August 11, 2026

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Join Your Friends & Colleagues

in Corning, NY!

2026 NYS Tourism Excellence Awards & Summit

Discover what your friends and colleagues have been working on this past year, celebrate their success, learn fresh perspectives, explore advocacy strategies and more in the beautiful Finger Lakes during harvest season. Make sure you and your team are registered for the 2026 NYS Tourism Excellence Summit to secure the early bird discount and save!

Book Your Room at the Radisson Hotel Corning: Our rate is no longer guaranteed if the block is already full and/or after August 14, 2026. Book Now

Experience Steuben County Hospitality! To make the most of your time in Steuben County, they've put together a site for you with everything from favorite shops and local restaurants to unique attractions. Make dinner reservations, discover museums, and explore more!

"We are thrilled to showcase Corning, a place where ideas take shape and creativity shines, from its legendary glassmaking to our historic Gaffer District, alive with boutique shops, art-filled public spaces, and an impressive culinary scene. We cannot wait to welcome you to Corning!"

- Kevin Peterson, Host DMO / Event Co-Chair

President & CEO, Explore Steuben

In This Newsletter:

Issue Feature:

- Register & Get Ready for Corning

- Make Your Own Glass at the CMoG

- Tee Up For Tourism!

- RFP: Host a NYSTIA Event in 27', 28', or 29

- 1:1 Networking Sessions

- Take the AI Adoption Maturity Assessment

- Call for Nominations! NYSTIA Board of Directors

Advocacy:

- Advocacy Masterclass with Josiah Brown

- Recap: Q3 Advocacy Storytelling Session

Industry News:

- Governor Hochul Announces Winners of 2026 NY Wine Classic

- DEC Hosts Learn to Fish Event in Utica

Events:

- How to Capture the Accessible Travel Market

- Global Virtual Business Development Co-Op

- ESTO 2026

Marketing Initiatives:

- Share Your Adventure on DiscoverUpstateNY

.com

- Online International Inbound Travel Professional Development Program

Get Ready for Your Time in Corning:

Spend Time at the Corning Museum of Glass:

Create Your Own Glass Masterpiece & Enjoy Free Admission

Make your own glass with the help of the Corning Museum of Glass' experienced glassworkers on Tuesday or Wednesday, September 15 or 16 and take home a one-of-a-kind souvenir from your time in Corning. Spots are limited, so don’t wait! Reserve Now

Free Admission: Summit attendees receive free admission September 15-18, and museum shops are providing a discount during the event.

Tee Up to Benefit the Next Generation of Tourism Leaders!

Charlie Daley & Dave Thornton Scholarship Golf Tournament

Date: Wednesday, September 16

Times: Staggered 8 Minute Intervals at 10:00 AM

Location: Indian Hills Golf Club

Share with your friends, family & network! Spend a day on the course for at the annual DONYS Scholarship Fund Golf Tournament. Details & Registration

Book Your Free 1:1 Networking Sessions!

Whether you're exploring branding, international marketing, artificial intelligence (AI), travel trade, or simply want to discover what or who's new in the industry, the 1:1 Networking Sessions are designed for you.

BONUS: Book two or more appointments to qualify for prize drawings! Slots are limited, so book now before they fill up!

🗞️ NYSTIA News

RFP Available: Host a NYSTIA Event in 2027, 2028 or 2029!

You're invited to submit proposals to host the New York State Tourism Conference and/or the New York State Tourism Excellence Summit! Hosting brings valuable attention from the state and country to your community, and also highlights visitor economy benefits to your local elected officials. Read the RFP and submit your proposal to bob@nystia.org by Friday, August 28

NYSTIA AI Initiative: Take the DMO/TPA/Tourism Business AI Adoption Maturity Assessment

The team at Rove have designed a survey to gain a better understanding of your destination's current level of AI maturity across key areas. This assessment takes just a few minutes to complete, and all responses will be kept strictly confidential. Take the Assessment

NYSTIA Board of Directors: Call for Nominations for 2026 Elections

The Nominating Committee is seeking individuals ready to put their enthusiasm, expertise and experience to work for the advancement New York's tourism industry! Continue Reading / Self-Nominate

⚖️ Advocacy Matters to You

All Advocacy

Advocacy Masterclass with the New York Sherpa

Special Program at the NYS Tourism Excellence Summit

Join Josiah Brown, the New York Sherpa and President of Famous Destination Marketing on Wednesday, September 16th at the 2026 New York State Tourism Excellence Summit for an immersive professional development program designed to help you become a more effective advocate for your organization. Learn More & Register

Advocacy Through Industry Storytelling Q3

August 10 Session Recap

Thank you for joining us yesterday for the Q3 Advocacy Through Industry Storytelling session! Hosted and by the NYSTIA Advocacy Committee co-chairs, key topics discussed included communicating ROI to stakeholders, and resident engagement and resources.

📆 Next Session: Mark your calendar and join us for the Q4 session on October 26! Register here.

Industry News:

All News

Governor Hochul Announces Winners of the 2026 New York Wine Classic

Governor Kathy Hochul announced the winners of the 40th Annual New York Wine Classic, a nationally recognized competition highlighting the best of New York's wine industry. Ryan William Vineyard from the Finger Lakes earned the prestigious...Continue Reading

DEC to Host Free, Inclusive Learn-to-Fish Event at Utica Harbor Point

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), in partnership with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oneida County 4-H and the City of Utica, will host a freeLearn-to-Fish event on Saturday, August 15, at Utica Harbor Point. Continue Reading

Events & Webinars:

All Events

Rethinking The School Commute: How Biking to School Builds Stronger Communities

Online/Virtual | Parks & Trails New York | August 11

Learn More

Global Virtual Business Development Co-Op

Online/Virtual | Alon Tourism Solutions | August 12

Learn More

ESTO 2026

In-Person | U.S. Travel Association | August 23-26

Learn More

Marketing Opportunities:

All Co-Ops

DiscoverUpstateNY.com: The Premier Travel Website for Upstate NY — Share Your Adventure!

Reach 40,000–70,000+ monthly visitors on DiscoverUpstateNY.com, the award-winning site promoting travel across all nine Upstate NY regions and ranking in Google's top ten for Upstate travel searches. Packages include site-wide banner ads, bonus content pages, Facebook promotion to 25,000+ followers, trip mapping, calendar listings, and Google analytics reporting. Ask about options today.

Online International Inbound Travel Professional Development Program

The self-paced Steps to Success Online Program helps destinations, suppliers, and staff build international tour operator relationships, develop trade-ready products, and grow inbound visitation. All for for newcomers and seasoned professionals alike!

NYSTIA members pay $195 ($295 non-member). Bulk purchase options available for DMOs. Enroll today

Job Postings

All Jobs

No new job postings have been listed this week, but you can always check the careers board on our website here.

Become a Member | Join the Partnership Community

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.