Immersion Experience Programming
Immersion Experiences are a featured breakout component of the 2026 New York State Tourism Conference, taking professional development programming beyond the conference room and into the community.
Back by popular demand, these curated experiences offer attendees the opportunity to explore the Oneida County tourism ecosystem through five unique, topic-driven sessions. Immediately following lunch on Thursday, April 23, participants will board buses and travel to locations throughout the area for hands-on learning focused on key issues shaping the tourism industry. Each experience will provide a behind-the-scenes look at real-world applications, innovative initiatives, and success stories, while offering meaningful opportunities to network and engage with fellow tourism professionals in a dynamic setting.
How to sign up: Registered attendees will receive an email in early April providing the opportunity to select your preferred tour.
Immersion Tour #1: Let’s Power Up – Sustainability, Ecotourism, and Responsible Travel
Site: Trenton Falls Hydro Facility, NY Energy Zone
Explore how New York State’s power generation is evolving toward a more sustainable future and how the tourism industry is adapting alongside it. Participants will begin with a look at the historic Trenton Falls hydropower site, learning about its role in the region’s energy history and development. The tour will then continue to the New York Energy Zone, where attendees will experience an interactive look at the past, present, and future of electricity generation in New York State. Attendees will also have the opportunity to view electric vehicles up close and explore how they may fit into their own travel and transportation needs. Through expert insights and discussion, this session will highlight how energy infrastructure, sustainability, and environmental stewardship intersect with tourism, shaping the way communities and destinations grow responsibly.
Immersion Tour #2: Sports Tourism – Multi-Faceted, Multi-Billion Dollar Opportunity
Site: Accelerate Sports Complex, Utica University Nexus Center, Adirondack Bank Center
Oneida County has emerged as a growing hub for sports tourism, and this immersion tour will offer participants a firsthand look at how the $48 billion sports tourism industry drives economic impact and community vitality. Attendees will visit key local facilities including Accelerate Sports Complex, the Utica University Nexus Center, and the Adirondack Bank Center, learning how destinations attract and host tournaments, events, and competitions that bring visitors from across the region and beyond. The tour will also feature insights from local leaders and a statewide panel of sports tourism professionals who will discuss how destinations are leveraging sports to generate visitor spending, strengthen community identity, and position themselves competitively in the evolving sports tourism landscape.
Immersion Tour #3: Heritage Tourism – How History Can Shape The Future For Your Destination
Site: Utica Harbor Point, Fort Stanwix National Monument, Oneida County History Center
Historic milestones such as the United States’ 250th Commemoration and the Erie Canal Bicentennial have renewed attention on the incredible potential of New York State’s historic sites, stories, and cultural assets. On this tour, participants will travel from Utica to Rome to explore new developments along the Erie Canal and visit Fort Stanwix National Monument, one of the region’s most significant Revolutionary War sites. The experience will also include a stop at the Oneida County History Center, where attendees will participate in a panel discussion exploring New York State’s rich history and the important role heritage tourism plays in connecting visitors to these stories today.
Immersion Tour #4: Inclusion – Providing Welcoming Experiences For Diverse Needs And People
Site: The Root Farm, Munson
Creating inclusive tourism experiences goes beyond being welcoming. It strengthens communities and enhances the visitor experience. This immersion tour will begin at The Root Farm, an agritourism destination focused on learning, wellness, and community connection through hands-on farm programming designed for people of all ages and abilities. Participants will then visit Munson, where art, design, and education come together on a vibrant campus that includes a world-class museum, performing arts programming, and Pratt Munson College of Art and Design. Together, these experiences highlight how cultural and community institutions can foster inclusive, meaningful environments that serve both residents and visitors.
Immersion Tour #5: Transformation Tourism Stewardship: Where M.I.C.E (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions) Meets Economic Development
Site: Oneida Indian Nation’s Turning Stone Resort Casino
Participants will visit Turning Stone Resort Casino to learn about the Turning Stone Evolution, a $370 million expansion project that will add a 258-room hotel and more than double the resort’s meetings and event space to 225,000 square feet, creating the largest meetings and convention resort space in New York State. During the visit, attendees will hear about the vision behind the project and how investments like this support tourism growth and economic development, followed by a panel discussion with tourism and industry leaders who will share insights on how destinations across the state are evolving to compete in the meetings, conventions, and events market.