The Business Council of New York State
joined more than 200 tourism industry professionals
in Albany today for the Tourism
Industry Coalition’s Tourism Action Day
supporting sustained and increased funding
for New York state’s travel and tourism
industries.
“New York has made great gains the past
few years in supporting and investing in the
state’s tourism industry,” said Heather C.
Briccetti, president and CEO of the Business
Council of New York state. “Connecting
tourists with the best New York has to offer
is a wise investment, boosting our economy
and creating jobs. The Council supports the
state sustaining its investment in tourism
related programs.”
The Business Council supports continued funding for the state’s Regional Economic Development Councils, funding for the state to host more tourism related summits and initiatives that create private sector investment and job creation. The Executive Budget includes funding for Market-NY at $5 million; Taste-NY at $1.1 million, I Love NY at $2.5 million; and the county matching funds program at approximately $3.8 million for FY2014-15.
The council also supports the continued funding of the Wine and Grape Foundation appropriated at $713,000, for FY2014-15 and the state’s continued investment in the Regional Economic Development Councils, Open for Business and NY Works, which was estimated at $60 million in 2013.
Council members attending or being represented at Tourism Action Day included: Albany County Convention & Visitors Bureau, American Express, BBL Hospitality, Destiny USA, Inns of Aurora, LLC, The Desmond Hotel & Conference Center, Empire City Casino at Yonkers Raceway, Empire Resorts, Inc., Fox Run Vineyards, Inc., Fulton Montgomery Regional Chamber of Commerce, Gideon Putnam Resort and Spa, IN New York & Where magazines, The Lodge at Welch Allyn, New York Power Authority, Niagara Honeymoon Sweets, New York Wine & Culinary Center, New York Wine & Grape Foundation, Palace Theatre, Plattsburgh Chamber of Commerce, The Sagamore, Saratoga Casino & Raceway, Saratoga Convention & Tourism Bureau, Tri-City Valley Cats, VisitRochester, and the Wyoming County Chamber & Tourism.
The Business Council supports the level of funding appropriated to the tourism industry in Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s executive budget and encourages the state Legislature to approve this level of funding.
For more information visit www.bcnys.org.