NYSTC24 FAM Tour: Transformations! Curated & Hosted by Destination Niagara USA

Destination Niagara USA and NYSTIA invite you to join your tourism colleagues and explore Niagara Falls USA’s iconic attractions! Prepare for an adventure as we visit three unique destination sites that have transformed over the years, enhancing the overall experience for visitors and locals alike. Afterward, enjoy a reception at the Niagara Falls Convention Center and savor the local flavors of Western New York—from pizza to pierogies, and everything in between! SPACE IS LIMITED - Sign Up!

Bus departs at 2 PM on Tuesday, April 16 for an unforgettable experience visiting:

• Cave of the Winds
• Aquarium of Niagara
• Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center
• Reception at the Niagara Falls Convention Center

Ticket: $65.00 (includes round-trip bus transportation, guided tours, admission to all venues, light fare, and two (2) drink tickets! Learn More & Sign Up

Next Lunch & Learn Webinar:

Updates for 2024: Upgrades, On the Canals Programs & More!

Join Bill Sweitzer from the New York State Canal Corporation tomorrow as he takes you through their updates for 2024 and the opportunities for your destination, including the On the Canals program and more! Get 'On the Canals' updates and a look ahead to the upcoming season. Register Now

• Hear information on Canal Corporation's Bicentennial Forums in partnership with SUNY and NYS Department of State.
• On April 10 Canals will convene two engaging panels to discuss “Accessible Recreation on the Canalway.” Business providers, municipalities and destinations are encouraged to attend the Presentations and Vendor Expo.
• What's up for the 2024 Canal Season & the Erie Canal 2025 Bicentennial.

When: Wednesday, March 27 at 12:00 pm E.T.

Cost: Free!

Please share this invite! The NYSTIA Lunch & Learn Webinars are open to all NYSTIA members and their guests. Register Now

2024 NYSTC Speaker Announcements:

RECAP: Moneyball: Rethinking Your Social Media Game to Score Consistent Wins

During last week's Lunch & Learn Webinar, Chris Parsons, Director of Social Media at Workshop, to showed us how your destination marketing team can take the guesswork out of social media efforts by applying Moneyball principles that uncover abundant data and enable game-changing content choices

Read the Full Recap

Last weekend, NYSTIA Exhibited at the Montreal Outdoor Adventure Show, a two-day show at the Palais des congrès de Montréal. Joining us was Kosta Tsimiklis, a representative from Canadian Rep Firm Reach Global Marketing, and translator Sylvie Neslson from Adirondack Executive Services in the booth. This was one of the best shows I have exhibited at. We had a constant flow of attendees looking to come to New York and find great outdoor destinations. Due to the number of brochures the attendees were taking, we continuously restocked the booth throughout the show!

Read the Full Recap

Nominating is a once-a-year opportunity to recognize the amazing work you and your colleagues do every day to advance New York State tourism. Nominate your own organization, a leader, a partner in your county, or a colleague deserving of recognition. Let us know what you and your team have been up to, or let someone know how much you appreciate their hard work!

Nominate Now

• U.S. Travel's Global Meetings Industry Day (GMID) and National Travel & Tourism Week (NTTW) toolkits are now available! Use your voice to celebrate travel and meetings' undeniable impact on communities and businesses across the country. Download the NTTW Toolkit | Download the GMID Toolkit
• Key Issue Talking Points: NYSHTA's 2024 Tourism Advocacy Day one-pager. The comprehensive document highlights their main budget and legislative priorities for 2024 on short-term rentals, the COVID sick leave law, ADA website legislation, and more.

You can access NYSTIA's Advocacy Action Center anytime to View Key Legislation and contact your elected representatives.

On Wednesday, April 10, the NYS Canal Corporation will convene two engaging panels to discuss “Accessible Recreation on the Canalway,” at the Brighton Campus of SUNY Monroe Community College in Rochester. New York Chief Disability Officer Kim Hill will deliver the keynote address and moderate the first panel discussion. 

They welcome municipal leaders, community planners and developers, and providers to discover new ways to enjoy the canalway while ensuring accessibility for all!

Register Now

Governor Kathy Hochul celebrated the start of spring with the launch of the New York Blooms Report, a weekly report to help New Yorkers identify the best places to see roses, lilacs, tulips, cherry blossoms, and magnolias at more than 30 partner attractions across New York State. The reports, managed by I LOVE NY and designed to encourage and help travelers plan a spring getaway, feature on-site information from staff at a variety of botanical and public gardens, farms, State Parks and historic sites across New York.



Continue Reading

Maria Sheetz is the Senior Director of Media Solutions at Amadeus Global Destinations. She works to support DMOs and state tourism offices in the United States and Canada with Amadeus' offerings including data and market intelligence and media solutions to drive profitable revenue to the destination through digital marketing. Prior to Amadeus, she worked as a Senior Director, Partner Development at Brand USA...



Meet Maria

Please welcome Ann Flach, Marketing and Communications Coordinator at Campground Owners of New York (CONY), to the NYSTIA community! In this position, Ann is actively engaging with campground owners and outdoor enthusiasts to boost interaction and interest in camping in NY. Her role involves crafting captivating social media content, orchestrating impactful email marketing campaigns, and creating visually stunning graphics for both digital and print media.

Meet Ann

Outdoor travel is the #1 travel trend! Be a part of the June/July issue of ROVA Magazine's 'I Love NY'-Branded 'Epic Summer Road Trips & NYS Wineries' NYSTIA Co-Op Section for special issue content and added value! You can also join the August/September Brewery & Fishing Section.

Each participant receives multimedia exposure on rovamag.com with a banner and those with a 1/4 page or larger can submit a blog to share their destination's story for the section theme(s)!

Learn More & Sign Up

This coming June, we are thrilled to introduce our inaugural America’s 250th Special Section, an exclusive editorial that will capture the essence of this historic event. By participating in our America’s 250th Special Section, you’re ahead of the curve.  Be among the first to capture the interest of tour planners as they start to create itineraries. We will also have a webpage dedicated to America 250th on our Leisuregrouptravel.com website, where your ad will be featured with promotion via our newsletter and social media. Space closes April 15th!

Learn More & Sign Up!

No new job postings have been submitted this week, but be sure to view the open positions on our NYS Tourism Careers Page.

Take the Tourism Advocacy Survey | Share your DEAI Case Study

Take the New DEAI Survey | 2024 Tourism Champions Agreement |

Submit a Workshop Proposal | 2024 Travel Show Schedule

WHAT WE DO TOGETHER:

Advancing responsible, sustainable economic growth, community revitalization, small business success, job creation, quality of life and pride of place by realizing the potential of New York State's tourism industry and facilitating the success of NYSTIA members.