2021 NYSTIA Scholarship Auction - Reimagined As A Destination Promotion!

Greetings!

For the first time in over thirty years, the Destinations of NYS Travel, Tourism, Hospitality & Culinary College Scholarship Auction will be presented online and provide substantial consumer visibility for the New York State destinations offering auction packages!

Yes, both the destination and the student will be beneficiaries of this year's fundraising event! The funds raised from the auction will continue to benefit tuition and internship scholarships, and the destination packages featured in this year's event will benefit from social media, newsletter and website support from many of NYSTIA's members. We anticipate broad engagement and consumer interest as consumers make their 2021 travel and vacation plans.

Your donations will continue to be fully deductible - you can access the 501(c)(3) charitable documentation for the scholarship fund HERE.

As an added benefit this year, any destination providing a Getaway Package donation (overnight stay, attraction and meal certificate) that is also bookable/for sale will receive THREE (3) MONTHS FREE PROMOTION through the New York State Tourism Association's Getaway Deals promotion program (email and website exposure) once the auction is over.

Some basics:

Expiration Dates: We anticipate that the auction will appear online through April 30, 2021 and request that donated items should be redeemable through at least December 31, 2021. We recognize that is not always feasible and ask that you exercise appropriate judgement.
Subject to Availability / etc: All certificates and redemption documents should carry appropriate conditions - e.g. subject to availability, reserve early to secure dates desired, etc.

Let's Get Started! Please complete the form below with descriptive copy of your auction item. Please include websites, photo links and other resources as available. See sample auction listings HERE. Help us work with you to promote your destination!

It is our hope that these new program elements will assist in New York State's tourism recovery in 2021. We are pleased to present this opportunity to you, and welcome any questions or suggestions as we continue our work in supporting your business during these challenging times.

While the Scholarship Auction is getting underway now, it will ultimately be integrated into a larger Grassroots COVID-19 Relief Initiative being developed under the working title NYers4NY (link for topline details). This initiative is intended to unify the voice and efforts of New York's tourism industry in a concerted call to rally New York State residents to think NY First when making 2021 travel and vacation plans. Stay tuned for additional details under development by tourism executives across the state.

Please contact Bob Provost directly with any questions or suggestions at bob@nystia.org, or call me at 518-956-1241.

Thank you, very much, in advance for your support and participation!

Sincerely,

Kelly Rapone
Tourism Marketing Director, Genesee County Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Center
Chair * Destinations of New York Scholarship Auction Committee /NYSTIA

Please check this to prove you are human

Please leave this unchecked

Donor: Company/Organization Name *

Please provide a TITLE or NAME for your Donation *

DONATION DESCRIPTION: Describe your donation - use the language you would like to be used on the auction website. (If there are multiple components, please describe each component separately - e.g. lodging, dining certificate, attraction tickets, etc)

DONATION PACKAGE PHOTOS: If you prefer to email photos (one photo per package item) rather than (photo links), please name your package in the email subject line and send your photos to Bob@NYSTIA.org.

Describe your donated item/package - or the FIRST component if there are multiple items in your package: (include web or photo links as appropriate) *

Describe your donated item/package's SECOND component if there are multiple items in your package: (include web or photo links as appropriate) *

Describe your donated item/package's THIRD component if there are multiple items in your package: (include web or photo links as appropriate) *

Describe your donated item/package's FOURTH component if there are multiple items in your package: (include web or photo links as appropriate) *

Approximate $$$ Value of Donated Item/Package at Rack or Full Rate: *

Item/Package Expiration Date: (Preferred - Good through December 31, 2021) *

Additional Notes/Instructions/Requests?

How will we document your donation - what will we provide to the winning bidder? *

Certificate pdf's may be sent to bob@nystia.org. If mailing donation a certificate, send to NYSTIA 689 Hoosick Road PMB #110, Troy, NY 12180. Physical product should be sent direct to the winning bidder.

Contact Person (First Name) *

Contact Person (Last Name) *

Mailing/Street Address *

City *

State *

Zip Code *

Office/Work Phone *

Mobile Phone *

Email Address *

YES - after the auction closes, I want to offer my package for direct-to-consumer sales on the New York Getaway Deals website and turn my auction donation into a revenue opportunity! Please contact me to make this happen.