April 21, 2026

Subscribe to this Newsletter

We can’t wait to welcome you to the 2026 New York State Tourism Conference in Utica! To help you make the most of your time with us, be sure to view our Know Before You Go email for important reminders, special sessions, networking opportunities, dinner plans, and more. See you soon!

As this year's conference has reached the capacity of the facility, we regret that we cannot accept any additional registrations.

"1:1s are a great way to discover emerging tech that helps us work smarter, not harder. They’re a no-pressure way for us to connect with solution providers outside of the typical workday when taking sales calls is challenging, at best. I leave with a menu of options from companies I already have a baseline level of trust in, knowing that NYSTIA has vetted them in advance." - Cass Majestic, Destination Marketing Corp.

And now for the first time ever, each session you book will earn you an additional entry into our drawing for a fantastic local Utica gift basket! Book Your Sessions | About the 1:1 Appointments

Conference Session Announcements:

Advocacy in Action: Strengthening Tourism's Voice in Your Community

Breakout Session

Friday, April 24

This breakout session explores how tourism professionals can strengthen their voice, engage community stakeholders, and position tourism as an essential driver of economic and community development. About this session

Workforce

Development Update

Industry Updates

Thursday, April 23

Hear about key workforce development initiatives, including the launch of a new workforce website, a student-led “I Am Tourism” video campaign, and insights gathered from a recent statewide student forum. About this session

How Destinations are Building the Case for Tourism:

This Orange County Tourism testimonial video was created to showcase the real impact of their work and the value of partnerships. With tourism budgets being increasingly under pressure, this video reinforces the need to "do more" to "get more" by inviting locals to share, in their own words, how they work with the OC team and why their partnership matters.

Check out the video 👉

More Destination Stories

📣 Be a Tourism Advocate! Sign up to the NYSTIA Advocacy Action Center to receive alerts in our future advocacy efforts.

Please welcome Travis Cain is the Co-Founder and Creative Director at Brave World Media, to the NYSTIA Community! Travis has an impressive, award-winning branding and graphic design career that spans over 3 decades. He ran his own design studio for several...

Meet Travis

The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) announced that 10 projects and individuals have been recognized with 2026 New York State Historic Preservation Awards. This year’s awards recognize preservation advocates...

Continue Reading

Our State Park system keeps growing, and that means more places to get outside and enjoy the outdoors. These newer state parks reflect a bigger effort to improve access and welcome more people into outdoor spaces across the state. If you’re looking for somewhere new...

Continue Reading on ptny.org

As America marks its 250th anniversary, the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor is launching Revolutionary Experiences road trips along New York’s historic waterways. These self-guided itineraries invite residents and visitors alike to explore the people, places, and ideas...

Continue Reading

The Cayuga County Tourism Office is pleased to announce the 2026 Tour Cayuga Tourism Support Grant, a funding opportunity designed to support public programming that celebrates Cayuga County and encourages visitation to the destination. Now in its fifth year, the...

Continue Reading on U.S. Travel.org

The National GUITAR Museum is a high-impact cultural attraction with a documented history of increasing overnight visitation and stimulating downtown commerce. The museum is now looking for just one American city to become its permanent home. Interested?

Get the Prospectus

The DEAI Committee has launched a special America 250 initiative, NY250: Untold Stories, dedicated to uncovering, preserving, and uplifting the diverse, often overlooked, and historically marginalized stories. The goal is to collect 250 untold stories, and we...

Contribute an untold story

As travelers book closer to departure and domestic travel continues to lead, staying visible during key decision moments is critical for capturing summer demand. Powered by the world’s largest OTA, Expedia Group Advertising helps destinations reach and convert high-intent travelers using exclusive first-party data, with ROI reporting tied directly to bookings.

Expedia Group Advertising is offering NYSTIA partners a 1:1 media match (up to $50K) on standalone targeted display campaigns—instantly doubling investment and expanding reach across travelers actively planning on Expedia Group brands. Match funding and premium inventory are allocated on a rolling basis. Contact Kirsten Asuncion for details. Learn More

Promote your destination, attractions and special heritage in the October 2026 AMERICA Journal feature section! As we prepare to commemorate America's 250th Anniversary, we have a special opportunity in the October 2026 edition to share New York State's amazing heritage. Participating destinations will be able to recommend / upload content - copy points and provide photography - for consideration by the America Journal editorial team.

Learn More & Sign Up

No new jobs have been posted this week, but you can view the open listing anytime on our website. Open Job Listings

Become a Member | Join the Partnership Community

Volunteer at a Travel Show | Be a Tourism Champion | Take Off, New York!

Donate to the Scholarship Auction