New York State Tourism Industry Association to Hold Conference in Schenectady, New York

Registration for attendees and exhibitors is now open for the April 2018 event

SCHENECTADY, NY, February 22, 2018 /24-7PressRelease/ -- The New York State Tourism Industry Association (NYSTIA), in partnership with I LOVE NEW YORK, invites attendees and exhibitors to the annual "I Love New York" Empire State Tourism Conference at the Rivers Casino & Resort in Schenectady, New York, April 23-25, 2018.

Individuals attending the conference represent a wide cross-section of the New York State tourism industry, from business owners and managers, to professionals from destination marketing organizations, chambers of commerce, trade associations, and state agencies. Students studying hospitality, travel and tourism are also encouraged to attend and network with established industry professionals.

The 2018 conference theme is, "The Tourism Experience: Learn It. Do It. {Heart} it!" Educational programming will be hands-on, and cover many topics including tourism economics, adventure travel, biking safety for tourists, drone technology, live storytelling on social media, tourism improvement districts, budgeting for new technologies, and tourism marketing strategies.

Complete conference details are online at www.EmpireStateTourism.com.

NYSTIA President & CEO Jill Delaney says, "Each year we work to offer our attendees the type of educational programming that keeps them on the cutting edge of tourism marketing, promotion, and customer service. And 2018 will not disappoint! With speakers from The Travel Channel, Adventure Travel Trade Association, and Longwoods International just to name a few, we can guarantee that our attendees will leave with more tools and ideas than ever before."

The Keynote Address will be delivered by travel experts Colleen Kelly and Catie Keogh, aka "The Trip Sisters." They will share their tips for best practices on harnessing social media, taken from their experiences working with The Travel Channel as live digital contributors on Facebook and Instagram.

The 2018 conference is taking place at the dynamic Rivers Casino & Resort, newly opened in 2017 on the shores of the Mohawk River. The facility includes a full-service convention space, 165-room hotel, dining operations, entertainment, spa, and casino with slots and table games.

Becky Daniels, Executive Director of Discover Schenectady, looks forward to welcoming conference attendees. "We are delighted to host tourism professionals from across New York State and invite you to Schenectady County, a revitalized region with so much fun to offer visitors."

"Now is the perfect time to bring a conference like this to Schenectady," says Daniels. "In recent years, the County and private companies have invested so much to make Schenectady a spectacular destination. We can't wait to show off all that Schenectady has to offer visitors and guests."

Delaney notes, "NYSTIA chose Schenectady as our 2018 conference destination because the county is a prime example of how embracing tourism can make a dramatic and lasting positive impact on the area. We are excited to see the event unfold and experience all that the new Schenectady has to offer."

Registration for attendees and exhibitors is open online now at www.EmpireStateTourism.com. The registration rate for professionals is only $395 and includes meals and materials. Save $50 off the full rate if registering by March 15th. Students may register for $170 before March 15th, and $180 after March 15th. Sponsorship opportunities and exhibitor space are also available. A sponsor booklet is on the website, or contact NYSTIA at info@nystia.org and 888-697-2970, ext. 3.

The New York State Tourism Industry Association (www.nystia.org) is a statewide membership-based organization for travel and tourism related businesses. NYSTIA is a 501c6, New York State not-for-profit Corporation engaged in the business of advocacy, leadership, marketing and professional development.

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