December 4, 2024 • 24 mins
I remember when I was first getting ready to move to Maryland. Everyone I knew had some kind of comment about the National Aquarium in Baltimore. Those voices got even louder when I officially moved to Baltimore. I couldn’t believe it. How was an aquarium this huge attraction for everyone? All of my old friends and family who visit Baltimore always want to go to the aquarium. Even my wife has told me that when she was younger her school in Upstate New York did a trip down to the National Aquarium.
Then I finally made my first visit to the National Aquarium and I totally got it. First of all, the aquarium is situated right in the center of Baltimore’s Inner Harbor area. It’s like a beacon right in the middle of everything. And while some businesses and buildings have come and gone over the last 40 years, the aquarium still stands proud. There’s something soothing and even hopeful about having the aquarium there on the water.
If you pay a visit to the National Aquarium, you’ll find a wonderful tour through a beautifully designed building that gives you experiences with all forms of wildlife. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg for the folks at the aquarium. They’re involved in so many different conservation efforts around the Baltimore area, and world. And they offer so many other programs for people to take advantage of.
So let’s talk more about the joy of the National Aquarium in Baltimore. I’m joined today by Emma Wesoloski. She’s the vice president of marketing and engagement strategy for the National Aquarium. v
Then I finally made my first visit to the National Aquarium and I totally got it. First of all, the aquarium is situated right in the center of Baltimore’s Inner Harbor area. It’s like a beacon right in the middle of everything. And while some businesses and buildings have come and gone over the last 40 years, the aquarium still stands proud. There’s something soothing and even hopeful about having the aquarium there on the water.
If you pay a visit to the National Aquarium, you’ll find a wonderful tour through a beautifully designed building that gives you experiences with all forms of wildlife. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg for the folks at the aquarium. They’re involved in so many different conservation efforts around the Baltimore area, and world. And they offer so many other programs for people to take advantage of.
So let’s talk more about the joy of the National Aquarium in Baltimore. I’m joined today by Emma Wesoloski. She’s the vice president of marketing and engagement strategy for the National Aquarium. v
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
Hey, what's up everyone. Welcome to Delightful Destinations. My name
is Jeff Saint Pierre. Delightful Destinations the show designed to
give you an inside or deeper look at some vacation locations,
mostly around Maryland, the mid Atlantic, and of course anywhere
that wants to talk to me. My hope is to
speak with people who know these areas best and inspire
you for your next trip. So I remember when I
was first getting ready to move to Maryland, everyone that
(00:24):
I knew had some kind of comment about the National
Aquarium in Baltimore. Those voices got even louder when I
officially moved to Baltimore. I couldn't believe it, Like, how
is an aquarium this huge attraction for everyone? All my
old friends and family who visit Baltimore always want to
go to the aquarium first. Even my wife has told
me that when she was younger, her school in Upstate
New York did a trip down to the National Aquarium.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
That was wild to me.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
Then I finally made my first trip to the National
Aquarium and I totally got it. First of all, the
aquarium is situated right in the center of Baltimore's Inner
Harbor area, It's like a beacon right in the middle
of everything. And while some businesses and build have come
and gone over the last forty plus years, the Aquarium
still stands proud. There's something almost soothing and even hopeful
about having the aquarium there on the water.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
If you pay a visit to the.
Speaker 1 (01:10):
National Aquarium, you'll find a wonderful tour through a beautifully
designed building that gives you experiences with all forms of wildlife.
But that's just the tip of the iceberg for the
folks at the Aquarium. They're involved in so many different
conservation efforts around the Baltimore area and world, and they
offer so many other programs for people to take advantage of.
So let's talk more about the joy of the National
Aquarium in Baltimore on this week's episode of Delightful Destinations.
(01:33):
I'm joined today by ms Alaski. She's the vice president
of Marketing and Engagement Strategy for the National Aquarium.
Speaker 3 (01:40):
It's great to see you, Jeff, Thanks so much for
having me.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
I gotta tell you the title that you have.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
I don't think I've ever actually read your official title before,
and I've never seen a title like this. I see
a lot of vice president of Promotions or CEO, but
vice president of Marketing and Engagement Strategy I think is
a very interesting title. Tell me more about this position,
thank you.
Speaker 3 (02:00):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (02:01):
So, I've been lucky to be at the Aquum for
almost fourteen years, which is kind of wild, and I've
been in this role for about four And the reason
we kind of wrote that title as is is because
my team works on a lot of different tactics, strategies,
programs that aren't just advertising promotions.
Speaker 3 (02:19):
So that's very important, but also look at how are.
Speaker 4 (02:23):
We engaging the community deeply authentically. My team manages all
of our community programs, our access programs, and so we're
kind of balancing two things.
Speaker 3 (02:34):
We're making sure that we are bringing.
Speaker 4 (02:37):
Folks in to have a great experience and spend the
money that allows us to continue our mission work, and
we also want to make sure that locals feel like
the Aquorium is relevant for them, that they have a
path to visit that might be.
Speaker 3 (02:50):
Free or reduced admission, might be membership.
Speaker 4 (02:53):
So kind of thinking of the full spectrum of our
business and both how we can engage with the community
and also how we can and drive revenue.
Speaker 1 (03:01):
Yeah, it makes sense too because the aquarium, well, a
lot of people may think it's just a place you
go to look at fish in different you know, sea animals.
You're also very involved in the rehabilitation of the harbor,
Like there's a lot of different things that you're doing
that maybe the public doesn't see on a day to
day basis. So I think it makes sense that you'd
want to be more involved in the public around because
(03:21):
you're doing so many things to impact their life, whether
they know it or not.
Speaker 3 (03:25):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (03:25):
Absolutely, And you know, we also feel really lucky to
be located downtown at the Inner Harbor, in the heart
of Baltimore. Originally when we started, we really were championed
by the people and the government of Baltimore.
Speaker 3 (03:37):
So we really feel not only that we owe.
Speaker 4 (03:40):
The city to be a place that feels like there's
but also that we really want it to be a
place that people feel welcome and that they can learn
about how to take care of the habitats around them, like,
for example, the Chesapeake Bay or even the water in
the Inner Harbor, which is why it's been really cool
to see how people have embraced harbor wetland, which I
know if you've had a chance to check out with
(04:02):
your fam But it's a really special exhibit because it's free,
it's open to the public.
Speaker 3 (04:08):
It kind of recreates what.
Speaker 4 (04:10):
We know the harbor would have looked like before it
was industrialized and brings that ecosystem back to the slip
between our two pyramid shaped buildings. And it has been
visited actually by already forty thousand people in the three
months it's been open, So we're really thrilled that locals
and visitors alike are embracing this opportunity to really actually
(04:33):
get out on top of the Inner Harbor on this
really beautiful decking and experience some of the interactives we
have and really look at this marshland and imagine what.
Speaker 3 (04:43):
This area was once like. But not only is it
a great teaching experience.
Speaker 4 (04:47):
And also just kind of fun to have an outdoor
exhibit that anyone can go to when we're open, but
we also are seeing really great success with the animals
but have been coming and really embracing this habitat as
their own too, which is really awesome. You might have
seen we had a video of some otters that decided
they wanted to take a little play and romp around
(05:08):
on the education deck.
Speaker 3 (05:09):
That was definitely a highlight for everyone. We've seen snakes,
we've seen turtles, we've seen birds.
Speaker 4 (05:15):
I've been walking at an event late at night and
seen herons kind of perching, like large, large herons perching there.
Speaker 3 (05:21):
So, you know, we're excited about the possibilities.
Speaker 4 (05:24):
We're excited to have it open in the fall and
see what kind of animals you know, in the fall
and into the winter are coming through in those seasons.
To your point, we want everyone in Baltimore to know
that the Aquarium is for them, that Harbor Wetland is
open and available to them, and that we really really
value being a part of the fabric of Baltimore.
Speaker 1 (05:41):
I know the Aquarium is an institution here locally, and
I want to assume that everybody knows about the aquarium,
But I don't know who's exactly listening to this, you
know podcast. So give me a little background about the
National Aquarium.
Speaker 4 (05:52):
Sure, So, the National Aquarium opened in nineteen eighty one,
and we are home to thousands and thousands of fish
and reptiles and birds and even mammals. Like slots and
our buildings take you on a journey through tropical rainforests,
through an Atlantic coral reef, through wetlands, through the local
(06:12):
habitats of Maryland, and there's really something for everyone. Our
jellies exhibit is super instagramble, so a lot of people
really love it in there. It's also great for toddlers
if you need something to you know, you might be
familiar with that to like engage them for a minute.
Speaker 3 (06:26):
The jellies are very soothing. We've been around.
Speaker 4 (06:29):
For over four decades and we are located right in
the heart of Baltimore, in the Inner Harbor, and we are,
you know, really lucky to be one of the institutions
in Baltimore that not only brings locals in but also
brings in a lot of tourists because we know that
those tourist dollars really helped the Baltimore economy too. We
(06:50):
actually in twenty twenty three did an economic impact report
and we found out that one in every ten tourism
related dollars spent in Baltimore comes from someone visiting the
National Aquarium. So we feel this great responsibility to the
city of Baltimore, and we know we can do that
through both engaging programs and also continuing to bring tourists
here that then go out and enjoy the local restaurants
(07:12):
and shops and other attractions, and so we feel lucky
to be an anchor in that way. And it's a
really fun time too.
Speaker 1 (07:20):
I've always found it fascinating before I moved here, too,
because I had heard about the aquarium before even moving
to Baltimore. And my wife will talk about how her class,
she grew up in upstate New York, her class did
a trip to DC and they made a stop in
Baltimore to see the aquarium. I have friends from the
Boston area that will come down to see Red Sox
games at Camden Yards, and they always go to the
aquarium when.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
They come to us.
Speaker 3 (07:40):
To Red Sox fans, you know, like.
Speaker 1 (07:41):
Look, someone's coming in. They're coming in, and we're excited
about it, exactly right. But I'm just fascinated by the
reach that this particular aquarium has, you know what I mean.
And I'm not trying to compare it to others, but
a lot of cities have aquariums, but there's something about
the National Aquarium here in Baltimore that seems to really
attract people to come here.
Speaker 3 (07:59):
Yeah, thank you.
Speaker 4 (08:00):
I appreciate that we definitely see guests from the areas
you were mentioning. We definitely do notice an uptick during
baseball games with some of our division rivals, and we
welcome all baseball fans.
Speaker 3 (08:12):
To come visit the aquarium.
Speaker 4 (08:13):
Yeah, I think there is something really unique about an
aquarium like ours that's situated in the middle of a
city center. You have kind of all the appeal of
a walkable urban area, and then you also have, you know,
this place where you can go immerse yourself and all
these beautiful habitats and kind of have a moment of
peace or respite, or if you're with a school group,
a moment of excitement.
Speaker 3 (08:34):
And entertainment, maybe not restite.
Speaker 4 (08:36):
And we feel really lucky to be positioned in a
way that everyone can kind of easily get here if
they're in town for something else, or perhaps have planned
a visit to the aquarium as their driver to come,
and then they get to go do a lot of
other things. You know, we know that we reliably are
ranked in the top three aquariums in the nation, So
(08:57):
appreciate your shout out and what you're feeling in its
real people do really enjoy our exhibits and the experience
they have when they're there. And the thing that we've
noticed is when people come with loved ones, friends or family,
that they actually rank their experience even higher. So we
know that that is how a lot of people are
coming there in town for a baseball game with a
few buddies and they come over and enjoy it. Grandma
(09:19):
and Grandpa come into town for the holidays and we
take them to the aquarium. It's definitely a place where
people make special memories. And I think that that's part
of the kind of appeal and why folks are drawn
from all over the region in the country to visit us.
Speaker 1 (09:34):
And it seems kind of bulletproof too. And in that
I mean, like, look, Baltimore's the city not without its problems.
Speaker 2 (09:39):
You watch the news. I watch the news and get it.
Speaker 1 (09:41):
But the aquarium never gets the bashing or the hatred
that people have for other elements of the city. Right, Like,
people always have a positive and favorable opinion of the
aquarium no matter what other situation is going on. And
I love that because you are doing great stuff. You
are providing this incredible opportunity for the local community. As
we mentioned before, you're doing stuff outside of the aquarium
(10:02):
walls as well, and a lot of conservation efforts both
locally and in different spots of the area. So I
think it's I think it's just great. I mean, there's
not many brands that seem.
Speaker 2 (10:11):
To have this power that you guys do.
Speaker 1 (10:13):
So I don't know what you've been doing, what you're
putting in the water, but whatever it is, keeping up,
thank you.
Speaker 4 (10:18):
You know, something we learned early on are we are
absolutely you know, bullish and cheerleaders for Baltimore, but we
have learned, you know, when there are negative news cycles,
when there are real challenges that are happening in the city,
you know, sometimes the knee jerk reaction can be for
a brand or an organization to pull back on their
marketing dollars.
Speaker 3 (10:37):
Well, we're never going to counteract that negative message. Well
that's kind of throwing money out a problem.
Speaker 4 (10:42):
But actually we've found and we've learned quite the opposite
that that's when we double down on Baltimore. So, you know,
during COVID in other times where there's been challenges in
getting people to visit, we've not pulled back on our
investment in letting people know, in marketing and letting people
know what's going on at the aquarium and in letting
people know that Baltimore is a great place for them
(11:03):
to come. We actually partner with the destination marketing organization
visit Baltimore and partner with them on some of their
advertising because we know that a visit to Baltimore means
a visit to the aquarium, and we know that a
visit to the aquarium only helps Baltimore. So I think
that is something unique that we do that we've We've
talked with other cultural attractions in other areas and here locally,
(11:24):
and it is a lesson we've learned that we're happy
to share with others. You know, if you believe in
your product and if you believe in the where you're located,
like we believe in Baltimore, you know, don't shy away
from continuing to combat any negative messages with the positive
ones and with what all the great things that are
going on.
Speaker 1 (11:40):
The redevelopment of the harbor that we've been hearing so
much about. How would that impact you guys.
Speaker 2 (11:44):
Or do you know?
Speaker 4 (11:46):
We don't know yet, but we do know that having
the empty, languishing pavilions was not good for us. While we,
to your point, were able to still maintain mostly business
as usual, it is hard when you have folks, especially
coming from out of town that maybe have old perception
of the Inner Harbor where oh I can go to
the aquium, that I can walk and I can go
to a restaurant, I can go to a shop, I
(12:07):
can you know, do all these things in this very
tight district and distance, and that really, unfortunately hasn't quite
been the case until the recent investment in bringing in
the you know shops through the Boost program, in bringing
in the main in Baltimore store, for example, in the
Light Street pavilion. So we have seen some reinvestment from
you know MCB as they're trying to get everything off
(12:29):
the ground to try to remind folks like this is
a place to go to have lunch, to shop, to
do all these different things, and that is notable. Like
the vibrancy around the Harbor has picked up a bit.
It was feeling really sad and desolate for a while.
And again, while it didn't necessarily directly impact our bottom line,
it didn't feel didn't feel like a great full experience
(12:51):
for people, and it definitely was damaging in my opinion
to the reputation of Baltimore. So we're looking forward to
any activity there that will help store traffic from both
locals and tourists, that will help, you know, allow people
to engage again in the Inner Harbor in a in
a good way, in a way you would like to,
whether you're on a trip or kind of coming down
(13:11):
for the weekend from.
Speaker 3 (13:13):
Any of the neighborhoods in Baltimore to spend some time there.
Speaker 4 (13:15):
So shorter answer is, we don't know, but we do
know that it should be positive hopefully mine.
Speaker 1 (13:20):
You got a great website, let's get that in there
so people know where they can go to find out
more info. You can buy tickets all that. Where should
they go?
Speaker 3 (13:26):
Thanks? Yeah, so you can visit aqua dot org.
Speaker 4 (13:29):
So Aqua dot org you can find information about tickets,
about tours and other special immersive experiences, where you can
go behind the scenes. You can find information about all
of our community programs. And if you want to go
directly to that page, you can go to Aqua dot
org slash your aquarium and that has information about all
of our free and reduced programs. And then yeah, if
(13:51):
you want to learn about harbor Wetland. The hours for
Harbor Wetland are posted on aqua dot org and any
other information you need to know about planning your visit.
Also shout out our Instagram page at National Aquarium has
a lot of great information as well.
Speaker 1 (14:05):
I know you talked about the Harbor Wetland a little
bit earlier in this conversation, but I'm so intrigued by it,
and we did visit there not too long ago.
Speaker 2 (14:13):
I love it.
Speaker 1 (14:14):
I love it so much like if I worked in
that area, that's where I would have launch every single day,
Like it is such a beautiful space out there. We
saw ducks, we saw crabs, we saw all these different
things walking around there in the way. What's the endgame
for this besides having people have an opportunity to come
walk around. Is this part of the revitalization efforts of
the harbor as well?
Speaker 3 (14:33):
Absolutely so.
Speaker 4 (14:35):
With partners like Waterfront Partnership, for example, we are really
committed to helping actually change the quality and the outcomes
of the.
Speaker 3 (14:43):
Help of the Inner Harbor.
Speaker 4 (14:45):
So we are really supportive of all the work they're
doing around helping the harbor become safer for animals and
humans alike, and our goal is by restoring this original
habitat that we will help not only bring back animals
that you know, this area really hasn't seen in a while,
(15:05):
but also actually help change the water quality. And we
have partners that we are working with to do water
quality testing and we actually have seen a marked improvement
in the water in the kind of footprint of Harbor wetland,
and if you compare that water quality to water you know,
just several feet away, it's markedly improved. So you know,
(15:28):
we are trying to do our part to improve the
ecosystem that's literally right on our campus, and we definitely
do talk with other folks who are building other floating
wetlands and other parts of the harbor we want from
partnership is working on a lot of different ideas around
the redevelopment of the Inner Harbor and including things that
are really focused on sustainability and water quality improvement and
(15:53):
all of that. So we are definitely a part of
those conversations because to your point, we recognize that we
have this responsibility in our own backyard to improve the
quality of this huge asset for the city that really
hasn't been able to be used as a water asset
in so many years because of all the harm that
was done over the years prior. So we're excited to
be a part of kind of this revitalization both of
(16:16):
you know, the activities and the businesses and everything along
the waterfront, but also the actual water itself and you know,
positioning it as a public asset for baltimorean's.
Speaker 1 (16:27):
I know everybody wants instant results whenever something happens, but
I love that. I love that we are seeing the
results from all of the efforts, from what you guys
are doing from the water from partnership. I know they've
been so invested over to last I mean I've been
in Baltimore for almost seventeen years. I mean just watching
what they've done in that period of time is fascinating.
I mean, just a few months ago they did the
swim in the harbor and that's something that I never
(16:49):
thought I would see in my lifetime.
Speaker 2 (16:51):
And here we are.
Speaker 1 (16:52):
I know, again, it's not going to happen overnight, but
just being able to see things changing and seeing these
efforts you know, get the results you were looking for
is great.
Speaker 2 (17:01):
I love to see all that.
Speaker 4 (17:02):
Yeah, No, we're really happy that everyone seems to have
this common purpose and are really taking really bold actions
to get there. So you know, we actually have worked
closely with Katie Pumphrey on a few things, and her
efforts with the Bait of Baltimore Swim and her partnership
with Waterfront Partnership have been really inspiring to see.
Speaker 3 (17:20):
So it is exciting.
Speaker 1 (17:22):
I know you've got Downtown Discovery Days coming up. Tell
me more about that we do.
Speaker 3 (17:25):
So.
Speaker 4 (17:26):
Downtown Discovery Days is a program that we do in
partnership with Downtown Partnership of Baltimore. They are the ones
who kind of lead the charge and it features many
of the local cultural attractions. But it is one of
our most impactful free programs that we offer, and it
is coming up in January of twenty twenty five, so
(17:47):
we will give away ten thousand tickets. People can reserve
the day and time that works best for them in
a multi week range, and then they will get free
tickets to come visit the aquarium.
Speaker 3 (17:58):
It's something we evolved from what you see to be
Dollar Days.
Speaker 4 (18:01):
You may remember it since you've been in Baltimore for
quite some time, and what we really found is it's
a better experience for folks that they can pick the
days and times that.
Speaker 3 (18:09):
They're off work or off school or whatever works best
for them, so they can come and it's convenient.
Speaker 4 (18:13):
They don't have to wait in a line, and they
get to experience the aquarium like anyone does on any.
Speaker 3 (18:18):
Day, except as free.
Speaker 4 (18:19):
So we are really excited to be offering that again
this January and aqui dot org splash or aquarium is
where we will notify folks about when the tickets will
be available.
Speaker 3 (18:31):
Usually it's two or three weeks before the promotion.
Speaker 4 (18:33):
We open them up and we will be excited to
welcome all those guests in the winter.
Speaker 1 (18:38):
I think that's a great time too, because that's a
time of year where I think a a lot of
people have already spent all their money for the holidays,
so money is a little bit tight. But b they
also don't want to just be sitting in the house
like it's so boring. I know January is the one
cold month in Baltimore tends to be January, but still
like that's when people are so bored and tired of
sitting around the house.
Speaker 2 (18:57):
So I love that you're.
Speaker 1 (18:58):
Picking this time as a way to inspire folks not
just to come to the aquarium, but also just to
get outside, like let's go do something.
Speaker 4 (19:04):
Yeah, And something I always remind folks that is something
I do as self care for myself in those cold,
doldrum months, is we have a tropical rainforest and if
you come and visit it in January, you will think
you were on a Caribbean vacation. So I think it's
a really fun time to come to the aquarium.
Speaker 3 (19:24):
There aren't a lot of crowds. There are you know,
all the.
Speaker 4 (19:28):
Usual animals, and you can experience all these habitats and
pretender and somewhere warm and lovely and not in cold
gray Baltimore.
Speaker 2 (19:36):
Now I love it. It's a tough time of year,
I know.
Speaker 1 (19:38):
I was just speaking with someone from the zoo recently
and they were just talking about how ingrained they are
with the local schools as well.
Speaker 2 (19:45):
Do you provide opportunities for.
Speaker 5 (19:46):
Local schools to have visits and to come in We do, yeah,
So we work with the state's Department of Education to
offer free programs to Maryland schools up to a certain
you know number, and we also offer free school visits to.
Speaker 4 (20:03):
Thousands of school children each year. So our busy times
are right now and then again in the spring. And
something that's really special with the addition of Harbor Wetland
is with the city schools, we do a program called
what Lives in the Harbor is also free to those schools,
and they get to actually come out and be a
part of that measurement and data gathering that I talked
(20:23):
about to look at the water improvement, and they get
to test different things about water quality that I can
only touch the surface of, like pun intended, you know,
salinity and turbidity, and they get to learn so much
about what does it take to make sure this habitat
is really working and thriving and actually doing a service
to this, to the animals that are here, and to
the overall water quality. And they get to have this
(20:46):
really hands on experience and that is free, and it's
a really incredible thing to see. You know, their middle
school students, and you know, if you know any middle
school students, they can be sometimes a little hard to
excite or engage, but it is really special to see
their faces when they're you know, doing this really hands
on science in this really beautiful setting and feel like
(21:07):
they're contributing to kind of a project greater than them.
So that's been something really great that we've loved partnering
with Baltimore City Public Schools on Well, I have.
Speaker 1 (21:16):
To tell you the Aquarium has a very special place
in my heart.
Speaker 2 (21:19):
We were members there for a bit with.
Speaker 1 (21:21):
When we first had our daughter, so we spent a
lot of time going down there and showing her all
the animals and watching her face light up. One of
our top five photos of our daughter is from the
Jellies exhibit at the Aquarium. Just I don't know what
it was about the lighting and her face. Everything is
just such a perfect picture of her that we still
like have.
Speaker 2 (21:38):
Hanging up in the house right now.
Speaker 1 (21:40):
I love that I got to snorkel in the aquarium
before you turned into black is it?
Speaker 2 (21:44):
Blackfin reath? Black tip breath?
Speaker 1 (21:47):
I got to snorkel with Calypso may she rest in
peace and all the other rays that were there. Just
so many, so many fond memories of my time in
Baltimore have come to me from moments at the aquarium. So,
I mean, you're such an institution. As I said before,
I love it. I mean so much to meet myself
and so many people here.
Speaker 4 (22:05):
Yeah, thank you, And you know we love being a
part of people's family memories. It's always really heartwarming to see,
whether it's through personal connections or folks sharing on social
you know, those really special, magical moments that people then
you know, might actually print out and like put on
their wall, which no one doesn't photos anymore, and so
that's really great. And we're also going to be hitting
(22:26):
a really cool milestone in the next few weeks.
Speaker 3 (22:29):
Actually, we're going to be reaching our sixty.
Speaker 4 (22:32):
Million guests amazing, which is really crazy but not surprising
since we've been here since nineteen eighty one, and we're
just so grateful that Baltimore is like you and your
family and others have chosen to make us a part
of their experiences. And you know, because we've seen these
guests over the years, we are then able to fulfill
our mission. You know, our ticket revenue is really what
(22:55):
fuels us as a nonprofit. So thank you to everyone listening.
Speaker 3 (23:00):
It's been to the.
Speaker 4 (23:00):
Aquarium and we're just so thrilled that we've had these
special experiences with almost sixty million people in the last decades,
and again their visits, your visit helps us fund all
of the conservation work we're doing. Open free exhibits like
Harbor Wetland offer free and reduced admission for folks, So
(23:20):
without these sixty million guests, we couldn't do all of that.
Speaker 2 (23:23):
That's incredible.
Speaker 1 (23:24):
Well, Emma, one more time, where do people go to
find all the info they need and where they can
get their tickets and all that.
Speaker 4 (23:29):
So go to Aqua dot org and you can find
all the information you need to purchase tickets, to plan
your visit, to attend one of our community programs. We
also have a really cool adult series called Voyages that's
for folks twenty one and up and features local artists
and food and beverage and you know, anything you really
need to know from that from us, you can find.
Speaker 3 (23:50):
Out at Aqua dot org.
Speaker 1 (23:52):
I love it, Emma, You're fantastic. Thank you for all
the work that you do. It's a pleasure. I know
we've known each other for a long time, but we've
never really sat and talked about the aquarium before, so
this was really a treat for me to get to
hear all of your insight as someone on the inside.
So thank you for your time. You were the vice
president of Marketing and Engagement Strategy for the National Aquarium.
Speaker 2 (24:10):
This was great. I appreciate you.
Speaker 3 (24:12):
Yeah, thanks, Jeff, I appreciate you.
Speaker 4 (24:14):
This is really fun and I hope to see you
and the fam at the aquarium sooner.
Speaker 2 (24:18):
I'm sure you will.
Speaker 1 (24:22):
Big thank you to Emma for her time now. I've
known Emma for many years now, so this was a
real pleasure to be able to speak with her for this.
For more information or to start planning your trip, visit
aqua dot org.
Speaker 2 (24:33):
And thank you to all of you for.
Speaker 1 (24:34):
Listening to this episode of Delightful Destinations. Until next time,
be well.
Hey, what's up everyone. Welcome to Delightful Destinations. My name
is Jeff Saint Pierre. Delightful Destinations the show designed to
give you an inside or deeper look at some vacation locations,
mostly around Maryland, the mid Atlantic, and of course anywhere
that wants to talk to me. My hope is to
speak with people who know these areas best and inspire
you for your next trip. So I remember when I
was first getting ready to move to Maryland, everyone that
(00:24):
I knew had some kind of comment about the National
Aquarium in Baltimore. Those voices got even louder when I
officially moved to Baltimore. I couldn't believe it, Like, how
is an aquarium this huge attraction for everyone? All my
old friends and family who visit Baltimore always want to
go to the aquarium first. Even my wife has told
me that when she was younger, her school in Upstate
New York did a trip down to the National Aquarium.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
That was wild to me.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
Then I finally made my first trip to the National
Aquarium and I totally got it. First of all, the
aquarium is situated right in the center of Baltimore's Inner
Harbor area, It's like a beacon right in the middle
of everything. And while some businesses and build have come
and gone over the last forty plus years, the Aquarium
still stands proud. There's something almost soothing and even hopeful
about having the aquarium there on the water.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
If you pay a visit to the.
Speaker 1 (01:10):
National Aquarium, you'll find a wonderful tour through a beautifully
designed building that gives you experiences with all forms of wildlife.
But that's just the tip of the iceberg for the
folks at the Aquarium. They're involved in so many different
conservation efforts around the Baltimore area and world, and they
offer so many other programs for people to take advantage of.
So let's talk more about the joy of the National
Aquarium in Baltimore on this week's episode of Delightful Destinations.
(01:33):
I'm joined today by ms Alaski. She's the vice president
of Marketing and Engagement Strategy for the National Aquarium.
Speaker 3 (01:40):
It's great to see you, Jeff, Thanks so much for
having me.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
I gotta tell you the title that you have.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
I don't think I've ever actually read your official title before,
and I've never seen a title like this. I see
a lot of vice president of Promotions or CEO, but
vice president of Marketing and Engagement Strategy I think is
a very interesting title. Tell me more about this position,
thank you.
Speaker 3 (02:00):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (02:01):
So, I've been lucky to be at the Aquum for
almost fourteen years, which is kind of wild, and I've
been in this role for about four And the reason
we kind of wrote that title as is is because
my team works on a lot of different tactics, strategies,
programs that aren't just advertising promotions.
Speaker 3 (02:19):
So that's very important, but also look at how are.
Speaker 4 (02:23):
We engaging the community deeply authentically. My team manages all
of our community programs, our access programs, and so we're
kind of balancing two things.
Speaker 3 (02:34):
We're making sure that we are bringing.
Speaker 4 (02:37):
Folks in to have a great experience and spend the
money that allows us to continue our mission work, and
we also want to make sure that locals feel like
the Aquorium is relevant for them, that they have a
path to visit that might be.
Speaker 3 (02:50):
Free or reduced admission, might be membership.
Speaker 4 (02:53):
So kind of thinking of the full spectrum of our
business and both how we can engage with the community
and also how we can and drive revenue.
Speaker 1 (03:01):
Yeah, it makes sense too because the aquarium, well, a
lot of people may think it's just a place you
go to look at fish in different you know, sea animals.
You're also very involved in the rehabilitation of the harbor,
Like there's a lot of different things that you're doing
that maybe the public doesn't see on a day to
day basis. So I think it makes sense that you'd
want to be more involved in the public around because
(03:21):
you're doing so many things to impact their life, whether
they know it or not.
Speaker 3 (03:25):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (03:25):
Absolutely, And you know, we also feel really lucky to
be located downtown at the Inner Harbor, in the heart
of Baltimore. Originally when we started, we really were championed
by the people and the government of Baltimore.
Speaker 3 (03:37):
So we really feel not only that we owe.
Speaker 4 (03:40):
The city to be a place that feels like there's
but also that we really want it to be a
place that people feel welcome and that they can learn
about how to take care of the habitats around them, like,
for example, the Chesapeake Bay or even the water in
the Inner Harbor, which is why it's been really cool
to see how people have embraced harbor wetland, which I
know if you've had a chance to check out with
(04:02):
your fam But it's a really special exhibit because it's free,
it's open to the public.
Speaker 3 (04:08):
It kind of recreates what.
Speaker 4 (04:10):
We know the harbor would have looked like before it
was industrialized and brings that ecosystem back to the slip
between our two pyramid shaped buildings. And it has been
visited actually by already forty thousand people in the three
months it's been open, So we're really thrilled that locals
and visitors alike are embracing this opportunity to really actually
(04:33):
get out on top of the Inner Harbor on this
really beautiful decking and experience some of the interactives we
have and really look at this marshland and imagine what.
Speaker 3 (04:43):
This area was once like. But not only is it
a great teaching experience.
Speaker 4 (04:47):
And also just kind of fun to have an outdoor
exhibit that anyone can go to when we're open, but
we also are seeing really great success with the animals
but have been coming and really embracing this habitat as
their own too, which is really awesome. You might have
seen we had a video of some otters that decided
they wanted to take a little play and romp around
(05:08):
on the education deck.
Speaker 3 (05:09):
That was definitely a highlight for everyone. We've seen snakes,
we've seen turtles, we've seen birds.
Speaker 4 (05:15):
I've been walking at an event late at night and
seen herons kind of perching, like large, large herons perching there.
Speaker 3 (05:21):
So, you know, we're excited about the possibilities.
Speaker 4 (05:24):
We're excited to have it open in the fall and
see what kind of animals you know, in the fall
and into the winter are coming through in those seasons.
To your point, we want everyone in Baltimore to know
that the Aquarium is for them, that Harbor Wetland is
open and available to them, and that we really really
value being a part of the fabric of Baltimore.
Speaker 1 (05:41):
I know the Aquarium is an institution here locally, and
I want to assume that everybody knows about the aquarium,
But I don't know who's exactly listening to this, you
know podcast. So give me a little background about the
National Aquarium.
Speaker 4 (05:52):
Sure, So, the National Aquarium opened in nineteen eighty one,
and we are home to thousands and thousands of fish
and reptiles and birds and even mammals. Like slots and
our buildings take you on a journey through tropical rainforests,
through an Atlantic coral reef, through wetlands, through the local
(06:12):
habitats of Maryland, and there's really something for everyone. Our
jellies exhibit is super instagramble, so a lot of people
really love it in there. It's also great for toddlers
if you need something to you know, you might be
familiar with that to like engage them for a minute.
Speaker 3 (06:26):
The jellies are very soothing. We've been around.
Speaker 4 (06:29):
For over four decades and we are located right in
the heart of Baltimore, in the Inner Harbor, and we are,
you know, really lucky to be one of the institutions
in Baltimore that not only brings locals in but also
brings in a lot of tourists because we know that
those tourist dollars really helped the Baltimore economy too. We
(06:50):
actually in twenty twenty three did an economic impact report
and we found out that one in every ten tourism
related dollars spent in Baltimore comes from someone visiting the
National Aquarium. So we feel this great responsibility to the
city of Baltimore, and we know we can do that
through both engaging programs and also continuing to bring tourists
here that then go out and enjoy the local restaurants
(07:12):
and shops and other attractions, and so we feel lucky
to be an anchor in that way. And it's a
really fun time too.
Speaker 1 (07:20):
I've always found it fascinating before I moved here, too,
because I had heard about the aquarium before even moving
to Baltimore. And my wife will talk about how her class,
she grew up in upstate New York, her class did
a trip to DC and they made a stop in
Baltimore to see the aquarium. I have friends from the
Boston area that will come down to see Red Sox
games at Camden Yards, and they always go to the
aquarium when.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
They come to us.
Speaker 3 (07:40):
To Red Sox fans, you know, like.
Speaker 1 (07:41):
Look, someone's coming in. They're coming in, and we're excited
about it, exactly right. But I'm just fascinated by the
reach that this particular aquarium has, you know what I mean.
And I'm not trying to compare it to others, but
a lot of cities have aquariums, but there's something about
the National Aquarium here in Baltimore that seems to really
attract people to come here.
Speaker 3 (07:59):
Yeah, thank you.
Speaker 4 (08:00):
I appreciate that we definitely see guests from the areas
you were mentioning. We definitely do notice an uptick during
baseball games with some of our division rivals, and we
welcome all baseball fans.
Speaker 3 (08:12):
To come visit the aquarium.
Speaker 4 (08:13):
Yeah, I think there is something really unique about an
aquarium like ours that's situated in the middle of a
city center. You have kind of all the appeal of
a walkable urban area, and then you also have, you know,
this place where you can go immerse yourself and all
these beautiful habitats and kind of have a moment of
peace or respite, or if you're with a school group,
a moment of excitement.
Speaker 3 (08:34):
And entertainment, maybe not restite.
Speaker 4 (08:36):
And we feel really lucky to be positioned in a
way that everyone can kind of easily get here if
they're in town for something else, or perhaps have planned
a visit to the aquarium as their driver to come,
and then they get to go do a lot of
other things. You know, we know that we reliably are
ranked in the top three aquariums in the nation, So
(08:57):
appreciate your shout out and what you're feeling in its
real people do really enjoy our exhibits and the experience
they have when they're there. And the thing that we've
noticed is when people come with loved ones, friends or family,
that they actually rank their experience even higher. So we
know that that is how a lot of people are
coming there in town for a baseball game with a
few buddies and they come over and enjoy it. Grandma
(09:19):
and Grandpa come into town for the holidays and we
take them to the aquarium. It's definitely a place where
people make special memories. And I think that that's part
of the kind of appeal and why folks are drawn
from all over the region in the country to visit us.
Speaker 1 (09:34):
And it seems kind of bulletproof too. And in that
I mean, like, look, Baltimore's the city not without its problems.
Speaker 2 (09:39):
You watch the news. I watch the news and get it.
Speaker 1 (09:41):
But the aquarium never gets the bashing or the hatred
that people have for other elements of the city. Right, Like,
people always have a positive and favorable opinion of the
aquarium no matter what other situation is going on. And
I love that because you are doing great stuff. You
are providing this incredible opportunity for the local community. As
we mentioned before, you're doing stuff outside of the aquarium
(10:02):
walls as well, and a lot of conservation efforts both
locally and in different spots of the area. So I
think it's I think it's just great. I mean, there's
not many brands that seem.
Speaker 2 (10:11):
To have this power that you guys do.
Speaker 1 (10:13):
So I don't know what you've been doing, what you're
putting in the water, but whatever it is, keeping up,
thank you.
Speaker 4 (10:18):
You know, something we learned early on are we are
absolutely you know, bullish and cheerleaders for Baltimore, but we
have learned, you know, when there are negative news cycles,
when there are real challenges that are happening in the city,
you know, sometimes the knee jerk reaction can be for
a brand or an organization to pull back on their
marketing dollars.
Speaker 3 (10:37):
Well, we're never going to counteract that negative message. Well
that's kind of throwing money out a problem.
Speaker 4 (10:42):
But actually we've found and we've learned quite the opposite
that that's when we double down on Baltimore. So, you know,
during COVID in other times where there's been challenges in
getting people to visit, we've not pulled back on our
investment in letting people know, in marketing and letting people
know what's going on at the aquarium and in letting
people know that Baltimore is a great place for them
(11:03):
to come. We actually partner with the destination marketing organization
visit Baltimore and partner with them on some of their
advertising because we know that a visit to Baltimore means
a visit to the aquarium, and we know that a
visit to the aquarium only helps Baltimore. So I think
that is something unique that we do that we've We've
talked with other cultural attractions in other areas and here locally,
(11:24):
and it is a lesson we've learned that we're happy
to share with others. You know, if you believe in
your product and if you believe in the where you're located,
like we believe in Baltimore, you know, don't shy away
from continuing to combat any negative messages with the positive
ones and with what all the great things that are
going on.
Speaker 1 (11:40):
The redevelopment of the harbor that we've been hearing so
much about. How would that impact you guys.
Speaker 2 (11:44):
Or do you know?
Speaker 4 (11:46):
We don't know yet, but we do know that having
the empty, languishing pavilions was not good for us. While we,
to your point, were able to still maintain mostly business
as usual, it is hard when you have folks, especially
coming from out of town that maybe have old perception
of the Inner Harbor where oh I can go to
the aquium, that I can walk and I can go
to a restaurant, I can go to a shop, I
(12:07):
can you know, do all these things in this very
tight district and distance, and that really, unfortunately hasn't quite
been the case until the recent investment in bringing in
the you know shops through the Boost program, in bringing
in the main in Baltimore store, for example, in the
Light Street pavilion. So we have seen some reinvestment from
you know MCB as they're trying to get everything off
(12:29):
the ground to try to remind folks like this is
a place to go to have lunch, to shop, to
do all these different things, and that is notable. Like
the vibrancy around the Harbor has picked up a bit.
It was feeling really sad and desolate for a while.
And again, while it didn't necessarily directly impact our bottom line,
it didn't feel didn't feel like a great full experience
(12:51):
for people, and it definitely was damaging in my opinion
to the reputation of Baltimore. So we're looking forward to
any activity there that will help store traffic from both
locals and tourists, that will help, you know, allow people
to engage again in the Inner Harbor in a in
a good way, in a way you would like to,
whether you're on a trip or kind of coming down
(13:11):
for the weekend from.
Speaker 3 (13:13):
Any of the neighborhoods in Baltimore to spend some time there.
Speaker 4 (13:15):
So shorter answer is, we don't know, but we do
know that it should be positive hopefully mine.
Speaker 1 (13:20):
You got a great website, let's get that in there
so people know where they can go to find out
more info. You can buy tickets all that. Where should
they go?
Speaker 3 (13:26):
Thanks? Yeah, so you can visit aqua dot org.
Speaker 4 (13:29):
So Aqua dot org you can find information about tickets,
about tours and other special immersive experiences, where you can
go behind the scenes. You can find information about all
of our community programs. And if you want to go
directly to that page, you can go to Aqua dot
org slash your aquarium and that has information about all
of our free and reduced programs. And then yeah, if
(13:51):
you want to learn about harbor Wetland. The hours for
Harbor Wetland are posted on aqua dot org and any
other information you need to know about planning your visit.
Also shout out our Instagram page at National Aquarium has
a lot of great information as well.
Speaker 1 (14:05):
I know you talked about the Harbor Wetland a little
bit earlier in this conversation, but I'm so intrigued by it,
and we did visit there not too long ago.
Speaker 2 (14:13):
I love it.
Speaker 1 (14:14):
I love it so much like if I worked in
that area, that's where I would have launch every single day,
Like it is such a beautiful space out there. We
saw ducks, we saw crabs, we saw all these different
things walking around there in the way. What's the endgame
for this besides having people have an opportunity to come
walk around. Is this part of the revitalization efforts of
the harbor as well?
Speaker 3 (14:33):
Absolutely so.
Speaker 4 (14:35):
With partners like Waterfront Partnership, for example, we are really
committed to helping actually change the quality and the outcomes
of the.
Speaker 3 (14:43):
Help of the Inner Harbor.
Speaker 4 (14:45):
So we are really supportive of all the work they're
doing around helping the harbor become safer for animals and
humans alike, and our goal is by restoring this original
habitat that we will help not only bring back animals
that you know, this area really hasn't seen in a while,
(15:05):
but also actually help change the water quality. And we
have partners that we are working with to do water
quality testing and we actually have seen a marked improvement
in the water in the kind of footprint of Harbor wetland,
and if you compare that water quality to water you know,
just several feet away, it's markedly improved. So you know,
(15:28):
we are trying to do our part to improve the
ecosystem that's literally right on our campus, and we definitely
do talk with other folks who are building other floating
wetlands and other parts of the harbor we want from
partnership is working on a lot of different ideas around
the redevelopment of the Inner Harbor and including things that
are really focused on sustainability and water quality improvement and
(15:53):
all of that. So we are definitely a part of
those conversations because to your point, we recognize that we
have this responsibility in our own backyard to improve the
quality of this huge asset for the city that really
hasn't been able to be used as a water asset
in so many years because of all the harm that
was done over the years prior. So we're excited to
be a part of kind of this revitalization both of
(16:16):
you know, the activities and the businesses and everything along
the waterfront, but also the actual water itself and you know,
positioning it as a public asset for baltimorean's.
Speaker 1 (16:27):
I know everybody wants instant results whenever something happens, but
I love that. I love that we are seeing the
results from all of the efforts, from what you guys
are doing from the water from partnership. I know they've
been so invested over to last I mean I've been
in Baltimore for almost seventeen years. I mean just watching
what they've done in that period of time is fascinating.
I mean, just a few months ago they did the
swim in the harbor and that's something that I never
(16:49):
thought I would see in my lifetime.
Speaker 2 (16:51):
And here we are.
Speaker 1 (16:52):
I know, again, it's not going to happen overnight, but
just being able to see things changing and seeing these
efforts you know, get the results you were looking for
is great.
Speaker 2 (17:01):
I love to see all that.
Speaker 4 (17:02):
Yeah, No, we're really happy that everyone seems to have
this common purpose and are really taking really bold actions
to get there. So you know, we actually have worked
closely with Katie Pumphrey on a few things, and her
efforts with the Bait of Baltimore Swim and her partnership
with Waterfront Partnership have been really inspiring to see.
Speaker 3 (17:20):
So it is exciting.
Speaker 1 (17:22):
I know you've got Downtown Discovery Days coming up. Tell
me more about that we do.
Speaker 3 (17:25):
So.
Speaker 4 (17:26):
Downtown Discovery Days is a program that we do in
partnership with Downtown Partnership of Baltimore. They are the ones
who kind of lead the charge and it features many
of the local cultural attractions. But it is one of
our most impactful free programs that we offer, and it
is coming up in January of twenty twenty five, so
(17:47):
we will give away ten thousand tickets. People can reserve
the day and time that works best for them in
a multi week range, and then they will get free
tickets to come visit the aquarium.
Speaker 3 (17:58):
It's something we evolved from what you see to be
Dollar Days.
Speaker 4 (18:01):
You may remember it since you've been in Baltimore for
quite some time, and what we really found is it's
a better experience for folks that they can pick the
days and times that.
Speaker 3 (18:09):
They're off work or off school or whatever works best
for them, so they can come and it's convenient.
Speaker 4 (18:13):
They don't have to wait in a line, and they
get to experience the aquarium like anyone does on any.
Speaker 3 (18:18):
Day, except as free.
Speaker 4 (18:19):
So we are really excited to be offering that again
this January and aqui dot org splash or aquarium is
where we will notify folks about when the tickets will
be available.
Speaker 3 (18:31):
Usually it's two or three weeks before the promotion.
Speaker 4 (18:33):
We open them up and we will be excited to
welcome all those guests in the winter.
Speaker 1 (18:38):
I think that's a great time too, because that's a
time of year where I think a a lot of
people have already spent all their money for the holidays,
so money is a little bit tight. But b they
also don't want to just be sitting in the house
like it's so boring. I know January is the one
cold month in Baltimore tends to be January, but still
like that's when people are so bored and tired of
sitting around the house.
Speaker 2 (18:57):
So I love that you're.
Speaker 1 (18:58):
Picking this time as a way to inspire folks not
just to come to the aquarium, but also just to
get outside, like let's go do something.
Speaker 4 (19:04):
Yeah, And something I always remind folks that is something
I do as self care for myself in those cold,
doldrum months, is we have a tropical rainforest and if
you come and visit it in January, you will think
you were on a Caribbean vacation. So I think it's
a really fun time to come to the aquarium.
Speaker 3 (19:24):
There aren't a lot of crowds. There are you know,
all the.
Speaker 4 (19:28):
Usual animals, and you can experience all these habitats and
pretender and somewhere warm and lovely and not in cold
gray Baltimore.
Speaker 2 (19:36):
Now I love it. It's a tough time of year,
I know.
Speaker 1 (19:38):
I was just speaking with someone from the zoo recently
and they were just talking about how ingrained they are
with the local schools as well.
Speaker 2 (19:45):
Do you provide opportunities for.
Speaker 5 (19:46):
Local schools to have visits and to come in We do, yeah,
So we work with the state's Department of Education to
offer free programs to Maryland schools up to a certain
you know number, and we also offer free school visits to.
Speaker 4 (20:03):
Thousands of school children each year. So our busy times
are right now and then again in the spring. And
something that's really special with the addition of Harbor Wetland
is with the city schools, we do a program called
what Lives in the Harbor is also free to those schools,
and they get to actually come out and be a
part of that measurement and data gathering that I talked
(20:23):
about to look at the water improvement, and they get
to test different things about water quality that I can
only touch the surface of, like pun intended, you know,
salinity and turbidity, and they get to learn so much
about what does it take to make sure this habitat
is really working and thriving and actually doing a service
to this, to the animals that are here, and to
the overall water quality. And they get to have this
(20:46):
really hands on experience and that is free, and it's
a really incredible thing to see. You know, their middle
school students, and you know, if you know any middle
school students, they can be sometimes a little hard to
excite or engage, but it is really special to see
their faces when they're you know, doing this really hands
on science in this really beautiful setting and feel like
(21:07):
they're contributing to kind of a project greater than them.
So that's been something really great that we've loved partnering
with Baltimore City Public Schools on Well, I have.
Speaker 1 (21:16):
To tell you the Aquarium has a very special place
in my heart.
Speaker 2 (21:19):
We were members there for a bit with.
Speaker 1 (21:21):
When we first had our daughter, so we spent a
lot of time going down there and showing her all
the animals and watching her face light up. One of
our top five photos of our daughter is from the
Jellies exhibit at the Aquarium. Just I don't know what
it was about the lighting and her face. Everything is
just such a perfect picture of her that we still
like have.
Speaker 2 (21:38):
Hanging up in the house right now.
Speaker 1 (21:40):
I love that I got to snorkel in the aquarium
before you turned into black is it?
Speaker 2 (21:44):
Blackfin reath? Black tip breath?
Speaker 1 (21:47):
I got to snorkel with Calypso may she rest in
peace and all the other rays that were there. Just
so many, so many fond memories of my time in
Baltimore have come to me from moments at the aquarium. So,
I mean, you're such an institution. As I said before,
I love it. I mean so much to meet myself
and so many people here.
Speaker 4 (22:05):
Yeah, thank you, And you know we love being a
part of people's family memories. It's always really heartwarming to see,
whether it's through personal connections or folks sharing on social
you know, those really special, magical moments that people then
you know, might actually print out and like put on
their wall, which no one doesn't photos anymore, and so
that's really great. And we're also going to be hitting
(22:26):
a really cool milestone in the next few weeks.
Speaker 3 (22:29):
Actually, we're going to be reaching our sixty.
Speaker 4 (22:32):
Million guests amazing, which is really crazy but not surprising
since we've been here since nineteen eighty one, and we're
just so grateful that Baltimore is like you and your
family and others have chosen to make us a part
of their experiences. And you know, because we've seen these
guests over the years, we are then able to fulfill
our mission. You know, our ticket revenue is really what
(22:55):
fuels us as a nonprofit. So thank you to everyone listening.
Speaker 3 (23:00):
It's been to the.
Speaker 4 (23:00):
Aquarium and we're just so thrilled that we've had these
special experiences with almost sixty million people in the last decades,
and again their visits, your visit helps us fund all
of the conservation work we're doing. Open free exhibits like
Harbor Wetland offer free and reduced admission for folks, So
(23:20):
without these sixty million guests, we couldn't do all of that.
Speaker 2 (23:23):
That's incredible.
Speaker 1 (23:24):
Well, Emma, one more time, where do people go to
find all the info they need and where they can
get their tickets and all that.
Speaker 4 (23:29):
So go to Aqua dot org and you can find
all the information you need to purchase tickets, to plan
your visit, to attend one of our community programs. We
also have a really cool adult series called Voyages that's
for folks twenty one and up and features local artists
and food and beverage and you know, anything you really
need to know from that from us, you can find.
Speaker 3 (23:50):
Out at Aqua dot org.
Speaker 1 (23:52):
I love it, Emma, You're fantastic. Thank you for all
the work that you do. It's a pleasure. I know
we've known each other for a long time, but we've
never really sat and talked about the aquarium before, so
this was really a treat for me to get to
hear all of your insight as someone on the inside.
So thank you for your time. You were the vice
president of Marketing and Engagement Strategy for the National Aquarium.
Speaker 2 (24:10):
This was great. I appreciate you.
Speaker 3 (24:12):
Yeah, thanks, Jeff, I appreciate you.
Speaker 4 (24:14):
This is really fun and I hope to see you
and the fam at the aquarium sooner.
Speaker 2 (24:18):
I'm sure you will.
Speaker 1 (24:22):
Big thank you to Emma for her time now. I've
known Emma for many years now, so this was a
real pleasure to be able to speak with her for this.
For more information or to start planning your trip, visit
aqua dot org.
Speaker 2 (24:33):
And thank you to all of you for.
Speaker 1 (24:34):
Listening to this episode of Delightful Destinations. Until next time,
be well.
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