September 8, 2026

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Get Ready for the Summit:

Date: Thursday, September 17 | Time: 2 PM – 4 PM

Location: Radisson Hotel Corning

The 2026 NYS Tourism Excellence Summit programming includes free, dedicated one-on-one time with experts in PR, international tourism marketing, branding and design, visitor behavior, data analysis, and more. Come with a real question, leave with a real plan. Book Now

Date: Wednesday, September 16 | Time: 10 AM – 4:30 PM

Location: Indian Hills Golf Club

Share with your friends, family & network! Put a foursome together or join a team yourself - spend a day on the course for the benefit of NYS tourism students! Details/Register Now

After the golf tournament, join us for a complimentary drink ticket and light fare at the Park Avenue Sports Center provided by our host DMO, Explore Steuben! Optional: For $25, sign-up for a fun round of mini-golf!

Please register (free) so that we can provide a head count to our hosts.

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

We had a busy Labor Day weekend at the NYS Fair. Fairgoers kept the booth buzzing at our spot right in the middle of the Horticulture Building, and one thing became crystal clear: people could not get enough of our guides. Visitors/travel intenders explored a huge variety of them, a real testament to the quality of the literature our Tourism Champions have created for their destinations.

We also got a fun visit from our friends and colleagues at Empire State Development, who swung by for a selfie! Your NYS Champions Booth scored a great spot too, near I LOVE NY's booth.

📷 Follow us on Instagram for more photos

Left to right: David Contreras Turley, Director of Tourism Industry Relations, NYS Division of Tourism – I LOVE NY, Nate Gresock, NYSTIA, and Ross Levi, Executive Director/Vice President, NYS Division of Tourism - I LOVE NY

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

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

New Member Introduction: Mikenna Pierotti from Explore Steuben

Please welcome Mikenna Pierotti to the NYSTIA community! As the Communications Director at Explore Steuben, Mikenna is responsible for storytelling, media relations, and public-facing communications for one of New York's premier travel destinations... Meet Mikenna

Welcome New Finger Lakes Visitors Connection President & CEO, Tracey Dello Stritto

Your colleagues at the Finger Lakes Visitors Connection have recently announced that Ontario County native Tracey Dello Stritto is the new President & CEO! You can learn more about Tracey in FLVC's most recent newsletter here.

2026 Passenger Rail Symposium - Rochester

October 7, 2026 - 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM

Join ESPA for a symposium designed to bring together business and community leaders, government representatives, tourism and hospitality industry members, rail industry suppliers and rail advocates to learn about rail improvement initiatives and what they could do for Upstate NY. Learn More/Register

Discover Schenectady's 2nd Annual SciFi Schenectady FilmFest Scheduled for September 18-20

Experience cinema at the intersection of science, fantasy and science fiction when the 2nd Annual Sci:Fi Schenectady FilmFest returns Friday, September 18 through Sunday, September 20, with three days of award-winning features, international and domestic short... Continue Reading

A bike bus can make the ride to school more fun and active for kids and adults alike. Parks & Trails New York has put together some practical tips from bike bus advocate Sam Balto and local organizers who are making it happen in their communities. Learn More

Paddling New York's Canals just got easier! Erie Canalway’s new adaptive paddling webpage offers information on launch sites across the canal system that provide extra stability when getting in and out of the water. You'll also find information on adaptive rentals, inclusive programs, and virtual videos to help you get started. Learn More

The August/September issue of ROVA - The Magazine For Epic Road Trips includes the Annual Round-up of craft beverages in the feature: Trail To Taproom, Best Spots For A Post-Hike Tour. Two New York State spots are included: The Drowned Lands Brewery...Continue Reading

The State of the American Traveler Survey Findings - September 2026

DMC Partnership Exchange

Community Conversation, From Data to Decisions: Finding the Insights That Matter

New York State Tourism Excellence Awards & Summit

Promote your destination, attractions and special heritage in the October 2026 AMERICA Journal feature section! NYSTIA members have the opportunity to feature their destination in the October 2026 New York State section for a discounted rate. Content will be created by America Journal's professional travel writers with your input/requests.

Learn More & Sign Up - deadline extended to 9/11/26

ROVA December/January NYS Co-Op Section: Annual State Parks & Historic Sites Destinations

ROVA is a travel lifestyle magazine focused on road vacations, outdoor adventure. All issue participants receive multimedia exposure on rovamag.com with a 728x90 ad banner and those with and those with a ¼ page of larger can submit a blog to match section themes!

Learn More & Sign Up

Oneida County Tourism is seeking a strategic, creative, and collaborative Marketing Manager to help lead the next chapter of destination marketing in Oneida County....Learn More/Apply

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