If you don't have your brochure or flier at the tourism office, please get us a supply right away. Thousands of visitors come through our office looking for things to do and places to eat, shop and sleep. Don't miss this FREE opportunity to promote your business! Also, consider placing a display in our office as we now have space for rotating tourism exhibits.

The recent Cayuga County Travel Market Research Study has been completed and is now available on tourcayuga.com. Click on the 'partners' button in the upper right hand corner of the site and then go to 'research.' The study strategically analyzes the tourism market in Cayuga County, identifies the unique aspects of the County as a tourism destination, and updates previous research. The data will be used to direct future marketing and product development initiatives and should be of interest to anyone in the local travel and tourism industry. Please use this information to help formulate your future marketing plans.

37 people attended our front-line familiarization tour to northern Cayuga County on May 24th. The familiarization tour is part of our on-going efforts to help cross-promote the attractions within the county and is a popular annual event.

Route 90 50-Mile Garage Sale

Due to the high volume of visitor inquiries for the annual Route 90 50-mile garage sale, the Cayuga County Office of Tourism and the Cortland CVB teamed up to create a simple brochure with a good map to help visitors find their way to and through this popular event. Please stop by the Tourism Office if you would like a supply. This year's sale is Saturday and Sunday, July 30 & 31.

Local Food Favorites

Travelers of Route 5 and 20 have a new resource at their fingertips, a pocket map highlighting the local food favorites along the iconic route between Skaneateles and Darien. The Route 5 and 20 promotion committee conducted an on-line survey to find which produce stands, restaurants, orchards, etc. are local favorites and created a food favorites mini-map. Among the local favorites in Cayuga County are Owen Orchards for best apples, Mesa Grande Taqueria for best tacos and Moro's Table with the best menu for 'foodies.' Maps are available at the Cayuga County Office of Tourism.

The Cayuga County CVB Board of Directors recognized local members of the Finger Lakes Cheese Trail for their outstanding contributions to tourism at their Annual Meeting on June 7, 2011. The Finger Lakes Cheese Trail is the newest trail in the Finger Lakes, showcasing the area's cheesemakers. Cayuga County Cheese Trail members honored at the meeting were Keeley McGarr, Keeley's Cheese Company; Tim & Rose Marie Belforte, Finger Lakes Dexter Creamery; Nevin Martin, Hillcrest Dairy; and Andrew Fish & Kim Fortin, 4 Tin Fish Farm.

Three new directors were elected to the Cayuga County Convention and Visitors Board of Directors at their Annual Meeting in June. Agricultural consultant, Judy Wright, Long Point Winery Co-owner, Rosemary Barletta and Marketing Manager for the Musical Theatre Festival/Merry-Go-Round Playhouse, Megan Mullin have all joined the board for two-year terms. We look forward to their input and expertise.

If you haven't been in the tourism office lately, please stop in and see our new look. The visitor information space has expanded, we have fresh paint and new carpet, a new wine display and gorgeous photography donated by Jacci Conderacci. The renovations make the office a good first impression for visitors coming to Cayuga County and the Finger Lakes Region.

To serve the many visitors expected in Cayuga County this summer, the Cayuga County Office of Tourism will be open Saturdays, July 2 to August 27, 2011 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., in addition to it's normal hours, Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The office, located at 131 Genesee St., Auburn carries a full array of attraction and accommodation brochures and maps, as well as the Official Visitors' Guide to Cayuga County. Trained tourism staff is available to help plan itineraries and answer questions.

Cayuga County has appeared in some major publications this year including a "Vintage Vacation" feature in Better Homes and Gardens magazine, which has a paid circulation of 7,620,932 and editorial in AAA Car & Travel magazine which features Auburn as one of 'New York's Prize Quartet.' AAA Car & Travel has an average circulation of 940,000. These editorial placements are part of the Cayuga County Office of Tourism's on-going public relations program.

The 14 Finger Lakes Region Tourism Promotion Agencies hosted Peter Greenberg, Travel Editor for CBS News for a taping of his syndicated radio show, Peter Greenberg Worldwide on June 22. Mr. Greenberg is America's most recognized and respected front-line travel journalist. Cayuga County was fortunate to have time with Mr. Greenberg prior to the show with a stop at Pumpkin Hill Bistro for lunch and a walk through downtown Aurora. Mr. Greenberg loved Cookie Wheeler's artichoke dip and gave the recipe out during the radio show! Tom Higgins, owner of Heart & Hands Wine Company in Union Springs, was a guest on the show and spoke about the Finger Lakes wine industry. The show will air on 400 radio stations both in the U.S. and abroad.

Does your business or non-profit have a need for database development, an IT Business Plan, or inventory of IT needs? CCC is looking for community projects for students studying information technology. Contact Sheila Meyers, Coordinator of Experiential Learning, 315-255-1743 X 2122 or Sheila.Meyers@cayuga-cc.edu for details.