January 20, 2026

Subscribe to this Newsletter

New in 2026: NYSTIA Virtual Advocacy

'Open Floor' Sessions

First Virtual Call on Monday, February 9 | 10:00 - 10:30 AM

The NYSTIA Advocacy Committee is excited to introduce a new quarterly initiative designed to strengthen our collective advocacy voice. Beginning next month, the NYSTIA Advocacy Committee will host quarterly Open Floor Sessions, inviting members from across the state to come together for candid, peer-to-peer conversations about advocacy and legislation affecting New York’s tourism industry. The meetings will be hosted virtually on NYSTIA's Google Meet platform.


These sessions are designed to be open discussions where you are encouraged to unmute, share experiences, and exchange ideas. By convening regularly, NYSTIA hopes to better understand the challenges and opportunities you are facing and ensure our advocacy efforts continue to reflect the real needs of our membership. And, provide another opportunity for the industry to convene and learn from one another.


The inaugural Advocacy Open Floor Session will take place virtually on Monday, February 9, from 10:00 to 10:30 AM. This first conversation will focus on strengthening NYSTIA’s Tourism: It’s Everybody’s Business advocacy materials. We invite your feedback on how the documents could be improved to best support your budget discussions and legislative outreach.


We look forward to hearing directly from you and building stronger advocacy together!

View as Webpage

In This Newsletter:

Issue Feature:

- Advocacy Open Floor Sessions

- Tomorrow: Wednesday Webinar

- 2026 Travel Show Season Begins!


Advocacy:

- 2026 State of the State Address

- NYCON: Are You Owed State Funding?


Industry News:

- Registration Open for the MANY Annual Conference

- Governor Hochul Celebrates Micron's Facility

- $500,000 NYS Community World Cup Grant Program Launched

- Vote for the Strong as Best Museum

- Take Off, NY Example Social Media Post


Events:

- Wednesday Webinar

- Retirement Celebration in Honor of Carol Eaton


Featured Co-Ops:

- ROVA: The Magazine for Epic Road Trips

- New York Family Media


Careers:

- Paid Media & Data Strategist, Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism (ROOST)

Tomorrow:

January 21 | 9:15-9:45 AM | Free | Register Now

The Catskills: Turning Data into Destination Growth

Join us this Wednesday to discover how to connect the dots between visitor experience, behavior, and spend data to guide strategic decisions and drive growth! Featuring a case study of Ulster County and led by Jamie Mageau, Head of Advisory Services and Sally Donovan, Client Relations Lead at Rove, you'll explore fresh ideas and hear how leading destinations use data to drive measurable impact. 


Rove is excited to share peer experiences with you as they talk about The Catskills. This session is designed for destination leaders and marketing executives who want to unlock actionable insights and make smarter, data-informed decisions that strengthen community impact. Register Now

January 14 Webinar Recap: For those of you who missed last week's Wednesday Webinar Agritourism, Accessibility, and Adventure: Insights from Australia Shaping Tomorrow's Travel  with Garrett Tyler-Parker from Tourism Research Australia (TRA)you can access the full recording and slide deck here.

NYSTIC 2026 Travel Show Season Begins in Washington, D.C.!

We launched our 2026 travel show schedule over the weekend at Washington, D.C. Travel Adventure Show to enormous traveler interest! Our booth was crowded with attendees of all ages seeking diverse experiences, with many expressing interest in trips related to America's 250th Commemoration...


Continue Reading

Don't Wait to Register for the 2026 NYS Tourism Conference | Train Travel at 15% Discount

We hope to see you on April 22-24, 2026 in lively Utica, NY for three days of learning, collaboration, and inspiration! Travel to Utica easily and sustainability by train: attendees can arrive at and depart from Utica Union Station, and courtesy of Amtrak, passengers can book their travel at a 15% discount.


Learn More & Register

⚖️ Advocacy Matters to You

  • Last week, Governor Kathy Hochul delivered the 2026 State of the State Address. Notable impacts to tourism include: expanding the footprint of Niagara Falls State Park to include the nearby Whirlpool and Devil's Hole State Parks, establishing New York as the nation's hard cider capital, and expanding the county infrastructure grant program. View the Book
  • Are you owed funding from New York State, for services already delivered? Easily ask NYS and help with advocacy efforts at the same time. The New York Council of Nonprofits, Inc. and partners have created a form to make it easy for you to get that information directly to the Governor's Appointments Secretary, Cathleen Benhamin. Let NYS Know Of Your Delays

Industry News:

Registration Now Open for The Museum Association of New York's 2026 Annual Conference

Generously co-hosted by the New York State Museum—at the doorstep of state government—the conference offers a timely opportunity to connect, advocate, and celebrate the globally admired impact of museums across New York State...


Learn More & Register

Governor Hochul Celebrates Groundbreaking of Micron's Semiconductor Manufacturing Facility in Central New York

Governor Kathy Hochul today celebrated the groundbreaking of Micron’s first semiconductor fabrication facility in Clay, Onondaga County, a culminating milestone for the largest private investment in New York history and a transformational moment for the state’s economy...


Continue Reading

$500,000 New York State Community World Cup Grant Program Launched

The New York State Community World Cup Grant Program ensures the 2026 FIFA World Cup is celebrated throughout New York State by supporting locally led viewing events. Municipalities, chambers of commerce, nonprofit DMOs, tourism entities, and other eligible partners are invited to apply for support.


Learn More & Apply

Vote for the Strong National Museum of Play as Best Museum

USA Today has nominated The Strong as the “Best Children’s Museum” and “Best Pop Culture Museum” in the nation. Show your support! You can vote daily through February 9.


Vote Now

Take Off, New York Example Social Media Post

Next Week is Plan For Vacation Day

📅 Mark your calendars, next week is Plan for Vacation Day! It’s the perfect reminder to look at your earned PTO and start turning those days into real plans.


Whether it’s a cozy weekend getaway, a scenic hike, or a trip to a favorite town, taking time off benefits you and our communities, too. Start dreaming, start planning, and get ready to #TakeOffNY !


#UseYourPTO #PlanForVacationDay


Suggested Graphic: Download the easy-to-use poster template, add your destination logo and photo to encourage people to plan travel to your destination this year, and share with your network!

Access the free Take Off, New York media kit

Events & Webinars:

Wednesday Webinar: Turning Data into Destination Growth

Webinar | Rove | January 21

Learn More

Retirement Celebration in Honor of Carol Eaton

Event | Visit Syracuse | February 5

Learn More

New York State Economic Development Council Conference

Event | Economic Development Council | February 10

Learn More

Featured Co-Ops:

ROVA: The Magazine for Epic Road Trips

ROVA is a travel lifestyle magazine focused on road vacations, outdoor adventure and activities and heritage tourism. Sign up for the April/May 2026 Program: "Celebrate America 250 Road Trips" destinations. This issue includes special ROVA content featuring:


  • America 250 Iconic Summer Road Trips from America's History
  • The Bird Call of the Wild
  • Boozy Trails (includes Hudson County)


Learn More & Sign Up

New York Family Media

New York Family is here to help you reach the decision-makers behind family travel—NY-DMA parents! These engaged planners are actively seeking experiences for both adult and family travel.


New York Family specializes in custom marketing solutions, including sponsored and branded content, print (600,000 monthly readership), digital + email (160,000+ opt-in subscribers), live events & more!


Learn More & Sign Up

Job Postings

Paid Media and Data Strategist, Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism

The Paid Media and Data Strategist will support the planning and execution of advertising campaigns to reach and influence the right audiences to support goals....Learn More & Apply

Share your organization's job posting: Submit Here.

Become a Member | Join the Partnership Community

Volunteer at a 2025 Travel Show | Submit a Workshop Proposal

Be a 2026 Tourism Champion | Take Off, New York!

Thank you to our Partnership Community!

WHAT WE DO:

We assist our members in advancing responsible, sustainable economic growth, local job creation, small business success and increased vitality in our destination communities by realizing the potential of New York State's tourism industry.

Facebook  Instagram  LinkedIn  X