![\"NYSTIA\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/NYSTIA_1fd9c3db-9fea-4a84-8e3d-f900663d2be6.jpg\")
Special Ceremony to be Held on Thursday, September 17 in Corning, NY<\/p>\nSpecial Ceremony to be Held on Thursday, September 17 in Corning, NY<\/p>\n
Troy, NY \u2013\u00a0The New York State Tourism Industry Association (NYSTIA) today announced the recipients of the 2026 New York State Tourism Excellence Awards. Each year, this program honors exceptional achievements by New York\u2019s destination marketing organizations, attractions, and tourism professionals across a wide range of categories, including marketing, destination stewardship, and leadership. Honorees will be celebrated at a special ceremony and reception, hosted by presenting partner Advance Travel & Tourism, on Thursday, September 17, 2026, in Corning, New York.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf there\u2019s one thing a trip to the Crystal City guarantees, it\u2019s a moment of reflection,\u201d\u00a0remarked Cass Majestic, Board Chair of the New York State Tourism Industry Association.\u00a0\u201cThe NYS Tourism Excellence Awards & Summit isn’t just about presenting awards, reviewing committee reports or casting board ballots\u2014it\u2019s where we pause to look at what we’ve built over the past year and refine our strategy. Think of it as a masterclass in transparency and brilliant design. I promise you\u2019ll leave Corning with sharp insights, fresh partnerships, and an absolute conviction that New York’s tourism industry shines brighter than ever. See you in the Gaffer District!\u201d<\/p>\n
Open to all tourism professionals and organizations throughout the state, the New York State Tourism Excellence Awards are determined through a competitive evaluation process led by a panel of impartial industry experts. Earlier this year, the Tourism Excellence Awards Committee restructured several categories to better reflect the full scope of work across New York’s tourism industry. New subcategories were introduced under Excellence in Tourism Marketing Campaigns, Projects & Programs, including Creative for Tourism Marketing, Overall Tourism Marketing, and International Tourism Marketing. The Committee also launched a new Excellence in Transformational Tourism Stewardship category, recognizing Destination Development & Community Engagement, Tourism Advocacy, and Workforce Development. Entries spanned the entirety of New York State, providing the judges with a challenging task of evaluating a diverse slate of highly qualified submissions across this expanded range of recognition.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt seems that each year the standards of excellence recognized by the NYS Tourism Excellence Awards & Summit are both elevated and evolved,\u201d\u00a0observed Bob Provost, President of the New York State Tourism Industry Association.\u00a0\u201cThey reflect the increasing sophistication of the visitor industry and the enlightened perspective of the intricate ecosystem of the visitor economy. The addition of Tourism Excellence Workshops in 2025 further enhanced the attendee experience, enabling them to learn from and appreciate the significance and relevance of the work being recognized.\u201d<\/p>\n
“Administering the Tourism Excellence Awards is an honor, and one I look forward to each year,\u201d\u00a0stated Rachele Markle, NYSTIA staff liaison to the New York State Tourism Excellence Awards Committee.\u00a0\u201cNone of this would be possible without two groups of people who deserve our gratitude: the nominators who documented and submitted the outstanding work happening across the state, and the experienced volunteer judges who gave their time to carefully evaluate each submission. A sincere thank you to those who serve on the Tourism Excellence Awards Committee and this year\u2019s panel of judges: Megan Arnone Eckwahl, Hayley Coriaty, Beth Duane, Claire Dunlap, Michelle Enright, Sarah Foster Calero, Corey Fram, Ryan Geraghty, Brandi Guerinot, Nick Gunn, Nigar Hale, Danae Jones-Persip, Diana Keating, Olga Luz Tirado, Cass Majestic, Maeve McEneny, Elizabeth Pantano, Kevin Peterson, Shane Rhinewald, Dwayne Thomas, Regina Wagner, and MacKenzie Zarzycki.\u201d<\/p>\n
Award recipients are recognized in the following format:<\/p>\n
Nominee\/Campaign\/Project Name
\nOrganization Name
\nAward Category: Subcategory
\n– *Budget Subcategory (if applicable)<\/p>\n
*To ensure fair competition among organizations of similar budgets, nominators are asked to include the nominated organization\u2019s total annual tourism operating budget (under or over $500,000). In the case(s) where a category receives nominations in both budget ranges, two awards\u2014one in each budget range\u2014are awarded.<\/p>\n
2026 Honorees –\u00a0New York State Tourism Excellence Awards<\/p>\n
Carol Eaton
\nVisit Syracuse
\nExcellence in Leadership: Career Achievement
\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
Michele Vennard
\nAlbany Convention Center Authority
\nThe New Yorker Award
\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Catharine Valley Trail Experience Project
\nEast Shore Marketing on behalf of Watkins Glen Chamber of Commerce
\nExcellence in Tourism Marketing Campaigns, Projects & Programs:
\nCreative for Tourism Marketing
\n– Annual Tourism Operating Budget less than $500,000
\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
Where You Go Matters. Make It Count.
\nTour Cayuga
\nExcellence in Tourism Marketing Campaigns, Projects & Programs:
\nCreative for Tourism Marketing
\n– Annual Tourism Operating Budget $500,000 or more
\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0My New York Vibe
\nPaperkite on behalf of NYSDMO
\nExcellence in Tourism Marketing Campaigns, Projects & Programs:
\nDigital Marketing Campaign
\n– Annual Tourism Operating Budget less than $500,000
\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
Commander in Cheers Beers
\nDestination Dutchess
\nExcellence in Tourism Marketing Campaigns, Projects & Programs:
\nDigital Marketing Campaign
\n– Annual Tourism Operating Budget $500,000 or more
\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
My New York Vibe
\nPaperkite on behalf of NYSDMO
\nExcellence in Tourism Marketing Campaigns, Projects & Programs:
\nThe Great Outdoors of New York State
\n– Annual Tourism Operating Budget less than $500,000
\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
Destination Dutchess Farm Finder
\nDestination Dutchess
\nExcellence in Tourism Marketing Campaigns, Projects & Programs:
\nThe Great Outdoors of New York State
\n– Annual Tourism Operating Budget $500,000 or more
\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
Alon\u2019s Amplify Business Development Program
\nAlon Tourism Solutions
\nExcellence in Tourism Marketing Campaigns, Projects & Programs:
\nInnovations & Strategies to Address New\/Unique\/Changing Markets
\n– Annual Tourism Operating Budget less than $500,000
\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
Visit Rochester Reimagines Canadian Outreach with \u201cDear Canada\u201d
\nVisit Rochester
\nExcellence in Tourism Marketing Campaigns, Projects & Programs:
\nInnovations & Strategies to Address New\/Unique\/Changing Markets
\n– Annual Tourism Operating Budget $500,000 or more
\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
Online International Inbound Travel Training Program
\nAlon Tourism Solutions & IITA
\nExcellence in Tourism Marketing Campaigns, Projects & Programs:
\nInternational Tourism Marketing
\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
Erie Canalway Bicentennial Marketing Campaign
\nErie Canalway National Heritage Corridor
\nExcellence in Tourism Marketing Campaigns, Projects & Programs:
\nOverall Tourism Marketing
\n– Annual Tourism Operating Budget less than $500,000
\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
Destination Dutchess Rev250
\nDestination Dutchess
\nExcellence in Tourism Marketing Campaigns, Projects & Programs:
\nOverall Tourism Marketing
\n– Annual Tourism Operating Budget $500,000 or more
\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Catharine Valley Trail Experience Project
\nEast Shore Marketing on behalf of Watkins Glen Chamber of Commerce
\nExcellence in Tourism Marketing Campaigns, Projects & Programs:
\nPrinted Materials
\n– Annual Tourism Operating Budget less than $500,000
\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
This Is Cooperstown Inspiration Guide
\nDestination Marketing Corporation
\nExcellence in Tourism Marketing Campaigns, Projects & Programs:
\nPrinted Materials
\n– Annual Tourism Operating Budget $500,000 or more
\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
Discover Saratoga Public Relations Program
\nTravel Alliance Partnership on behalf of Discover Saratoga
\nExcellence in Tourism Marketing Campaigns, Projects & Programs:
\nPublic Relations Campaign
\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
New York Susquehanna Basin Water Trail
\n2k Design on behalf of This Is Cooperstown\/Otsego County, Visit Binghamton, Discover Chemung, Friends of the Chemung River Watershed, Explore Steuben, and Experience Tioga
\nExcellence in Tourism Marketing Campaigns, Projects & Programs:
\nTrails & Itineraries
\n– Annual Tourism Operating Budget less than $500,000\u00a0
\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
Discover Saratoga\u2019s \u201cTrip Ideas\u201d
\nDiscover Saratoga
\nExcellence in Tourism Marketing Campaigns, Projects & Programs:
\nTrails & Itineraries
\n– Annual Tourism Operating Budget $500,000 or more
\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
ADK DATA
\nRegional Office of Sustainable Tourism (ROOST)
\nExcellence in Tourism Marketing Campaigns, Projects & Programs:
\nUsing Data to Drive Success
\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
New York Susquehanna Basin Water Trail
\n2k Design on behalf of This Is Cooperstown\/Otsego County, Visit Binghamton, Discover Chemung, Friends of the Chemung River Watershed, Explore Steuben, and Experience Tioga
\nExcellence in Transformational Tourism Stewardship:
\nDestination Development & Community Engagement
\n– Annual Tourism Operating Budget less than $500,000
\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
Y\u014dkoso to Cooperstown (\u3088\u3046\u3053\u305d\u00a0Cooperstown)
\nThis Is Cooperstown
\nExcellence in Transformational Tourism Stewardship:
\nDestination Development & Community Engagement
\n– Annual Tourism Operating Budget $500,000 or more
\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
ACORNS & JR. ACORNS
\nGenesee County Parks, Recreation and Forestry
\nExcellence in Transformational Tourism Stewardship:
\nSustainable Stewardship
\n– Annual Tourism Operating Budget less than $500,000
\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
Discover Saratoga\u2019s Chowderfest
\nDiscover Saratoga
\nExcellence in Transformational Tourism Stewardship:
\nSustainable Stewardship
\n– Annual Tourism Operating Budget $500,000 or more
\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
DMO\/County Grant Program
\nSullivan Catskills Visitors Association
\nExcellence in Transformational Tourism Stewardship:
\nTourism Advocacy
\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOne Laugh at a Time\u201d A National Comedy Center Memory Cafe
\nNational Comedy Center
\nExcellence in Transformational Tourism Stewardship:
\nTourism Equity & Inclusion
\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
Economic Development\/Workforce Development Web Pages
\nBlack Dog Designs, LLC on behalf of Washington County Planning Department
\nExcellence in Transformational Tourism Stewardship:
\nWorkforce Development
\n– Annual Tourism Operating Budget less than $500,000
\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
Visit Rochester Frontline Toolkit
\nVisit Rochester
\nExcellence in Transformational Tourism Stewardship:
\nWorkforce Development
\n– Annual Tourim Operating Budget $500,000 or more
\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
Liza Ochsendorf
\nWarren County Workforce Development
\nExcellence in Transformational Tourism Stewardship:
\nWorkforce Development
\n– Individual Subcategory Recipient
\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
Hayley Coriaty
\nAlon Tourism Solutions
\nExcellence in Young Professional Leadership
\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
About New York State Tourism Industry Association:<\/p>\n
The New York State Tourism Industry Association (NYSTIA) is a member-driven, 501(c)6 nonprofit organization at the vanguard of transformational tourism marketing, stewardship and long-term strategic planning. We assist our members in advancing responsible economic growth, creating jobs, revitalizing communities, supporting small business success, and increasing state and local tax revenues in order to improve the standard of living, quality of life and pride of place for New York State communities and residents. We achieve these goals by facilitating the success of our members in realizing the economic potential of New York State’s tourism industry as a catalyst for collaborative initiatives, exceptional marketing programs, industry research and legislative awareness for the private sector of New York State’s tourism industry.\u00a0www.nystia.org<\/a><\/p>\n About Advance Travel & Tourism<\/p>\n Advance Travel and Tourism, a national digital marketing agency specializing in destination marketing, now includes the expertise and reach of\u00a0Advance Media NY Travel & Tourism. This partnership provides clients with enhanced benefits, including access to deeper data resources for targeted audience engagement, national best practices in travel and tourism strategies, and the expanded expertise of a nationwide team specializing in destinations, attractions, museums, and casinos.\u00a0https:\/\/www.advancetravelandtourism.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Special Ceremony to be Held on Thursday, September 17 in Corning, NY Troy, NY \u2013\u00a0The New York State…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":289493,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[9,11,10,49,51,50],"class_list":["post-289492","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-new-york","tag-new-york","tag-new-york-headlines","tag-new-york-news","tag-new-york-state","tag-new-york-state-headlines","tag-new-york-state-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/289492","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=289492"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/289492\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/289493"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=289492"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=289492"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=289492"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}