May 5, 2026

2026 NYS Tourism Excellence Awards & Summit September 16-18 | Corning, New York

The registration and room booking link is now live for the 2026 New York State Tourism Excellence Summit and Awards in beautiful Corning, New York. We can't wait to welcome you to the Finger Lakes for this celebration of tourism excellence on September 16-18, 2026.

We encourage you to book your room early at our stunning host hotel, the Radisson Hotel Corning. Staying on-site places you in the heart of Corning's renowned Gaffer District, featuring unique dining and shopping opportunities. The iconic Corning Museum of Glass (this year's event location for the 2026 NYS Tourism Excellence Awards Ceremony) is also conveniently nearby.

Rooms will fill quickly, so we recommend securing your accommodations soon to ensure availability!

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In This Newsletter:

Issue Feature:

- Register & Book Your Room for Fall Summit in Corning

- Only 4 Weeks Left to Nominate

- Share an Untold Story

- Tourism Champions Booth on Thruway

Advocacy:

- Showcase the Power of Travel for National Travel & Tourism Week

Industry News:

- New Member Introduction

- NYSTIA Partner Feature

- Finger Lakes Sweet Treat Trail

- Record Visitation at NY Olympic Authority Venues

- Revisit the Revolution

- Explore Steuben Announces New Communications Director

- Canalway Challenge

- Inspiring Adirondack Getaways in ROVA

Events:

- MANY Annual Conference

- International Readiness

- Canal Society of NYS

Featured Co-Ops:

- America Journal Fall 2026 Heritage Tourism

- Wheresight Digital Marketing Assessment

Don't Wait to Nominate for the 2026 New York State Tourism Excellence Awards

Nominations Deadline: May 31, 2026

There are only four weeks left to nominate for the 2026 New York State Tourism Excellence Awards, and the time will surely pass quickly. Don't wait until the last minute to nominate the hard work that your team has done over the past year. Prepare your nomination now with our easy-to-use Preparation Document (docx or pdf) and get ready to submit! Nominate Now

Share Untold Stories From Your Destination!

Deadline to Submit is May 15

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

Your Tourism Champions Booth Returns to the NYS Thruway for the Summer!

Your Tourism Champions booth will be displayed from May 2026 through October 2026 on the Thruway at the Old Erie Canal Heritage Park in Port Byron, NY, operated by the Canal Society of New York State. With thousands of guides distributed in 2025, we...

⚖️ Advocacy Matters to You

All Advocacy

Happy National Travel & Tourism Week!

National Travel and Tourism Week (NTTW) is the U.S. travel industry’s annual tradition of recognizing the essential role travel plays in powering our economy, strengthening communities and connecting America. The 2026 theme "Postmarked: Essential" highlights a simple truth: travel is fundamental to America’s economy, workforce and way of life.

Learn More | Access the Toolkit

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

Industry News:

All News

New Member Introduction: Leon Etienne from Niagara Falls Magic Theatre

Please welcome Leon Etienne, an illusionist as well as founder of Niagara Falls Magic Theatre USA, to the NYSTIA Community! The Niagara Falls Magic Theatre is an intimate, state of the art venue that...

Meet Leon

NYSTIA Partner Feature: Bill Obreiter from Zartico

Bill Obreiter is the Vice President of U.S. Sales at Zartico, the visitor intelligence platform purpose-built for DMOs. Think of it like mission control for your destination; where movement data, lodging...

Meet Bill

Finger Lakes Sweet Treat Trail Brings “Stars, Stripes & Sweet Treats” to Cayuga County for America 250

The Cayuga County Office of Tourism is pleased to announce that the 2026 Finger Lakes Sweet Treat Trail is now live, returning for its lucky 13th year and is inviting residents and visitors to discover some of...

Governor Hochul Announces Record Visitation at Olympic Authority Venues, Surpassing 1.2 Million Visits

Governor Kathy Hochul announced that visitation to New York State’s Olympic Regional Development Authority (Olympic Authority) venues has surpassed 1.2 million visits during the 2025-26 fiscal year, setting..

Revisit the Revolution

In 1850, New York State acquired the nation’s first historic site, Washington's Headquarters State Historic Site, in Newburgh. Now, over 175 years later, NYS manages dozens of state historic sites...

Explore Steuben Welcomes Mikenna Pierotti as Communications Director

Explore Steuben is pleased to announce the appointment of Mikenna Pierotti as its new Communications Director, bringing a strong background in journalism, storytelling, and strategic communications...

The 2026 Canalway Challenge is on!

It's time to set your goal and get moving along New York's Canals. There's never been a better time to trace history and track miles while discovering the physical and mental benefits of outdoor recreation...

Start A Challenge

Inspiring Adirondack Getaways: Inside ROVA's April/May Feature

The April/May issue of ROVA - The Magazine For Epic Road Trips includes the five page feature: First-Timer’s Guide To The Adirondacks. ROVA is a highly regarded and beautifully curated...

Events & Webinars:

Submit an Event

All Events

Museum Association of New York (MANY) Annual Conference

Event | MANY | May 7

Learn More

International Readiness - Sports Tourism Economic Impact - Round 2

Online | Alon Tourism Solutions | May 7

Learn More

Canal Society of New York State Lois McClure Dedication

Event | Canal Society of NYS | May 9

Learn More

Marketing Opportunities:

All Co-Ops

America Journal October 2026 Travel Feature

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

Wheresight Digital Marketing Assessment

Wheresight collaborates with tourism organizations to deliver customized solutions that enhance digital maturity. Our comprehensive packages offer actionable insights, bolster digital transformation, and improve performance across key areas like marketing, sales, and operations. These solutions are meticulously crafted to address your destination partners specific needs and align with your strategic goals.

Learn More & Sign Up

Job Postings

All Jobs

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

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.