Businesses are not automatically members of Visit Baltimore, you have to pay dues. There's a sliding scale based on the size/volume of your business. Visit Baltimore will in turn occasionally utilize your services or products, and include you in advertising. If Union or Heavy Seas pays dues (which are far smaller than the dues that Guinness would be charged) they can be featured in advertising.

It's not political or some systemic plot, it's just business.

And my lord, that ad is embarassing. Even with my meager photoshop skills I can drop a background out.