Winter 2015


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Winter in the Finger Lakes is a time for many of you to reflect on last year and gear up for prime tourism season in the coming year. The Cayuga County Office of Tourism is no different with many projects in the works to ensure we capture our share of visitors and give them a wonderful Finger Lakes experience while they are here. Here's what going in our office:

Welcome to the Board!

Linda Eldred, owner of Strawberry Fields Hydroponic Farm, joined the Cayuga County Convention and Visitors Bureau Board of Director's in December. Linda has been an active member of the Finger Lakes Sweet Treat Trail and we look forward to her input and guidance.

 

Finger Lakes Sweet Treat Trail

The Finger Lakes Sweet Treat Trail is preparing to launch another season promoting Cayuga County's locally grown and produced sweet treats such as honey, syrups, jams and jellies. If you grow or produce a sweet treat made with local ingredients in Cayuga County and would like to know more about joining the trail, please contact the Sweet Treat Trail coordinator Susan Marteney, nasusm@hotmail.com no later than January 26, 2015.  

 

Distribute your brochure in Weedsport

The brochure rack we maintain at the Arby's/Tim Horton's in Weedsport continues to be a popular resource for visitors with 3,916 brochures being distributed during 2014. If you would like us to include your hotel or attraction in the rack display in 2015, please deliver 100 brochures and your check in the amount of $50.00 ($100 for non-Cayuga County attractions/lodging) to the Cayuga County CVB, 131 Genesee Street, Auburn, NY 13021. We will call you when we need additional brochures. This is a very cost-effective way of distributing your brochure.

 

Snowmobile Maps available 

Snowmobile Map for CNYSnowmobile weather is here and the 2014-2015 Snowmobile Trail Map for Central New York and the Southern Tier is available at the Cayuga County Office of Tourism to guide  snowmobilers throughout the region. The map features trails from Pulaski to Moravia to Whitney Point and everywhere in between. Cayuga, Chenango, Cortland, Madison, Oneida, Onondaga, & Oswego County trails are all included in this full color foldout map. In addition to a great map, snowmobilers will find information on where to get parts and repairs, snowmobile rentals, lodging and dining near the trails and local snowmobile dealers.   Send your snowmobiling visitors our way for this comprehensive map! ($5.00 per map)

 

2015 Visitors Guide to Cayuga County

The 2015 Visitors Guide to Cayuga County is well underway and we expect delivery of the new guide to be some time in mid-February. Give us a call and make arrangements to stop by the office for a supply of this comprehensive guide to things to see and do and places to stay in Cayuga County.  

Visitor Research Project

The Cayuga County Office of Tourism will be launching a major research study in 2015 to analyze the tourism market in Cayuga County and update previous research data. The market analysis will:

  • Address the very unique aspects of Cayuga County as a tourism destination.
  • Explore regional visitation patterns and the share of visitors within the region that come to Cayuga County.
  • Identify by market segment those attraction features/amenities within the destination, which drive tourism and generate both overnight and repeat visitors to Cayuga County.
  • Determine future strategies to be implemented by the Cayuga County Office of Tourism.

The study will be conducted by Young Strategies, Inc., a Charlotte, NC based firm specializing in research and strategic planning for the travel industry with a focus on destinations. For more information on the study contact meg@tourcayuga.com.

 

Regional Economic Development Council (REDC) Awards

Cayuga County Tourism will be participating in two programs funded through the most recent REDC Awards:

  • $190,440 awarded to the Lake Ontario Sports Promotion Committee for a multi-media promotional campaign (CNY REDC)
  • $100,000 awarded to the Finger Lakes Regional Tourism Council for a destination market analysis to clarify and identify marketing goals (Finger Lakes REDC)

Both programs will leverage funds previously devoted to these efforts as well as in-kind support.

 

2013 Tourism Statistics 

Tourism Economics, an Oxford Economics Company, contracted by I Love NY recently released 2013 tourism statistics for New York State. Tourism spending in Cayuga County was as follows:

 


Traveler spending in Cayuga County increased by approximately 3.5% over 2012. In comparison, New York State's tourism economy expanded in 2013 with 3.5% growth in traveler spending so Cayuga County was right on target!

 

Save the date!

Tuesday, April 21, 2015, the Cayuga County Office of Tourism is sponsoring an International Tourism Seminar for County Tourism Stakeholders and community leaders interested in learning how to serve the growing international market coming to New York State for leisure, business and education. The seminar will focus on simple steps to welcome these visitors that can be implemented by even very small businesses. The seminar will be held from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn, Auburn and light lunch will be provided. We are holding the seminar in collaboration with the Syracuse CVB, so for those unable to attend the Auburn seminar, they are welcome to attend the Syracuse seminar the next morning on April 22 at Destiny. A small fee of $15 will be charged for the seminar. To sign up, email barb@tourcayuga.com.   

 
Have news to share?
 
Please submit your news to Meg Vanek, Executive Director, at
 
Cayuga County Office of Tourism
131 Genesee Street 
Auburn, NY 13021
Phone: 315-255-1658 / 800-499-9615
Fax: 315-255-3742