News

NY Hotels: $28M in EV Charging Funds Available Now! Big news for increasing Level 2 EV charging in New York. As of February 2026, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) added $15 million to the Charge Ready NY 2.0 (PON 5367) program—bringing the total…

Visit Buffalo today released the results of a comprehensive tourism market study with a key finding: A new full-service convention center hotel is vital for the region’s continued growth as a host of meetings and conventions. The study, conducted by HVS, recommends that the community prioritize…

Jamestown, NY – February 18, 2026 – The National Comedy Center, the United States’ museum and national archive dedicated to the art form of comedy, was named the #1`Best Pop Culture Museum in the country by USA Today as part of the 2026 USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice…

Kate Scaduto is the Marketing & Social Media Manager at Visit Buffalo. Visit Buffalo employs a staff of talented tourism professionals dedicated to promoting Buffalo and Erie County, NY. They accomplish this by partnering with national, state and regional meeting planners, motor coach tour…

Amanda Dana, Director of Tourism & Film for Orange County, joined New York Association of Towns (NYAOT) Executive Director Chris Koetzle and NYSTIA President & CEO Bob Provost onstage at the NYAOT Annual Meeting Awards Luncheon on February 16, 2026 to present the inaugural 'Tourism In Our Towns'…

The NYSTIA Tourism Excellence Awards Committee is pleased to announce updates to the award categories for 2026. After reviewing submission trends and evaluating the balance between marketing-focused and destination-focused recognition, the Committee has refined the categories to better reflect the…

Robert Patterson is the SVP, Tourism Partnerships & Solutions, at Mindtrip. Mindtrip for Business is an AI-powered solution for tourism boards and DMOs that transforms inspirational website and social content into personalized, actionable trip plans. Seamlessly embedded into branded DMO sites,…

This blog is brought to you by SLELO PRISM’s Pledge to Protect.  Winter is a good time to get outside. Trails are quieter, the pace is slower, and even a short walk can feel like a reset. Whether you’re heading out with a partner, meeting friends, or bringing the whole family along, being…

The below RFP and article has been taken directly from fingerlakeswinecountry.com Supporting a Transition to an Agency-Led Operational Model Date Issued: February 2, 2026Response Deadline: February 27, 2026 by 4:00 p.m. EST Finger Lakes Wine Country (FLWC) represents one of New York State’s…

Rudi Thun is the Chief Operating Officer at Mindtrip. Mindtrip for Business is an AI-powered solution for tourism boards and DMOs that transforms inspirational website and social content into personalized, actionable trip plans. Seamlessly embedded into branded DMO sites, Mindtrip helps visitors…

Jenni Mitten is the Account Executive for American Road Magazine the ideal place to inspire road trip heritage-minded travelers to experience authentic, intriguing, nostalgic, and picturesque, off-the-beaten-path destinations. Listed by Enjoy Travel Life as #1 in the Best Specialty Magazines for…

Work brings partners and resources together to recognize 200th anniversary of the end of slavery and 400th anniversary of first enslaved Africans’ arrival in New York Traveling exhibits available for display by community organizations The New York State…

Kelly Rosenfeld is a Graphic Designer for Visit Buffalo. Buffalo provides authentic and unexpected experiences to inquisitive explorers. The region’s revitalized waterfront, restored architecture, thriving arts scene, culinary renaissance, vibrant neighborhoods, outdoor activities and historic…

Cayuga County, February 2026 – The Cayuga County Office of Tourism is hosting a complimentary Fund Development Incubator (FDI), a seven session educational series designed to help Cayuga County nonprofit organizations strengthen fundraising skills, improve planning, and build confidence in…

Angie Briggs serves as senior vice president of industry partnerships and engagement and chief development officer at Brand USA. In this role, she leads the partner engagement team with a focus on providing value to new and existing partners and expanding our relationships with industry…

Travel show WIN! at Gillette Stadium! Your Tourism Champions booth was on display at the AAA Northeast Travel Marketplace on January 31st. We were joined in the booth by Katie Sheehy from the Lake George Chamber of Commerce & CVB. We had nonstop traffic in the booth throughout the show. Kudos to…

Last week’s Wednesday Webinar featured Carl Llewellyn and Lachlan Rigby of Wheresight, who shared an exclusive look at the digital maturity of tourism businesses across four New York State counties. What Is Digital Maturity and Why It Matters: Wheresight partners with DMOs and CVBs to measure…

Governor Kathy Hochul and Commissioner of Education Betty A. Rosa today announced the launch of Phase One of the transformation of the New York State Museum. Made possible by Governor Hochul’s historic $150 million investment in the Museum’s future, the initial rollout includes major new…

We experienced good traffic despite challenging weather conditions at two events this past weekend. The New York State Tourism Champions booth was at the New York City Travel & Adventure Show, held at the Jacob Javits Convention Center on January 24th-25th. The booth was also at the AAA Pittsburgh…

This week’s Wednesday Webinar featured Sally Donovan and Jamie Mageau of Rove, who demonstrated how destinations can turn data into a powerful driver of growth, using the Catskills as a real-world case study. Why Data Matters for Destination Growth Sally opened by emphasizing that while…