A New York State delegation recently visited Dublin as part of a European sales mission and took the opportunity to brief the trade and media.
New York State stretches across tens of thousands of square miles of spectacular lake and mountain scenery, and has much to offer the Irish visitor.
The group comprised Leah Mueller from Visit Buffalo Niagara, where Theodore Roosevelt became the 17th President of the United States; Danielle Roman from Corning Finger Lakes, home to the world-famous Corning Museum of Glass; and Mary Kay Vrba from Duchess County Tourism, home to the Hudson Valley, voted one of the ‘Top 20 Best of the World’ places to visit by National Geographic Traveler magazine.
Sue Schmidt, Finger Lakes Visitors Connection, expounded on what her area had to offer visitors, including the culinary and wine delights.
Lisa Tremblay Burns presented Greater Niagara County Byways, which has Letchworth State Park, known as the ‘Grand Canyon of the East’. Ashley Andrews from Lake Placid was promoting the Adirondacks, which by an act of 1882 will remain “forever wild”. They even have a quirky community event called the Irish Road Bowling & Bed Races.
Greg Marshall from Visit Rochester has Wine, Water & Wonders, a suggested itinerary for travel trade partners, which is a programme of routing, attractions and activities that will appeal to international visitors.
All in all, New York State has so much to be discovered by Irish visitors.