel tax revenues into events and experiences designed to attract new visitors. A key goal is increasing overnight visitation, or getting more “heads in beds,” to generate more economic activity from visitors’ spending while they are in Harford County.

By bringing destination marketing, data, tourism grants, and local partnerships together under one strategy, Hello Harford is helping the County make more informed tourism investments while building experiences that draw visitors and support the local economy.

This honor is part of 165 NACo Achievement Awards earned by Maryland counties this year, recognizing programs and services across nearly every area of local government.