We're The Voice Of Hospitality — So You Can Focus On Your Business.
Our main goal is to promote and protect the hospitality industry so you can focus on running your business. By advocating for public policies that sustain our industry and educating elected officials about the issues and challenges our industry faces, we serve as the voice of hospitality at the local, state and national levels.
Your success is our mission!
Key Issues & Advocacy Updates
Paid family and medical leave is coming to Maryland
Learn how to prepare for FAMLI, including employer registration, critical deadlines, contribution rates, and reporting responsibilities. Find guidance on plan options, employee notifications, and managing future leave requests. Contributions begin in January 2027. Starting January 2028, eligible employees will be able to take up to 12 weeks of paid, job-protected leave. Employees will be able to welcome a new child, tend to a serious health condition, care for a loved one, or manage urgent family needs related to deployment—while still being paid up to $1,000 per week. Learn More
Save Tip Credit offers the best of both worlds — a guaranteed minimum wage plus the chance to earn big with tips! No wonder so many people love being servers!
BEPS Under the Climate Solutions Now Act of 2022, Maryland is implementing Building Energy Performance Standards (BEPS) that require covered buildings—including hotels and large restaurants (buildings over 35,000sq ft)—to reach net-zero direct greenhouse gas emissions by 2040. Hotel owners should begin evaluating energy use and exploring efficiency and decarbonization strategies now to ensure long-term compliance and minimize operational impacts.
Effective January 1, 2026, the Worcester County Room Tax is 6%. Additionally, the Maryland sales tax is 6%, for a total of 12% tax on lodging rooms.
Use this tool from the MD State Archives to find out about your Maryland elected officials, including who represents you in the Maryland General Assembly and U.S. Congress
Meet Your Ocean City Mayor and Council
Need help figuring out how to submit testimony or share your opinion, check out the MD Tourism Coalition Advocacy Handbook.
Need to renew your license - click here to access OC Government page
Click here to access Town of Ocean City Code
Worcester County Board of License Commissioners oversees the alcohol rules.
Alcohol Awareness Rules:
A holder (or an employee designated by a holder) of any class of retail alcoholic beverages license, except for a temporary license issued pursuant to Section 7-101 of the Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland, shall complete training in an alcohol awareness program which is approved and certified by the State Comptroller. The training is valid for a period of 4 years. Every 4 years the holder (or designated employee) shall complete retraining in an approved alcohol awareness program.
The current alcohol awareness wallet card or certificate for the designated employee shall be posted within the establishment.
Except for a Class C license, a licensee or person in a supervisory capacity shall be certified by an approved alcohol awareness course and be on the premises during the hours in which alcohol may be sold, unless the person is required to be absent for no more than 2 hours in the case of a bona fide emergency. A logbook documenting the length of each temporary absence and the reason for the absence shall be kept on the premises and made available upon request to the Alcoholic Beverage Inspector.
Click here for the complete set of Rules and Regulations for Alcohol Licenses
Why is Advocacy Important?
The OCMD Hospitality Association is the voice of the industry, and our team works tirelessly to advocate on your behalf, but, your participation makes our efforts stronger. By staying informed, speaking up, and getting involved, you help shape the policies and decisions that impact your business every day.
Lawmakers want to hear feedback directly from their constituents to help craft policy that reflects the needs of their community.
Legislators need you to educate them on what it takes to operate a business.
They need to see that there are real people who are struggling every day to keep up with Maryland’s growing list of mandates, regulations, and pressures.