Westfield, N.Y. - The Concord Grape Belt Heritage Association, Inc. announces the Memorial Day Weekend opening of an information center, retail outlet, and tasting room at the Grape Discovery Center on Route 20, just west of the Village of Westfield in Chautauqua County, NY. Situated in the heart of the Concord Grape Belt, the Grape Discovery Center is the cornerstone project for the Concord Grape Belt Heritage Association. It is intended to draw travelers off interstate 90 to stop and smell the grapes in season, taste local agricultural products, and learn about attractions in this area that supports 30,000 acres of grapes between Silver Creek, NY and Harborcreek, PA. In a final phase, expected to be completed by fall, an exhibit area will teach people about the history and production process of grapes for juice, wine, jelly, and new products like grape seed oil. Read more »

Tourism Summit Generates New Ideas to Bring More Visitors to New York State
Governor: NYS Tourism Equals Business

Albany, N.Y. (May 8, 2014) - Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the launch of New York’s largest tourism campaign in decades, committing nearly $60 million to grow the industry, create jobs and attract even more visitors to the Empire State.

The Governor’s announcement came at the conclusion of the New York State Tourism Summit, where hundreds of tourism experts gathered in Albany to discuss ideas and new ways to bring tourists to every corner of the state. As the fifth largest employment sector in New York, tourism supported 714,000 jobs and generated more than $29 billion in wages in 2012. One out of every 12 jobs in New York is tourism-related. The more than 202 million international and domestic visitors to the Empire State last year resulted in $57 billion in direct tourism spending, and generated $7 billion in state and local taxes.

“New York State has some of the most beautiful tourist attractions in the world. From the peaks of the Adirondacks to the beaches of Long Island, no matter what you’re looking for you can find it here,” Governor Cuomo said. “I want the world to know about these assets, too, and am committed to making the State a ‘must see’ global destination and creating new jobs and investments in New York.” Read more »

Ellicottville, N.Y. - Upon the completion of a successful 2012-13 winter season, Holiday Valley’s President Dennis Eshbaugh announced plans to reinvest $3.1 million in resort improvements. According to Mr. Eshbaugh, “It is a priority to continually improve Holiday Valley, not only to keep up with the current technology but to give our visitors the best experience possible.” The projects include improvements to both winter and summer operations. Read more »

Jamestown, N.Y. - The Lucy Desi Center for Comedy has announced that Bill Engvall, Kathleen Madigan, and a “Comics to Watch” showcase of upcoming comedians presented by Pandora will headline the Lucille Ball Comedy Festival, August 1^st-4^th.

Additionally, the leads from the Broadway hit I Love Lucy: Live on Stage, a late-night standup show in the Tropicana Room that will be recorded as a live comedy album, Lucille Ball’s former personal secretary Wanda Clark, the GI’s of Comedy, Summer Wind Cruises, and Gregg Oppenheimer’s Live Lucy Radio Play will be a part of the four-day festival. Read more »

Albany, N.Y. - As spring spreads its warmth across New York State, festivals and activities celebrating the state’s bounty, outdoor attractions and heritage are sprouting up. New York State ranks among the top wine, fruit, dairy and berry producing states in the nation, and farms, wineries and breweries across the state are increasingly opening their doors to visitors. Factor in its protected wilderness–more state-designated wilderness land than any state (except Alaska)-and New York State’s many pivotal roles in the history of the country, it’s easy to see why the season of awakening is filled with activities for visitors.
 
What follows is just a sampling of the many festivals and special events happening statewide this spring: Read more »

Dunkirk, N.Y. - Freediver Sam Genco has been added to the Great Lakes Seaway Trail Blue Byway Seminar taking place 9am-4pm on Saturday, April 13, 2013, at the Clarion Conference Center and Marina in Dunkirk, NY. Genco will talk about the wide variety of Lake Erie diving, snorkeling and freediving adventures available to people of all ages and experience levels.
 
Genco is a noted freediver in the Niagara River/Lake Erie area of the Great Lakes Seaway Trail region that parallels 518 miles of freshwater shoreline in New York and Pennsylvania. He is a US Coast Guard-licensed Captain and a former Captain with Osprey Charters out of Barcelona, NY. Read more »

Ellicottville, N.Y. - With almost three feet of natural snowfall over the last two weeks and more on the way, Holiday Valley’s President Dennis Eshbaugh announced today that the resort will extend its season for an extra week. According to Mr. Eshbaugh, “Not only do we have a deep base with wall to wall coverage but the snow surface itself is ideal mid-winter packed powder conditions. We are happy to add a week to this already great season.”

The resort is currently reporting an average base depth of 17 to 56 inches with 6 quad chairlifts and 40 slopes open. Three more lifts will open for this weekend and the resort will extend hours to 9PM both Friday and Saturday evenings. Read more »