News

NYSTIA member Greg LaDuca was recently honored with the Excellence in Leadership Award at the 2026 PACE Forum. The PACE Forum is the premier gathering place for passionate destination management organizations (DMOs) professionals committed to the power of Partnership and Community Engagement. In…

Your Tourism Champions booth was on display at the Upstate Sports Summer Expo in the Saratoga City Center on March 14th & 15th. There was terrific attendance, with a steady flow of attendees coming through the booth. Congratulations to Upstate Sports for having an excellent event. The show had a…

The thirtieth Winter Symposium of the Canal Society of New York State began with a blast from a vintage canal boatman’s horn and, at the end of the day, closed on the same high note. More than 150 canal enthusiasts gathered for the annual event, held March 7 at Monroe Community College in…

During last week’s March 11 Wednesday Webinar, Nick Beaulieu from Sojern, presented significant insights from Sojern's 2026 State of Destination Marketing Report and discussed how measuring economic impact ranks as DMO's top priority amid AI Disruption. Sojern's 2026 State of Destination…

The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation today announced recommendations by the New York State Board for Historic Preservation to add 25 properties and districts to the State and National Registers of Historic Places. The nominations include an intact 1905 metal…

Sarah Bilofsky is a Brand and Content Strategist who partners with 2k Design. For over two decades, 2k Design has crafted strategic design solutions based on their clients’ unique needs. Their work includes identity, print, web, packaging, signage, and exhibit design. They believe thoughtful…

Mindy Yoder, founder of Rest By The Willow, is a Wellness Dietitian and Certified Travel Coach. With roots in hospitality, she began her career as a Restaurant Guest Service Manager at the Polynesian Resort at Walt Disney World, followed by a role as Sales Manager at Hyatt Regency Buffalo. After…

Lake George, NY — The Lake George Regional Convention & Visitors Bureau (LGRCVB), the group-business marketing arm of Warren County and the Lake George Area, announced its 2025 year-end results, showcasing strong performance in sales, digital engagement, room nights, and overall economic impact.…

They're back! Jamie Mageau, Head of Advisory Services, and Sally Donovan, Client Relations Lead, at Rove will lead us through their briefing during our Wednesday Webinar on March 18th, at 9:00 AM! Join us for another data-driven briefing examining how Canada–U.S. tensions,…

Jen Dobies is the Park Manager at WildPlay in Thacher. They believe in the power of hands-on, nature-based experiences to enhance learning. Whether it’s fostering teamwork, developing leadership skills, or simply encouraging humans to engage with the environment in a meaningful way,…

WATERFORD, NY- The NYS Canal Corporation and the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor are pleased to announce that 41 non-profit organizations and municipalities will receive 2026 NYS Canal System Tourism Infrastructure and Event Grants totaling $207,953. The grants will support 11 tourism…

The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) announced today that six local governments will receive a combined $180,000 in grant funds to support community historic preservation projects. This funding comes from the federal…

Join us on Wednesday, March 25th, at 9:15 AM for an engaging Wednesday Webinar with Kelly Fitzpatrick, Client Success Manager at Zartico and panelists from Visit Buffalo, Tour Cayuga, and Visit Ithaca! In a world where travelers crave meaning over marketing, DMOs must shift from promoting places to…

Measuring Economic Impact Ranks as DMO's Top Priority Amid AI Disruption Based on insights from more than 350 DMOs worldwide, Sojern's 2026 State of Destination Marketing Report points to a broader shift towards performance-led marketing. Presented by Nick Beaulieu, Sales Director at Sojern, this…

Over the on February 21st-22nd weekend we had two Tourism Champions Booth in action at two major travel events in two major out of state markets. I brought the booth to the Chicago Travel & Adventure Show at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, and  Gary Hahn and Megan Arnone Eckwahl of the…

Cayuga County, February 2026 – Brave Women Week returns March 1 8, 2026, inviting residents and visitors to celebrate the Finger Lakes’ special role in the women’s rights and suffrage movement through a full week of themed events, exhibits, tours, and shopping specials honoring brave women,…

Ayerim Maduro Lacle is the Owner, CEO & President of HAMAK Hospitality Solutions Inc., a boutique tourism consulting and destination services firm based in New York's Hudson Valley. HAMAK Hospitality leads the Hudson Valley Hospitality & Partner Network, serving as a centralized…

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…