New York State Tourism Industry Association

14/01/2025

🏆 It’s time to nominate! The 2025 NYS Tourism Excellence Awards is the premier recognition program celebrating the outstanding achievements and contributions within New York State’s tourism industry. This annual opportunity shines a spotlight on the incredible work being done to advance and enhance tourism across the state.

Take a moment to recognize the leaders, organizations, and partners who make a difference every day. Whether it’s your own organization, a dedicated colleague, a trailblazing leader, or a valued partner in your county, this is your chance to honor their hard work, innovation, and impact.

Share your success stories! Let us know about the initiatives, campaigns, or partnerships that have made a difference, or show your appreciation for someone who’s gone above and beyond to support tourism in New York State.

Deadline to Nominate: May 4, 2025

The Nominations Portal can only upload files less than 5 MB. Documentation materials (.pdf, .mov, etc) can be provided in the online nomination form using links of file sharing services (Dropbox, WeTransfer, etc.)

27/12/2024

Thank you for joining us last week for the 2025 NYSTIA Member Meeting & Virtual Holiday Party! We had so much fun catching up with you for our end-of-year recap. 🎄🎁

As we close out the year, we want to thank you for celebrating with us and for being part of the NYSTIA community. Wishing you a joyful and safe holiday season, and we hope to see you again next year for another memorable celebration!

- The NYSTIA Team

https://www.nystia.org/news/thank-you-for-celebrating-the-holidays-with-us-1

16/12/2024

There's Still Time To Sign Up to be a 2025 NYSTIA Tourism Champion! 💪With expanded programming and a stronger presence at consumer travel shows, 2024 was a success thanks to the support of over 40 destinations. With your support, we delivered on our promise of 18 travel shows, made a big return to the New York State Fair, and expanded our reach internationally to Montreal and Quebec. Now, we're ready to take things to the next level in 2025—don't miss out!

Thank you to all of our 2024 Tourism Champions! The commitment of 40+ destinations to our programming and consumer travel shows schedule had a profound impact in 2024. Your support enabled us to invest in an expanded schedule and additional events:

11/12/2024

Get ready to celebrate the season at the Annual NYSTIA Member Meeting & Virtual Holiday Party on December 18, 3-5 p.m.! 🎄 This year’s event will feature brief remarks from special guest Devin Lander, New York State Historian, who will share updates on the 250th Commemoration planning and an exciting look ahead to the 250 Summit events in 2025.

Enjoy a festive evening filled with activities like trivia, story-sharing, and door prizes, plus the chance to show off your holiday spirit in the Ugliest Sweater Contest or Best Virtual Background/Decor Contest. Raise a glass with your favorite New York State beverage, connect with peers, and hear the latest updates from NYSTIA during the Member Meeting. Registration is free—don’t miss this celebratory end-of-year gathering!

🎄 Register now: https://bit.ly/24NYSTIAHolidayParty

04/12/2024

🎄The most wonderful time of the year is here, and so is our highly anticipated Annual NYSTIA Member Meeting & Virtual Holiday Party! This festive event will unite our community to celebrate the season with engaging activities like trivia, story-sharing, and the chance to win exciting door prizes. You’ll also hear updates during the Member Meeting, including from inspirational guest speakers, and toast the evening with your favorite New York State beverage.

Don’t miss the opportunity to showcase your holiday spirit with our Ugliest Sweater Contest and Best Virtual Background or Decor Contest! It’s free to register, so grab your festive gear, mark your calendar, and join us for a lively evening of connection, celebration, and holiday cheer. 👉 Register now: https://bit.ly/24NYSTIAHolidayParty

3:00 PM - NYSTIA Member meeting, brief agenda, speakers
4:00 PM - Door prizes, trivia, and festive fun!

A huge thank you to our friends at Travel Alliance Partnership for hosting the virtual meeting yet again!

27/11/2024

"Today, I am grateful to reflect on a year that in many ways exceeded expectations and anticipate a future full of promise. In fact, I see New York State’s tourism industry on a trajectory for sustained (and sustainable!) growth.

In part, my optimism is driven by the incredible potential for success for New York State’s tourism industry in the years ahead - potential fueled by special events, major and historic anniversary celebrations, new tourism assets, and expanding infrastructure.

But potential must be realized. Success will not happen by default. My confidence in the future is enabled by the visionary leadership, creativity, tireless efforts, and unprecedented spirit of collaboration demonstrated by you, the tourism professionals committed to success on behalf of your destinations. (Please see the article below on ‘Unity of Voice.’)

Once again, I want to express my admiration and respect for the work you all do. I give thanks for each and every one of you, and your efforts on behalf of your destinations, communities, and New York State’s tourism industry."

- Bob Provost, President & CEO, New York State Tourism Industry Association

22/11/2024

How Does Tourism Impact Your County? Help us test drive our map app 🗺️ https://www.nystia.org/resources/2023-economic-impact-how-tourism-drives-success-in-new-york-state

Each county on the map is linked to a summary of how tourism positively impacts it from a sending, standard of living and quality of life perspective. And you’ll find a link to a downloadable, easy-to-share, two-page PDF with data for each county - perfect for sharing with stakeholders and supporting tourism advocacy in your community. We want to thank Empire State Development/I LOVE NY & Tourism Economics for access to the economic data, the NYSTIA Advocacy and Marketing Committees for guidance, and the team at Corporate Communications, Inc. for developing this new feature!

It's a work in progress, and we want your feedback! Explore how tourism benefits your county directly with our new interactive map. Share your comments and feedback to [email protected].

19/11/2024

🎓 We’re pleased to announce the return of the NYSTIA Scholarship Auction, an opportunity to support New York State tourism and hospitality students while bidding on exceptional items and experiences! Whether you’re a long-time participant or new to the auction, this is your chance to help fund scholarships that make a real difference in students' lives.

We are currently seeking donations to make this year’s auction a success! If you have a unique item, experience, or idea to contribute, we’d love to hear from you. From distinctive memorabilia to exclusive opportunities, every donation brings us closer to our goal! Donate today.

"Let’s make the 2025 scholarship auction entertaining and impactful. Your contributions can help change lives while making the event one to remember. Thank you for your support!" - Scholarship Auction Co-Chairs: Jennifer Ackerson, Alon Tourism Solutions & James Sauter, rove

Nov 19, 2024 Back to Industry News Become a Member Join us on our journey to shape a better future for New York State's communities and residents! Auction Event Returns To The New York State Tourism Conference In 2025 At the 2019 New York State Tourism Conference in Buffalo, Genesee County's Kelly R...

12/11/2024

📣 New Tools & Resources to Support and Strengthen Your Tourism Advocacy Outreach

As we approach the new legislative year and, for many organizations, the budget process, NYSTIA's committees and partners are working together to roll out informative advocacy campaigns and tools to support your efforts:

🗽 New Yorkers: Take Your Vacation - This social media campaign and toolkit was developed collaboratively by BBG&G Integrated Marketing, NYSTIA Advocacy and Marketing Committees and NYSTIA staff. Check out the online toolkit to understand why everyone benefits when New Yorkers use their paid time off (PTO) to explore New York!

📍 How Tourism Drives Success In Your County - Our new 'Map-App' uses ESD/I LOVE NY & Tourism Economics data to highlight the positive impact of tourism in each of New York State's counties. We're still building out some elements, but you can test drive it today! More info below…

🧳 Tourism Done Right - We're releasing a new presentation deck template for your use to shed light on tourism as an economic catalyst. Empower and enhance your messaging with talking points and statistics that support your case for continued and/or increased support for tourism in your community!

Nov 12, 2024 Back to Industry News Become a Member Join us on our journey to shape a better future for New York State's communities and residents! New Tools & Resources to Support and Strengthen Your Tourism Advocacy Outreach As we approach the new legislative year and, for many organizations, the b...

05/11/2024

This past weekend New York State's tourism industry was showcased in Canada and New York's capital city. NYSTIA’s Nate Gresock brought our exhibit booth to the 2024 Montreal International Tourism & Travel Show, and Brooke Wilson exhibited at the 2024 Adirondack Sports & Northeast Ski Expo at Albany's Capital Center. These were our final travel shows of 2024 and capped an unprecedented year of outreach of consumer and travel trade event marketing by NYSTIA for New York State's destinations and attractions. Nate reports that we finished our most aggressive travel show schedule ever with a record-breaking two-day distribution of nearly 4,000 brochures in Montreal!

👏 A BIG THANK YOU to our 2024 Tourism Champions! Your support enabled us to get the word (and the literature!) out about your destinations. We returned to the New York State Fair, attended multiple events throughout the year, and had a presence on the Thruway at the Port Byron Old Erie Canal Heritage Park.

As we look to 2025, we invite you to join us as a 2025 Tourism Champion and participate in 18+ shows across the U.S. and Canada, complimentary registration at the 2025 NYS Tourism Conference, 2025 New York State Tourism Best Practices Summit, and more!

Nov 5, 2024 Back to Industry News Become a Member Join us on our journey to shape a better future for New York State's communities and residents! This past weekend New York State's tourism industry was was showcased in Canada and New York's capital city. NYSTIA’s Nate Gresock brought our exhibit b...

31/10/2024

💡 Each year, New Yorkers leave nearly 40 million days of paid time off (PTO) unused, with 12 million days (over $3 billion in benefits) expiring annually. Imagine if we turned those days into valuable travel within New York State, boosting both personal well-being and local economies.

Join NYSTIA's grassroots to encourage New Yorkers to use their PTO in-state this holiday season. Use the free toolkit on our website to make sharing this message easy and effective.

Let’s unlock the value of unused PTO for a stronger New York tourism economy. Our thanks to the team at BBG&G Integrated Marketing for their efforts in launching this initiative.

At the NYS Tourism Excellence Summit, NYSTIA’s Bob Provost highlighted an eye-opening stat: New Yorkers leave up to 40 million days of paid time off (PTO) unused each year1! Even more—an estimated 12 million of these days, worth over $3 billion2 in PTO benefits, expire annually. Imagine the impa...

23/10/2024

This past weekend, New York State tourism destinations were represented simultaneously at multiple locations for the "Travel Show Trifecta"! All across the Northeast, the NYSTIA team made sure that the charm and diversity of New York State were top of mind. Nate Gresock was in Ohio at the AAA Cleveland Vacation Expo, where he engaged with travelers eager to explore New York's diverse destinations. Bob Provost headed to Dream Destinations in Springfield, Massachusetts, where he also brought the wonders of New York State to travel enthusiasts. Meanwhile, Brooke Wilson connected with tour operators and industry leaders at the Bus Association of New York (BANY) event hosted at the 1000 Islands Harbor Hotel, where she connected with many NYSTIA members and met many new people at the BANY event.

Join us as a 2025 Tourism Champion and help us build on the incredible momentum from this year!

Oct 22, 2024 Back to Industry News Become a Member Join us on our journey to shape a better future for New York State's communities and residents! Last weekend, New York State tourism destinations were represented in our exhibit at the "Travel Show Trifecta" weekend! All across the Northeast, the NY...

11/10/2024

Last weekend the Tourism Champions Booth was at the nation's #1 National Drive Electric Week event, exhibiting at the New York Capital District Drive Electric Week & Sustainability Fair in Schenectady, NY! As part of NYSTIA's efforts to promote tourism in New York State, we love supporting EV travel throughout the state! We want to thank Lynkwell for inviting us to exhibit at the event.

30/09/2024

Last week, a NYSTIA team had the pleasure of traveling to beautiful Akwesasne, New York, for the Akwesasne Tourism Summit! Bob Provost kicked things off as the keynote speaker with his talk on Tourism Done Right. Brooke Wilson contributed to the sustainability and agrotourism panel, highlighting green initiatives across New York State. Afterward, Rachele Markle extended her stay to explore local restaurants and learn more at the Akwesasne Cultural Center.

A HUGE thank you to the team at Akwesasne Travel for inviting us, and for their incredible hospitality!

24/09/2024

Let's grow membership together! 🤝 Note from Greg LaDuca, NYSTIA Board Chair and Senior Vice President - Industry Relations at Visit Rochester:

"Greetings from Rochester NY! I am pleased and honored to be the Chair of the NYSTIA Board of Directors. I started to engage with NYSTIA in 2017 and quickly knew that I wanted to get involved. I have met so many wonderful people through NYSTIA. I have also learned so much. I could go on and on…

In my day job at Visit Rochester I get to work with over 500 active members. As the staff liaison to Visit Rochester’s Visitor Industry Council (VIC), I get to assist in bringing education, networking, and engagement opportunities to our members (along with many other benefits and marketing opportunities). I am pleased to bring these experiences to you: the members of NYSTIA.

Years ago, when I was the new chair of the VIC, I was challenged to have a theme for my year of service to the organization. Back then, my theme was engagement; shining a light on all the wonderful things that members were doing together to forward their businesses. At NYSTIA my theme for the year will be “MEMBERSHIP - IT’S EVERYBODY’S BUSINESS”. I believe that the best advocates for NYSTIA membership are all of you- our current members. You are the ones who are benefitting from the educational opportunities, the networking and engagement opportunities, the marketing opportunities, and the advocacy for our industry. So I am asking all of you to bring NYSTIA’s message back to your corners of New York State and tell your community about all of the benefits that come with a NYSTIA membership. I ask you to invite your network to view the NYSTIA membership page. I ask you to invite them to the annual New York State Tourism Conference and the Tourism Excellence Summit.

I ask you to join me in growing NYSTIA membership together!"
- Greg LaDuca, NYSTIA Board Chair and Senior Vice President - Industry Relations at Visit Rochester

Learn more about NYSTIA membership: https://www.nystia.org/membership/membership-overview

19/09/2024

Thank you to the 250+ tourism industry professionals who joined us from across New York State, the USA, Canada, and Europe at the 2024 New York State Tourism Summit and NYS 250 Commemoration Summit in Saratoga Springs! We want to express our appreciation and gratitude to the many attendees, partners, and presenters who participated in the event. 🎉

We also extend our gratitude to our partners, presenters, Julie Tierney and the team at our host hotel, the Holiday Inn Saratoga Springs, and our market host Discover Saratoga NY (thank you, Darryl Leggieri, MacKenzie Zarzycki & team!) for their hospitality and help throughout the planning and ex*****on of the event. We would also like to thank New York State Historian Devin Lander (emcee) along with Saratoga County Historian Lauren Roberts, the Saratoga 250 Commission, Saratoga County NY Government and County Administrator Steve Bulger for hosting the NYS 250th Commemoration Summit on Wednesday. The program was packed with updates, briefings, case studies of collaboration, and insights from historians, NYS agencies, and tourism executives. We also would like to thank the team at Workshop for putting together the very fun Saratoga Stakes scavenger hunt and reception!

Thank you to our Tourism Summit presenting partners Miles Partnership (represented by Julie Armstrong) and rove (Sally Donovan) for their generous support of NYSTIA programming, as well as Bridget Cerrone representing Advance Media New York for hosting the fantastic 2024 NYS Tourism Excellence Awards Ceremony & Reception at the beautiful Canfield Casino. We would also be remiss to thank the NY International Travel Show for hosting the morning breakfast on Thursday, September 12.

Last but certainly not least, we would like to thank our colleagues at I LOVE NEW YORK/ Empire State Development in particular Ross Levi, Danae Jones-Persip, and Sara Emmert for their program contributions and our friends Richard Gagliano and Markly Wilson for joining us in Saratoga. A special shout out to David Alden Contreras Turley, who demonstrates incredible stewardship as our liaison with our colleagues at I LOVE NY/ESD.

We will send the slide decks and photos out as soon as they are all available, so please keep an eye out in your inbox!

11/09/2024

What an incredible day of learning, collaboration, and inspiration! From innovative case studies from destinations statewide to upcoming initiatives highlighting New York’s role in the American Revolution, today’s New York State 250 Commemoration Summit was a resounding success! 🇺🇸

We’re grateful to all who joined us in honoring the past and shaping the future. A big thank you to Saratoga County and the Saratoga 250 Commission for hosting this memorable event! Let’s keep this momentum going as we celebrate our shared history! We hope to see you on the 2 PM FAM tours and the 5 PM Saratoga Stakes scavenger hunt hosted by Workshop and co-hosted by ADARA

06/09/2024

🔔 Book your 1:1 Networking Sessions to meet, learn from, and engage with tourism professionals across the state and country at the 2024 NYSTIA Annual Meeting!

➡️ Book your sessions: https://bit.ly/4dVKyPo

"I’ve solved problems at the one-on-one sessions; There are a lot of sharp minds in there and—without the pressure of a sales pitch—it’s a relaxed way to get caught up, learn about something new, and see what else is out there. I actually look forward to them!" - Corey Fram, 1000 Islands International Tourism Council

"1:1s are a great way to discover emerging tech that helps us work smarter, not harder. They’re a no-pressure way for us to connect with solution providers outside of the typical workday when taking sales calls is challenging, at best. I leave with a menu of options from companies I already have a baseline level of trust in, knowing that NYSTIA has vetted them in advance." - Cassandra Harrington, Destination Marketing Corp.