Welcome: Newly Elected NYSTIA Board Members

Congratulations to the newly elected members of the NYSTIA Board of Directors. The election was held Thursday, September 12 at the 2024 NYSTIA Annual Meeting Luncheon in Saratoga Springs.

Returning for a second three-year term were Lisa Berger, Ulster County Tourism; Cass Harrington, Destination Mktg Corp for Otsego County; Stephanie Johnson, LEGOLAND NY, and Kristy Kennedy, Adirondack Coast Visitors Bureau. Starting their first three-year term were Heather Bagshaw, Warren County Tourism; Samantha Hayes, Cattaraugus County; and Dwayne Thomas, Akwesasne Mohawk Saint Regis Tribe. Nick Calderazzo, Twin Travel Concepts and Dana Krueger, Dana Cook & Co. were elected to fill partial term vacancies created by board resignations.

< Greg LaDuca REALLY Takes The Cake

NYSTIA's new Board Chair, Greg LaDuca, accepts the congratulations and best wishes of his Visit Rochester colleagues as he begins his term as NYSTIA Board Chair. Pictured with Greg are Don Jeffries, President/CEO and Elena Oyer, Partnership Manager of Visit Rochester.

Thank you to our 2024 Tourism Champions! Your support from over 40 destinations allowed us to expand our schedule, adding more events and increasing our presence with three active booth setups at multiple locations. We exceeded our goal of 18 travel shows, returning to the NYS Fair and expanding our reach to Canada, including Montreal and Quebec. We also brought the Tourism Champions booth to member events and shared updates in the weekly NYSTIA newsletter. As we gear up for 2025, we're excited to elevate the program further. Sign Up to be a Tourism Champion Now!

Your Tourism Champion Destinations Were Featured at the 2024 Great New York State Fair!

NYSTIA's is on the road again! I brought the Tourism Champion's exhibit booth to the Association of Canadian Travel Agencies Summit in Toronto on September 12. We were there to support Diego Gantiva from REACH GLOBAL, representing I LOVE NEW YORK in the Brand USA pavilion. The event was the first of... read more!

Last week, a NYSTIA team led by Bob Provost and including Josiah Brown from New York's Best Experiences, Amanda Dana from Visit Orange County, NY, and Ana Liss from Monroe County Economic Development presented at the 2024 New York State Association of Counties in Sullivan County. Their topic, Tourism, IDAs, and the Local Economy: A Data Discussion, shared facts on tourism and how local IDA’s are driving growth across the state.

NYSTIA is committed to bolstering your advocacy efforts with the new and improved NYSTIA Advocacy Action Center! Do you have an advocacy action that needs to be shared? Please contact us!

Governor Kathy Hochul has announced $21 million is now available to install electric vehicle fast chargers along major travel corridors across New York State. Funded by a federal National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) grant, the State’s new competitive Upstate NEVI Direct Current Fast Charger (DCFC) program supports the expansion of DCFC infrastructure to improve consumer access to a network of reliable electric vehicle charging.



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Akwesasne Tourism is putting together another day of exciting discussions about the future of tourism in their region - and you're invited! Don't miss out on Wednesday, September 25 for this fantastic opportunity to learn, network, and have a great time exploring possibilities! NYSTIA's Bob Provost will be speaking at the Summit, and NYSTIA's Brooke Wilson will speak on the Sustainability Panel. We hope to see you there!



Event Details & Registration - registration is free!

I LOVE NY has partnered with New York State Department of Labor to offer a virtual career fair to help connect tourism and hospitality industry employers with talented job seekers! Sign up for the upcoming opportunities below. If you are a job seeker, click here.

Upstate:

Thursday, September 26 | 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM Register Now

Join the Rove Destination Insights Co-Op program and gain access to industry-leading tourism data through our Destination Insights Platform at affordable rates. This initiative, part of NYSTIA's mission to boost tourism across New York State, is designed to enhance data and analytics capabilities for all members, maximizing the effectiveness and efficiency of tourism marketing and destination development efforts.

Packages are tailored to the needs of each region or county and priced accordingly. Pick and choose the data you need that provides corresponding insights that aligns with your destination objectives and budget!

Learn more & Sign Up

The New York State Tourism Industry Association (NYSTIA) is joining forces with Alon Tourism Solutions to help boost your tourism efforts! Join us this Fall for the New York State Marketplace & Reception and the Virtual Business Development Co-op. Both events are designed to help you forge meaningful connections that can pave the way to long-lasting partnerships and direct B2B sales. Whether you're aiming to expand your market reach, strengthen existing partnerships, or explore new business opportunities, these events offer a valuable platform for your New York State destination or tourism business.



This initiative is supported in part by the New York State Tourism Industry Association and by a Market New York grant from Empire State Development and I LOVE NY/New York State’s Division of Tourism, awarded through the Regional Economic Development Council initiative.

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.

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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.