Program

FLXperience FAM Tour 

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Enjoy Canandaigua's Main Street Businesses!

Bus loops to Hotel Canandaigua every 30 minutes

Celebrating the Career of Valerie Knoblauch

RSVP and Donate to the Named Scholarship Fund

Program

Pre-Conference Session: 

Oh, Canada! Staying in Tune with our Neighbors to the North

• • • James Sauter, rove
    • Sally Donovan, rove

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Welcome to the 2025 New York State Tourism Conference! - hosted by rove - view the menu

Opening Remarks

• • • Greg LaDuca, Chair NYSTIA Board of Directors, Visit Rochester

Welcome to Ontario County

• • • Valerie Knoblauch, President & CEO, Finger Lakes Visitors Connection
    • Guest Elected Official Remarks:
      • Bob Palumbo - Mayor of Canandaigua
      • Chris DeBolt - County Administrator

Welcome to the Hotel Canandaigua

• • • Melissa Oliver, General Manager, Hotel Canandaigua

Stewardship: Exploring the Tourism Ecosystem

Keynote Remarks

• • • Don Welsh, President, Destinations International - About Don

Navigating Your Destination Stewardship Journey

• • • Sara Meaney, Destination Wayfinder - About this session

Advocacy & Destination Stewardship

• • • Josiah Brown, New York's Best Experiences - About this session 

Connecting Communities & Visitors

• • • Maeve McEneny, Discover Albany

Market Updates

First-Time Attendees Meet & Greet

First-time attendees meet and greet with the NYSTIA Board, Committee Chairs, and Ambassadors

Welcome Reception - Meet the Makers - hosted by Advance Media New York

Enjoy locally-sourced F&B at the Hotel Canandaigua Lobby and Outdoor Bar THE BIRDCAGE

Explore Canandaigua on your own!

FLX Restaurant List

Nightcaps and Nibbles

Hotel Canandaigua Bar

Program

Breakfast Buffet - hosted by Miles Partnership - view the menu

Immersion Tour Prep - Fasten your seat belts!

• • Valerie Knoblauch, President & CEO, Finger Lake Visitors Connection

Immersion Experientials: Exploring the Tourism Ecosystem / Stewardship

Immersion Tours

Welcome Luncheon - view the menu

I LOVE NEW YORK Update

• • • Ross D Levi, Executive Director/Vice President, NYS Division of Tourism - I LOVE NY
    • Rich Gagliano, Senior Vice President, Marketing, Empire State Development

About this Session

New York City Update

• • Kelly Curtin, Executive Vice President, NYC Tourism + Conventions

Member-to-Member 1:1 Networking Sessions

Spend valuable one-on-one time with our partners and solutions providers to get acquainted with their multifaceted services and discuss your destination/organization's needs.

Book Your Sessions - Book fast before they're gone!

TPA Meeting

• Ross D. Levi, Executive Director/Vice President, NYS Division of Tourism - I LOVE NY - TPAs only

Telling Stories with Images

• Glenn Clark, Creative Director, Photographer, and Designer, Crafting a Brand - About this Session

Networking Reception

10th Anniversary Dinner Banquet & Scholarship Auction

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Enjoy networking with friends and colleagues! 

Program

Brunch Buffet

Hosted by NYS Canal Corporation -view the menu

Welcome to Canandaigua

• • • Guest Elected Official remarks
    • Reflections on the Immersion Experience program

Erie Canal: Commemorating 200 Years & Looking Ahead to its Third Century

• • Rebecca Hughes - Deputy Executive Director, New York State Canal Corporation
  • Ashley Quimby-Simoni - Communications & Outreach Manager,
    Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor

Interactive Lead Generation...That's Fun!

• • Bridget Cerrone, Advance Media New York - About this Session

Historical Markers Reimagined: The Finger Lakes Virtual Museum Story

• • Kyle Pierce, Director of Sales, STQRY - About this Session

10:00 - 10:30 am

The State of Destination Marketing

• • Seth Orozco, Destination Director, Sojern - About this Session

Breaking Barriers, Boosting Tourism: The Untapped Potential of Accessible Travel

• • Arturo Gaona, Chief Partnership Officer, Founding Member, Wheel the World - About this Session

2025 Plans & Programs

• Various speakers will 'set the stage' for May through September programming / Advocacy Priorities, Tourism Excellence Awards, 250 Summit, 2025 Golf Tournament

Adjournment

Canal NY Marketing & Business Alliance Luncheon

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