News

The Empire State Passengers Association (ESPA) is proud of the expansion of passenger rail service achieved this past year while Amtrak continues to recover from earlier Covid-relayed layoffs and retirements. I wanted to provide a yearend wrapup of 2022 activities and accomplishments, as…

A review of statistics from a variety of sources and using a variety of methods from 2015 to 2022 consistently yielded the same outcome - employed New Yorkers fail to use almost 25% of their vacation time each year: Over 42 MILLION DAYS of paid time off are left on the table by employed New Yorkers…

Strap on your skis, lace up your skates, or pull on your hiking boots—the FEBRUARY 15 challenge is on! Complete 15 miles anywhere in the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor before February 28th to claim your status as a FEBRUARY 15 finisher. Head out to your local park, state park,…

The following provides NYSTIA Marketing Analyst Ryan Maercklein's insight and takeaways from the Expedia Group’s article, Destination Marketing Trends for 2023, published by Andrew van der Feltz on January 16th. This informative article covers a variety of topics pertinent to the travel…

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) executives Ellen Brody, Great Lakes Regional Coordinator for NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, and Jeff Gray, Superintendent of the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary in Alpena, Michigan, will speak at the 2023 New York State…

Highlights Efforts to Build Community Resilience to Flooding, Restore and Connect Healthy Ecosystems, Promote Environmental Justice, and Educate the Next Generation New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos today released the 2020-2022 Great Lakes…

As the World University Games come to a close in the Adirondacks, NYSTIA's Brooke Wilson shares a few key takeaways from the event. The exemplary sustainability standards set by the 2023 Lake Placid FISU World University Games undoubtedly place New York State as a beacon for sustainable event…

The following provides NYSTIA Data Analyst Ryan Maercklein's insight and takeaways from the January 11th State of the American Traveler webinar presented by Destination Analysts. A wide array of topics were covered including the economic considerations of the traveler, travel sentiment, and 2023…

NYSTIA welcomes Stacy Koss, the Sr. Manager of the Travel/Tourism and Entertainment Division for NJ Advance Media (Affiliated with Advance Travel & Tourism), and Michelle Melkonian, Account Executive focused on Travel & Tourism throughout NJ (and beyond) to the membership community. Since 2018,…

In their Employee Benefits January Newsletter, NYSTIA Member Brown & Brown Inc. provided important guidance on a number of issues, most notably: Creditable Coverage Disclosure to CMS due March 1, 2023 Each year, group health plan sponsors that provide prescription drug coverage to individuals…

Second-Largest Global Winter Sporting Event Continues Through January 22; Tickets Are Available Here Follows More Than $550 Million in State Investment to Renovate Sports Facilities, Improve Roads and Bridges, Upgrade Sports Infrastructure in Preparation for the Games Games Will Include Several…

Museums Advocacy Day is inspiring, energizing, and impactful. Unite with museum colleagues from across the country as one voice to reaffirm our value, collective contributions, and aspirations. The resources and insights you’ll gain as a participant will help sustain your museum’s future…

Information session scheduled for January 26. Deadline to apply is February 24  WATERFORD, NY - The New York State Canal Corporation, through the Reimagine the Canals initiative, and the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor are offering competitive grant funding to support tourism and…

Challenge Encourages Experienced Hikers to Visit Region's Six Fire Towers   Highlights Opportunities For Recreation In the Catskill Park New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos today announced the 2023 Catskills Fire Tower Challenge to highlight the…

The 2023 Winter World University Games are coming to the Lake George Area for a once in a lifetime event. From January 12th to the 22nd, over twenty-five hundred international athletes from 50 countries come to participate in winter sports competitions all over the Adirondackregion. Gore…

Comprehensive Roadmap Proposes to Expand State's Successful Energy Storage Programs to Unlock the Rapid Growth of Renewables and Bolster Grid Reliability and Customer Resilience   Storage Deployments Expected to Reduce Projected Future Statewide Electric System Costs by Nearly $2 Billion if…

Legislation (S.6191A/A.5390B) Sets Conservation Goal to Promote Biodiversity and Preserve Land and Water  Supports National Goal of "America the Beautiful" Initiative Set by President Biden  Governor Kathy Hochul today signed legislation (A.5390B/S.6191A) that sets the goal to…

Aquarium of Niagara to Start Construction on Great Lakes 360 at Shuttered Niagara Gorge Museum; Progress on Niagara Falls Heritage Gateways Project Advances  Both Projects Will Help Reconnect the People of Niagara Falls to the Waterways That Define the City's Identity Renderings of Great…

Craig Smith is the Executive Director of the Phoenix Festival: Live Arts in the Hudson Valley. The festival is an annual festival in Nyack, NY, that spans 5 to 6 weeks over September and October. The Phoenix Festival aims to bring people to Nyack to enjoy first-rate quality theatre, dance, and…

Bob Stivers is the owner of Stivers Seneca Marine & Finger Lakes Water Adventures, two companies passionate about promoting activity on Seneca Lake and the Cayuga Seneca Canal. Bob has lived, worked, and played on these waters for over 20 years and is passionate about sharing their little slice of…