Press Releases

Buffalo Niagara Convention & Visitors Bureau and Area Attractions Celebrate National Tourism Week at Trade Show and Reception

Travel Professionals of Color Conference and the National Solar Conference Kick off Buffalo’s Summer Season

BUFFALO, NY, May 12, 2009 –The Buffalo Niagara Convention & Visitors Bureau, the official tourism promotion agency for Erie County, is pleased to lead the local effort to commemorate National Tourism Week (May 9-17) and the start of the 2009 summer tourism season. This occasion is particularly noteworthy this year due to two major conventions being held in Buffalo: the Travel Professionals of Color (TPOC) Annual Conference and the ASES National Solar Conference.

“National Tourism Week is when we celebrate the contribution of tourism to our community’s economy,” said Jennifer Parker, Chair of the Board of Directors of the Buffalo Niagara Convention & Visitors Bureau. “Just this week we’ll have 400 members of the Travel Professionals of Color in town as well as several thousand participants at the National Solar Conference. These are the kind of events that help local businesses to thrive, create jobs and provide tax relief to taxpayers.”

In concert with the Travel Professionals of Color conference a familiarization tour is being held for 40 group tour planners and operators. These purchasers of travel experiences are making stops at a variety of attractions throughout the week. Their itinerary includes a trade show and reception at Marcy Casino in Delaware Park.

“Buffalo is experiencing a renaissance and our community is being recognized throughout the country by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the New York Times and, of course, the Travel Professionals of Color,” noted Richard Geiger, President and CEO of the Buffalo Niagara CVB. “We are deeply honored by this recognition and determined to live up to this praise. We are delighted to be hosting the Heritage Fam Tour and the TPOC and Solar conferences this week in Buffalo.”

In her remarks to the Heritage Fam Tour participants, Jennifer Parker noted that tourism is a $1.4 Billion Dollar industry in Erie County that employs 20,000 people and creates hundreds of millions of dollars in earned income for area residents. She noted that in 2008 tourism generated $180 million in state and county taxes and nearly $8 million in hotel occupancy tax.

“Tourism is Erie County’s growth industry,” Parker said. “It can’t be downsized or relocated or outsourced. It is here to stay and will grow in direct proportion to the effort we make to market and promote it.”

“National Tourism Week serves as an opportunity to highlight this important industry that is critical to our economy,” added Erie County Executive Chris Collins. “There is no doubt – tourism is an economic engine. Erie County and its partners continue to work to make sure our community realizes the true economic potential of tourism, as we maximize our role as a leading cultural destination for tourists looking to enjoy our world-class attractions and architecture.”

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Media Contacts:

Ed Healy
Buffalo Niagara Convention & Visitors Bureau
716-852-0511, x236
healy@buffalocvb.org

Doug Sitler
Buffalo Niagara Convention & Visitors Bureau
716-852-0511, x252
sitler@buffalocvb.org