Mayor Scott calls Las Vegas trip “very productive” – not “like a mini vacation”
As for how exactly the meetings would benefit Baltimore, Scott told reporters “details from ICSC meetings come after there’s agreements”
Above: “Sponsorship opportunities” for this year’s Maryland Party feature a photo of Maryland Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller and Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott at last year’s event.(themarylandparty.com)
Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott today defended his travel to Las Vegas to attend the annual shopping center convention and the Maryland Party held at the Wynn Las Vegas, saying the trip was “very productive, as always.”
“I don’t drink or gamble, so Las Vegas isn’t a place that I typically would be going to, because I live a boring life,” he quipped. “But every time we’re at ICSC [International Council of Shopping Centers], it’s worth it.”
Speaking at his regular press availability, Scott gave by way of example the redevelopment of the Westside’s Edmondson Village, suggesting that it grew out of his meeting with project lead, Chicago TREND, at the Vegas meeting a few years ago.
“I think the folks at Edmondson Village, who have sat there and saw this place be depleted for many, many, many decades, are very happy that we were able to do that,” he said.
• This year’s Maryland Party: Another cozy gathering of developers and political leaders in Vegas (5/19/25)
“This isn’t for me. This isn’t like a mini vacation,” Scott continued. “This is me literally meeting with people all day long. I was there for three days, and I didn’t touch a pool.”
The goal of his Las Vegas trip was “bringing things back to the city and also meeting with people who have made investments into the city to do a check-in.”
“We had some really good [meetings] with folks who said they’re very pleased with the city and looking for further ways to do investment,” he noted.
“I was there for three days, and I didn’t touch a pool” – Mayor Brandon Scott.
Unprompted, Scott informed the reporters that he would not be providing any specific examples of his Las Vegas networking efforts, or how they might benefit the residents of Baltimore.
“I won’t give you details because, you know, details from ICSC meetings come after there’s agreements,” he said.
Asked by The Brew to confirm that the mayor attended the Monday night Maryland Party, underwritten by major Maryland developers and organized by Owings Mills title insurance executive Howard L. Perlow, his office has not responded.