You're Invited! Join Us in Seneca Falls on June 19!

The Canal New York Marketing & Business Alliance invites members, friends, and tourism colleagues to join them in Seneca Falls on Juneteenth for an engaging three hour program of reflections, presentations, networking, and professional development focused on heritage tourism, community revitalization, and strategic destination marketing.

Date: Friday June 19
Time: 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM EDT
Location: Seneca Falls Museum and Tourism Center, Home of the Seneca Museum of Waterways and Industry, 89 Fall Street, Seneca Falls, NY 13148

Registration: $25 per person (includes all programming and lunch at Parker's on Fall restaurant)
Register Today - capacity is limited!

The program will begin with a welcome from Captain Tammee Poinan Grimes, Chair of the Canal NY Marketing & Business Alliance, followed by presentations from regional leaders and tourism professionals highlighting the unique heritage, partnerships and initiatives shaping Seneca Falls and the surrounding region.

Kate Grindstaff, Visitor Experience Manager at the Equal Rights Heritage Center will share perspective on the formative role of Erie Canal and Finger Lakes communities and individuals in the pursuit of civil rights and events leading up to Juneteenth.

Don Stanko, Lead Ranger at the National Women’s Rights Historical Park, will share insights into the National Park sites within the park and provide a brief history of the organizers of the 1848 Women’s Rights Convention.

Judy Wentzel, Executive Director of the Bonafiglia Family Foundation and board member of the Seneca Falls Development Corporation, will discuss the innovative philanthropic work supporting Downtown Revitalization Initiative projects and community development efforts in Seneca Falls.

Dr. Andrew Olden, Executive Director of the Seneca Falls Museum & Tourism Center and Canal New York Board Member, will explore the organization’s dual role as both a museum of waterways and industry and a tourism hub for the community. Dr. Olden will highlight how grant funding, partnerships, and refreshed marketing strategies are helping connect art, history, culture, waterways, and women’s rights storytelling for visitors and residents alike.

In today’s fast-paced environment, tourism organizations and businesses are constantly balancing limited resources with increasing demands. When simply getting promotions out the door feels like a success, strategy becomes more important than ever.

Nicole Mahoney and Camille Zess from Travel Alliance Partnership will guide attendees through how to create a practical and actionable marketing plan using the PESO Model: Paid, Earned, Shared, and Owned Media. Participants will learn how to align tactical marketing efforts with larger organizational goals and messaging strategies to create cohesive, effective campaigns.

This session is designed to help attendees move beyond reactive marketing and build intentional, results-driven plans that maximize impact while working within real-world resource constraints.