Be A 2026 NYSTIA Tourism Champion!

TOURISM CHAMPIONS: Look What We're Planning for 2026!

Thank you to all of our 2025 Tourism Champions! The commitment of 40+ destinations to our programming and consumer travel shows schedule had a profound impact in 2025. Your support enabled us to invest in an expanded schedule and additional events: 

  1. We promised 18 travel shows and we delivered (more!). We attended more domestic and international shows than ever before, added Chicago, Washington D.C., Boston, and Erie, PA  to our schedule, and exhibited in Canada seven times. We continue to have a presence at the New York State Fair! 
  2. Continue to have a presence on the Thuway at the Port Byron Old Erie Canal Heritage Park
  3. We reported to you after each show in the weekly NYSTIA newsletter. 
  4. We have continued to build out our Tourism Champions digital visitors' site and will go live in 2026. If you still need to complete your Champions portal page on our new digital visitor site - contact Nate Gresock (nate@nystia.org) now! 
Your Tourism Champions Booth at the Ottawa Outdoor + Adventure Travel Show

Here is a list of all the shows and events we have/will exhibited at in 2025:

    • Chicago Travel & Adventure Show
    • Pittsburgh International Auto Show
    • Toronto Outdoor Adventure Show
    • AAA Lehigh Valley Vacation Expo
    • Canal Society Of New York Winter Symposium
    • AAA Erie Vacation Expo
    • Adirondack Sports Summer Expo
    • Montreal Outdoor Adventure Show
    • DC Travel & Adventure Show
    • Ottawa Travel & Vacation Show
    • Ottawa Outdoor + Adventure Travel Show
    • Springfield Dream Destination Spring Travel Show
    • The Great New York State Fair
    • Association of Canadian Travel Agencies Toronto Summit
    • World Canals Conference
    • Association of Canadian Travel Agencies Montreal Summit
    • Springfield Dream Destination Fall Travel Show
    • AAA Cleveland Vacation Expo
    • Adirondack Sports Winter Expo
    • Montreal International Tourism and Travel Show
    • New York State School Counselor Association Annual Conference

I could add more details in recapping progress in 2025, but I want to share the exciting news about what we're planning for 2026. We plan to elevate the program to a new level!

Please take a look at the 2026 Tourism Champions agreement / sign-up form linked below. The investment ($3,750) will save you well over $2,000 off the a la carte cost of the 2026 travel show schedule. It also includes complimentary event registrations for both the 2026 New York State Tourism Conference and the 2026 New York State Tourism Excellence Summit & Awards (that's an additional $950 in savings!).

At present, the 2025 Tourism Champions agreement is available to destination-specific travel guides (e.g. County TPAs, DMOs, attractions, hotels). Brokered content/media publications, regional publications featuring multiple destinations, should contact Nate Gresock, nate@nystia.org, to discuss their needs.

INSERTION ORDER: 2026 NYSTIA TOURISM CHAMPIONS COMMUNITY AGREEMENT
I. Your travel guide distributed at 18+ international and domestic travel shows and events in the 2026 NYSTIA schedule, including the New York State Fair! ($6000 a la carte value)
II. Complimentary pre-registration for one (1) attendee at the 2026 New York State Tourism Conference April 22nd - 24th, 2026. ($475 value at NO CHARGE).
III. Complimentary pre-registration for one (1) attendee at the 2026 New York State Tourism Excellence Summit & Awards, September 16-18, 2026. ($475 value at NO CHARGE).
IV. Opportunity to market your destination at select shows with an adjacent booth space at reduced rates.
V. Opportunity to promote your destination in person and engage with consumers at our featured travel shows.
VI. Your destination will be linked from a complementary destination-specific page on NYSTIA's travel guide portal (content provided by destination).
Primary Organization Contact
Organization's Content Liaison
PLEASE INDICATE: Will you use NYS sourced funding (e.g. Tourism Matching Funds, NYS Grants, etc) to pay for this initiative? Please indicate YES or NO (needed for MNY grant accounting purposes) *
Please Use The Submit Button Below When Finished

2026 NYSTIA Champion Destinations participant package:

  1. Participation in all NYSTIA international and domestic travel shows & events:
    1. 18+ shows/events featuring your travel guide guaranteed, including the 2026 New York State Fair!
    2. Your travel guide for all shows is shipped to one convenient location.
    3. Travel shows in major domestic markets across New England and the Northeast (Boston, Washington D.C., Chicago, Pittsburgh)
    4. Events and shows in Canada (Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal).
    5. Photo booth at travel shows allowing attendees to take photos in the booth.
    6. Opportunity to participate/staff at travel shows as mutually agreed*.
    7. Opportunity to market your destination at select shows with an adjacent booth space at reduced rates.
  2. 2026 New York State Tourism Conference (April 22-24, 2026):
    1. Complimentary registration for one (1) representative ($475 value)
    2. Recognition/thank you.
  3. 2026 New York State Tourism Excellence Awards and Summit, (Sept. 16-18, 2026) 
    1. Complimentary registration for one (1) representative ($475 value)
    2. Recognition/thank you.

2026 NYSTIA Tourism Champion Destinations agree to the following New York State Tourism Industry Association:

  1. Financial compensation to the New York State Tourism Industry Association in the amount of $3,750 to cover the cost of your participation, enhancing consumer marketing outreach and presentation.
    1. Invoiced January 2026 with a due date of March 31, 2026 unless earlier invoicing is requested. Contact Brooke Wilson, Brooke@nystia.org to request any changes.
  2. Access as mutually agreeable to your expertise for committee engagement, membership development/outreach and consultation.

* Subject to event promoter staffing guidelines/availability of exhibitor passes