News

KOS is New York's first public floating sauna, inspired by the stunning fjord saunas of Norway. We are on a mission to inspire people to be happy, healthy, and connect through heat. Our year-round, community-driven sauna offers shared social sessions, private group rentals, annual…

The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation announced that the 2026 Empire Pass is now available for purchase. The $80 Empire Pass provides unlimited day-use vehicle entry to New York State Parks, state boat launch sites, arboretums, park preserves and Department of…

The Office of Cultural Education is excited to invite you to the 2nd Annual Winter New York State 250 Commemoration Summit, February 11, 2026 at the New York State Museum's Huxley Theater from 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM. Join us for updates and presentations from a wide variety of state officials,…

During our Thanksgiving-week Wednesday Webinar, Josiah Brown from New York's Best Experiences led a lively discussion on the fundamentals of advocacy for destination organizations. In particular, what advocacy really means for destination organizations, and why it matters now more than ever. What…

With each year's Thanksgiving newsletter, I have taken the opportunity to reflect on the events of the current year and share my thoughts regarding the year ahead. Calendar year 2024 was a year of positive momentum and (post-covid) resurgence that yielded record breaking statistics for New York…

“Bringing world-class immersive exhibitions to Schenectady has been a tremendous success, and this experience promises to be one of the most unforgettable yet,” said Todd Garofano, Executive Director of Discover Schenectady. “Titanic: An Immersive Voyage offers a powerful and…

This week’s Wednesday Webinar brought together Dylan Forsyth of Zartico and Gina Mintzer from the Lake George Regional Chamber, who explored how destination strategies shift when you zoom in on local visitors vs. zoom out to focus on out-of-state travelers. Their conversation highlighted how…

The New York State Canal Corporation (NYSCC) has issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) seeking qualified providers to develop, operate, or support a range of recreational adventures within the New York State Canal System. These offerings, anticipated to begin in Q2 2026, will support the On the…

Join us on Wednesday December 10th at 9:15 AM for our Wednesday Webinar presentation from Hayley Coriaty from Alon Tourism Solutions to learn about the mastering international inbound tourism! In this workshop, Alon Tourism Solutions will share how New York destinations and businesses can…

Garrett Tyler-Parker is the Director Analysis & Insights at Tourism Research Australia (Austrade). Tourism Research Australia (TRA) is Australia's leading provider of quality tourism intelligence across both international and domestic markets. TRA provides statistics and research to assist the…

As we wrap up our 2025 travel show season, we want to say THANK YOU to all the Tourism Champions and to everyone who volunteered in the booth or assisted with the booth in any way. We would not be able to promote and tell stories about all the fantastic destinations across New York State without…

Last week’s Wednesday Webinar welcomed Brent Foerster and the team from Tempest, who shared practical insights on strengthening CRM habits, fine-tuning lead tracking, and using group pace reporting to support smarter decision-making for DMOs. Brent opened with background on IDSS,…

New 25,000-Square-Foot Terminal Creates a Soaring Gateway To Spur Tourism & Economic Growth Expansion Project Funded With $28 Million Through Governor Hochul’s Upstate Airport Economic Development and Revitalization Competition View Photos Here Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the…

In a show that was a great way to close out our 2025 Travel Show Schedule, your New York State Tourism Champions booth was located for the final time in 2025 at the Montreal International Travel & Tourism Show held at the Palais des congrès de Montréal, November 7-9. We were…

Last week’s Wednesday Webinar featured Jackie Saunders from Tiki, who explored how destinations can embrace artificial intelligence while keeping inspiration, storytelling, and human connection at the center of tourism marketing. Jackie began by tracing AI’s long history in the travel…

Join us on Wednesday December 3rd at 9:15 AM for our Wednesday Webinar presentation from Erica Schneider from Park & Trails NY to learn about the Empire State Trail! Parks & Trails New York will provide an overview of their successful Empire State Trail Town program that helps communities identify…

New Business Center, Children’s Play Area and Multi-Sensory Room To Enhance Airport Experience for Travelers To and From the Capital Region Comprehensive Modernization Reflects Governor Hochul’s Commitment To Creating 21st Century Transportation Infrastructure That Supports Economic…

Join us on Wednesday November 26th at 9:15 AM for our Wednesday Webinar presentation from Josiah Brown from New York's Best Experiences to learn about Advocacy Planning! Who wants to talk about Advocacy on Thanksgiving week?? The Sherpa...duh...(that should have been more obvious). Join the Sherpa…

Malta, NY — Campground Owners of New York and Camp New York are thrilled to announce the winners of the first-ever Best of Camp New York Awards, a celebration honoring exceptional campgrounds as chosen by the people who know them best — the campers! Voted on by campers during the 2025 camping…

Join us on Wednesday November 19th at 9:15 AM for our Wednesday Webinar presentation with Zartico and the Lake George Regional Chamber of Commerce & CVB to learn about destination strategy! No two destinations are alike, and neither are the strategies that drive results—so how do you identify…