News

For this week’s AI Academy Wednesday Webinar, we were joined by Laughlin Rigby from Wheresight and Tiffani Amo from St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce for a candid look at the mistakes tourism organizations may make with AI and how to avoid them. From real-world missteps, to new New York…

For this week's AI Academy Wednesday Webinar, we were joined by Colleen Senglaub from Travel Alliance Partnership for a comprehensive lesson on how to effectively use prompts, practical ways to make AI more useful—and your content more authentic. Take a look at the main topics below, or rewatch…

Last weekend, we closed out the 2026 travel show season with Quebec's largest travel event, the 2026 Montreal International Travel & Tourism Show, held at the Palais des congrès de Montréal from October 30 through November 1st. We were joined at the booth by Glenn Pareira from the Regional Office…

CORNING, N.Y. — Explore Steuben has named Christina Oldroyd its Director of Destination Development, a newly created position focused on advancing partnerships and initiatives that will ultimately strengthen Steuben County for visitors, businesses, and residents. Creating this position is…

State’s Two Signature Downtown Revitalization and Economic Development Programs Have Awarded $1.34 Billion in Funding to 178 Communities All Applicants Must Meet Pro-Housing Community Requirements to Qualify for Funding Applications are Due by January 8, 2027 at 4 p.m. Through the CFA Portal…

SCHENECTADY, NY (October 28, 2026) — Discover Schenectady has named Elissa Fornasiero as its new president, following her service as interim president since May. Fornasiero, who joined the organization in 2021, brings more than a decade of experience in hospitality, destination marketing,…

Your New York State Tourism Champions booth was at the Upstate Sports Northeast Winter Expo at the Saratoga Springs City Center. It was the first time the show was in Saratoga Springs, instead of downtown Albany. We had a double booth on a corner in the middle of the expo. The Regional Office of…

This blog is brought to you by SLELO PRISM’s Pledge to Protect.  Fall is the perfect time to get outside and enjoy New York's forests, waterways, and scenic landscapes. Whether you're gathering around a campfire, heading to your favorite fishing spot, or taking in the vibrant fall…

See this link a website about this session! For this week's AI Academy Wednesday Webinar, we were joined by Janette Roush from Brand USA for a comprehensive and candid conversation about AI policy and strategy. From what is safe to do (and not to do), Janette shared a practical roadmap for…

Elaine Smith is the Executive Director of Tanglewood Nature Center in Elmira, NY. Tanglewood has been a non-profit since 1973. Their mission is “To lead and support education and preservation efforts in our region to achieve a heightened awareness, understanding, and caring for our natural…

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the launch of nominations for the New York State Craft Beverage Retailer Awards, designed to recognize merchants who help customers discover and enjoy craft beverages made in New York with locally grown ingredients. Awardees will receive a "New York State…

Your New York State Tourism Champions booth was in two cities this weekend. Brooke Wilson was at the Dream Destinations Travel Show at the MGM Springfield in Springfield MA, and Nate Gresock was at the AAA Cleveland Vacation Expo at the Embassy Suites Cleveland Rockside. At the Dreams…

During last week’s Wednesday webinar, Matt Clement, Strategic Advisor & EVP at KHM, kicked off the NYSTIA AI Academy series with “First Stop AI,” a human-first guide to getting started with AI.  The session showed how DMOs and small tourism businesses can move from…

Jamestown, NY – October 15, 2026 – On the 75th anniversary of I Love Lucy’s historic October 15, 1951 premiere, the National Comedy Center today announced the acquisition of one of the most significant collections of original I Love Lucy production material to emerge in decades…

Thank you to the 50+ members of the 2026 Tourism Champions community! We were able to pursue an increasingly robust travel show schedule and invest in booth improvements 2026 due to your growing participation. We also want to thank all the volunteers who helped represent New York's destinations and…

WASHINGTON, D.C. (October 5, 2026) – Brand USA, the destination marketing organization for the United States, today announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Caroline Beteta Interim President & CEO, effective Nov. 9. Beteta, who retired in September after nearly three decades as…

LONG ISLAND, NY  (October 5, 2026) -  Discover Long Island (DLI), the region’s only accredited destination marketing organization, is proudly unveiling its newly redesigned website, introducing a more immersive, editorial and user-focused digital experience built around the ways…

ONEIDA COUNTY, NY — Oneida County Tourism unveiled All In Oneida County, a new destination brand, during its annual meeting Wednesday at Turning Stone Resort Casino. The identity gives the county a shared way to tell its story while leaving room for its many communities, experiences and people…

Fall is here and it’s time to enjoy one of the best times to explore New York State and all it has to offer.  In celebration and support of the legacy and growing footprint of the cider industry, Airbnb, the New York Cider Association and New York State have partnered to showcase key regions for…

Binghamton, NY Visit Binghamton and the Greater Binghamton Chamber of Commerce have named Jim Reyen as its new vice president for tourism and director of Visit Binghamton. Reyen brings decades of leadership, community involvement, and regional pride to the role. Having spent 35 years with Johnson…