ANNAPOLIS, MD – Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County (VAAAC) welcomes two key hires to advance its local and international tourism efforts. April Richmond joins as director of operations at VAAAC‘s Welcome Center at BWI, leading the development of the new space, which is set to open in 2026. Christopher Follenus steps in as assistant director of international sales, bringing global expertise to lead VAAAC’s international tourism strategy.
April Richmond
Director of Operations at VAAAC’s Welcome Center at BWI
Photo Courtesy Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County
April Richmond joins Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County as director of operations at VAAAC’s Welcome Center at BWI, bringing over 25 years of hospitality leadership to oversee the development and launch of the new visitor hub at BWI Marshall Airport. This initiative marks a major expansion of Maryland’s destination services, designed to enhance the traveler experience, drive tourism revenue, and elevate the visibility of Annapolis, Anne Arundel County, and surrounding attractions. Richmond will lead the full operational buildout—including staffing, marketing agreements, and immersive activations—while ensuring the space reflects Maryland’s creative spirit and delivers high-impact visitor engagement.
“April exhibits a wealth of experience in hospitality, marketing, and visitor services, and we’re thrilled to welcome her to the team,” said Shannon Harcum, COO of Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County. “We’ve had the pleasure of working alongside April for years in her role as general manager at The Hotel at Arundel Preserve, where her leadership consistently elevated the guest experience and strengthened our region’s reputation for excellence. Her deep understanding of the local tourism landscape, commitment to team culture, and ability to drive results make her the ideal person to lead this exciting new initiative at BWI.”
Richmond’s career includes opening the only boutique hotel in the Arundel Mills/BWI area, managing a $50 million property with a 97 percent satisfaction rate, and leading a $7 million renovation project. She has driven revenue growth and operational efficiency across multiple properties and is deeply committed to workforce development, having launched Anne Arundel County’s first state-approved hotel apprenticeship program. Richmond serves on the County’s Board of Trustees and Workforce Development Committee and has earned multiple industry honors, including two Maryland Hotel Lodging Association awards and the NAACCC Accommodations and Tourism Award. Her leadership style centers on team engagement, culture-building, and delivering exceptional guest experiences, making her a standout figure in Maryland’s hospitality industry.
Christopher Follenus
Assistant Director of International Sales
Photo Courtesy Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County
Christopher Follenus joins VAAAC as assistant director of international sales. Born in Dublin, Ireland, Follenus brings over two decades of global tourism, marketing, and travel trade experience, including senior roles in Ireland, Spain, Hungary, and France, and most recently with Visit Central Florida, where he launched their first international sales strategy and managed outreach across Latin America, Canada, and the UK and Ireland.
“This role is aligned with VAAAC’s vision for international growth,” said Rasheeda Martin, senior director of external relations at Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County. “Christopher brings a unique blend of strategic insight and hands-on experience. His global perspective and proven success in market development will be instrumental as we expand Maryland’s tourism footprint and showcase the unique offerings of our region.”
At VAAAC, he will develop and execute a comprehensive international sales strategy focused on driving room nights, increasing visitor spending, and expanding market share across priority overseas markets including the United Kingdom and Ireland. His responsibilities include cultivating high-value travel trade partnerships, leading familiarization (FAM) trips, representing VAAAC at global trade shows and sales missions, and overseeing budget and performance tracking for all international initiatives. Fluent in Spanish and conversational in French, Follenus brings a proven track record of building strategic partnerships, launching cross-border campaigns, and driving international visitation through compelling storytelling and data-driven strategy. His appointment comes at a pivotal time, as Maryland welcomed over 600,000 international visitors in 2023, contributing more than $1 million in economic impact—underscoring the importance of global outreach in positioning Annapolis and Anne Arundel County as a premier destination for leisure travel, meetings, sports, and cultural events.
About Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County: Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County (VAAAC) is a nonprofit, partnership-focused destination marketing and management organization dedicated to fostering a welcoming destination and promoting tourism for visitors, partners, and the community. The tourism and hospitality industry in Annapolis and Anne Arundel County significantly impacts Maryland's economy. In 2024, visitor spending injected $4.3 billion into the state economy, attracting more than 7.2 million visitors, and sustaining more than 27,000 jobs (both directly and indirectly), according to the 2024 Economic Impact of Tourism in Maryland Report. For more information, please visit www.VAAAC.org.
