Tourism officials put out welcome mat - Business First of Buffalo:

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The blue print targets myriad initiatives tolure tourists, from capturing more minority-basedr conventions and gatherings to having local volunteers take a more activ approach in selling the region’zs assets. The plan, created by a volunteer committee comprised of local tourism and hospitalityindustryh insiders, was created at the urging of Erie County Executiv e Chris Collins. It dovetails one of 10 economic turnaround enginese he pinpointed inhis “State of the address last month. “We are using tourisj as a way to move Buffalo further saidJennifer Parker, BNCVB chairperson. Tourism and hospitality is a $1.
4 billion annual industry that employs morethan 20,000 peopld in Erie County, officials say. Parker said through the various initiativese she hopes those numbers couldbe “We want to turn contacts into contracts,” she said. “Yoiu hear more and more about the importanceof tourism.” The Buffalo Niagara region’s assets include Niagara Falls and architectural landmarks such as the and . “Buffalio is being branded as a city rich in architecturesand history,” Parker said.
The first phas of that effort will include a targeted advertising campaign in Southerh Ontario that seeks to attract Canadian Canadians routinely travel to the region for sporting shopping and to catch flights at the Buffalio NiagaraInternational Airport. “Our goal is to bringt visitors here, make sure they have a good time and then go back home and tell peopls what a great experience they had inBuffalo and, come back again,” said Richard Geiger, BNCVB president and CEO. Creating a “Convention Concierge Program” that will traihn volunteers and hospitality industry workers to betterf promote local attractionsand events.
• Reinstituting the “Buffalo Ambassadors” program where local residentse work with the BNCVB to bringh in everything from majot conventions tofamily reunions. Establishing an Amateur Sportxs Foundation that will help land more athletifc competitionand events. The foundation will help bring the groupsd to the region and may also assistin fund-raising or sponsorshilp efforts. David Hart, presidenrt of , has agreed to serve as the foundation’sx chair. The foundation will be an adjunctt ofthe BNCVB.
This year alone, the BNCVgB is hosting more than 70 amateur athletic evente that are expected to bring in morethan 51,0009 people and have an estimated $18 million economi impact. • Consider other sitezs for visitor’s welcoming and information centers. The agency has a centerd in the Market Arcade complex in downtown Buffalo and the Waldeh Galleriain Cheektowaga.