2024 annual report
Jeff Mirel
Discover Albany Board Chair
I am delighted to welcome you to our Annual Celebration of Hospitality Excellence and present this 2024 Annual Report. In my first year as Chair of the Board of Directors, I have been continually impressed with the team at Discover Albany and their commitment to our destination. They have worked diligently and collaboratively to bring big impacts to Albany County, and the numbers speak for themselves.
This past year was a record-setting success, and two measurements, room occupancy and rate at our hotels, are at an all-time high. Albany County tourism has rebounded and then some thanks to the hard work and collaboration of everyone in our industry who came together to put our best feet forward. Our board is so proud of the work our team at Discover Albany did to help make this happen!
As we look toward 2025, Discover Albany’s Board of Directors will be working closely with the staff and leadership to continue to innovate and provide opportunities to learn and develop new skills to take us to the next level. Our financial stability remains on solid ground and our commitment to our community has continued to grow and strengthen. Despite the challenges coming down the line which we know are affecting many of our partners, especially in the arts and culture side of our industry, Discover Albany’s board is committed to doing the work needed to pivot and find new business and new visitors to keep our destination humming along.
I encourage each of you to be more engaged with Discover Albany in 2025. Ensure your business listing is up to date. Collaborate with your fellow partners. Read our newsletters to stay on top of opportunities to maximize your investment. Your efforts, combined with the incredible commitment of $400 million from Governor Hochul to revitalize Albany’s downtown, will make Albany County the iconic destination we have always known it to be. Together we can weather the storms ahead and come through stronger than ever.
Jeff Mirel
board of directors
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE DIRECTORS
Jeff Mirel, Chair
Executive Vice President, Rosenblum Companies
Leola Edelin, Immediate Past Chair
General Manager, Renaissance Albany
Matthew Cannon, Vice Chair
Melissa Carrier, Treasurer
Director of Sales, Total Events, LLC
Jill Delaney, Secretary
President/CEO, Discover Albany
EX-OFFICIO
Carm Basile
Chief Executive Officer, Capital District Transportation Authority
Anthony Capece
Executive Director, Central BID
Peter Crummey
Colonie Town Supervisor, Town of Colonie
Mark Eagan
President/ CEO, Capital Region Chamber
Daniel McCoy
Albany County Executive, Albany County
Ashley Mohl
President, Capitalize Albany Corp.
Hon. Kathy Sheehan
Mayor – City of Albany
Georgette Steffens
Executive Director, Downtown Albany BID
Lori Anctil
Director of Athletics, The College of Saint Rose
Mark Benson
Director of Athletics, University at Albany
Nick Boulas
General Manager, Hilton Garden Inn-Albany Med
Mike Chain
Chief Operating Officer, Crowne Plaza Albany – The Desmond Hotel (Delta Holdings Inc.)
John Curtin
President & CEO, Albany Distilling Co.
Kyle Dzembo
Regional Director, Prestige Hospitality Group
Peter Gannon
President & CEO, United Way of the Greater Capital Region
Tammis Groft
Executive Dir. – Retired, (formerly) Albany Institute of History & Art
Kevin Johnson
Executive Director, Palace Theater
Shannon Licygiewicz
General Manager, Albany Capital Center/ASM Global
Sean M. Maguire, AICP
Executive Director, Albany County Land Bank Corp.
Lucas Rogers
Economic Development Coordinator, Albany County Exec. Office
Owen Smith
Producing Artistic Director, Playhouse Stage Company
Lyle Woods
Regional Director of Operations, Turf Hotels
Sherrene Zachow
General Manager, Hilton Garden Inn Albany/SUNY Area
Dear Friends and Partners,
Jill Delaney
Discover Albany President/CEO
2024 completes my sixth year at the helm of Discover Albany, and each day I continue to be grateful for the privilege to do this work. I have such pride in our destination and the people who make it a wonderful place to live, work and play! Our Discover Albany staff, Board of Directors and wonderful partners are what makes us a destination to be proud of! 2024 was a banner year, and I invite you to explore all we accomplished together in this Annual Report.
As the Destination Management Organization (DMO), Discover Albany collaborates with organizations that serve all aspects of the visitor experience – from lodging and dining, to attractions and retailers –to ensure that we represent the vibrant community that is Albany County. Through careful planning, Discover Albany works to ensure strategic, long-term success and strong economic impact for businesses in Albany County and the Capital Region as a whole.
Our team also leads the Capital-Saratoga Tourism Region, collaborating with our partners in five neighboring counties in a variety of ways. The most impactful of which is our EDA Sub-Award Grant through Empire State Development, which our team wrote and manages on behalf of our region. This $750,000 federal grant presents our amazing collective destinations to domestic outdoor enthusiast and international visitors from Canada, Germany and the UK, and has already made a significant impact into the interest in our area.
Our team continues to take part in educational programming from such organizations as Destinations International and Sports ETA, to develop and hone our skills. And more opportunities to learn and grow are being pursued to stay ahead of trends and opportunities that will help Albany grow to new heights.
We are proud of the work we accomplished throughout 2024 to help our partners continue attracting more visitors. We encourage you to review our report with an eye to how you might partner with us in 2025 and beyond to bring even more success to your business and our destination as a whole. With that, it is with great pride that I present to you our 2024 Annual Report.
staff
OPERATIONS
Jill Delaney President/CEO
Lori Tomchik
Operations Manger/HR Administrator
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Maeve McEneny-Johnson Director of Community Engagement
Dakota Curtsinger
Visitor Services & Community Engagement Administrator
MARKETING
Katy Cotter Director of Marketing
Aaron Roddy
Social Media Specialist
Morgan Hughes Marketing Assistant
SALES & SERVICES
Jay Cloutier
Director of Sales | Albany County Sports Commissioner
Deb Goedeke
Convention Services Manager | Albany County Film Commissioner
Amy Sonder Sales Manager
Evan Hammond
Sales and Special Projects Manager
who we are
At Discover Albany, we invite you to explore the rich history, vibrant culture, and unique experiences that make Albany County a standout destination in New York State. Since 1976, the Albany County Convention & Visitors Bureau, Inc. has proudly served as the official Tourism Promotion Agency for Albany County, championing the Capital City and its surrounding communities to visitors from near and far.
With a dedicated team of tourism professionals, Discover Albany has been connecting visitors, event planners, and meeting specialists with unforgettable experiences for over 30 years. Acting as Albany’s community concierge, we work to attract leisure travelers and ensure the success of meetings, conventions, and special events held throughout the region.
We collaborate closely with our Board of Directors, members, volunteers, and local hospitality partners to support and grow the Capital Region’s tourism economy. Our work helps elevate Albany’s profile as a dynamic place to visit, meet, and explore.
INITIATIVE 1
ENHANCE THE AWARENESS, APPRECIATION & SUPPORT OF DISCOVER ALBANY AND THE VISITOR ECONOMY THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.
INITIATIVE 2
LEAD THE DESTINATION IN NEW VISITATION AND PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT.
strategic goals
OBJECTIVE A
Develop a compelling message to convey the importance of the local visitor economy and Discover Albany
OBJECTIVE B
Expand performance and productivity measures to more effectively quantify Discover Albany’s impact
OBJECTIVE C
Enhance communications with community and business leaders
OBJECTIVE D
Utilize local media and new technology platforms to enhance bureau visibility
OBJECTIVE A
Define Discover Albany’s role as a leader in destination development
OBJECTIVE B
Work with all destination segments to develop programs that will enhance destination visitation
OBJECTIVE C
Capitalize on the growth opportunities within the Film and Sports Commissions to fill need times and raise the national profile of Albany County
community engagement
The Community Engagement Department was introduced this year. The department focused on outreach programs, extending Visitor Center hours during special events, and purchased new local products for the gift shop. Their ability to be nimble placed them on a trajectory to meet new audiences and grow Discover Albany’s presence in Albany County.
DISCOVER
ALBANY VISITOR CENTER & GIFT SHOP
Extended Visitor Center Hours: Albany Twilight Markets, Summer Arts Festival, RELEAF Conference, Empire State Ride, December First Friday. International Visitors: Scotland, Netherlands, England, Austria, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Germany, Japan, Netherlands, and New Zealand. Gift Shop on the Move: Activated a Mobile Gift Shop for large events.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH
AIRPORT INFORMATION DESK
ALL-HALLOW E’EN FESITVAL
Dark Side of Center Square – Historic Albany Foundation: 19th Century True Crume Tours (175 attendees)
Discover the All Hallow E’en Art Path - Pumpkin Painting Day!: Pumpkin Party at the Visitor Center. Pumpkins and coffee sponsored by The Common Roots Foundation. Popcorn sponsored by Park Albany. (40 attendees).
HALLOWEEN FESTIVAL ARPA FUNDED PROGRAMS
City Séance with Capital Rep: 159 attendees
Eerie Albany Ghost Tours: 39 attendees
Nine Pin Cider Works Eerie Albany: 25 attendees
Albany Center Gallery - All Hallow E’en Art Path: 13 artists in Quackenbush Square & Maiden Lane.
In Our Own Voices Halloween Haus Ball at Lark Hall. Crowned new Halloween Ambassador Manolo Agalla
PUBLIC PROGRAMS
Specialty Tours: Gilded Age (in Albany), Eerie Albany, Community & Architecture, Lafayette (in Albany), Historic Brewery tours on both bikes and trolleys. I Love New York FAM Tour: 25 Travel Planners, featured the Cathedral of All Saints.
The American Friends of Lafayette Bicentennial Celebration – Albany Tour: Served on planning committee for tours, overnight stays, and historic panels. Instrumental in connecting with Silent Wing Raptor Rescue for press conference and guest star, Clarice the vulture. Albany County Revolutionary War 250th Commission: Maeve McEneny-Johnson appointed and serves as Vice-Chair.
Represented Discover Albany at the Executive Mansion during a reception welcoming Their Majesties King Willem-Alexander & Queen Máxima of the Netherlands.
Bring on the Spectrum: Worked with BOTS to connect attractions to BOTS’ Albany County weekend travel itinerary.
Community Tulip Festival Mural, Designed by Wild Rose Arts: Traveled to Historic Cherry Hill History Fair, Fort Orange Brewery, Nine Pin Cider Works, Allen Street Pub, The Albany BARN, and the Visitor Center. The community colored the mural. Funded by the Capital City Fund. 1695 Stockade Line: Collaborated with the City of Albany & City Historian to create a painted line, brochure, and audio tour.
OUTREACH PROGRAMS
William K. Sanford Library, Nine Pin Cider Works, Historic Albany Foundation, Albany County Women’s Legislative Caucus, Hudson Valley Creative Retirees, Leadership Capital Region, Albany Med Employee Wellness Fair, Colonie Senior Services, Castle Island Montessori, Opalka Gallery, New York State History Conference, Siena College – VISTA, Peregrine Delmar Place, Daughters of Sarah, The National Council for State Historic Preservation Officers, Albany Public Library.
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
Wildwood Programs: Wildwood Without Walls tended to the Visitor Center courtyard and created a sensory garden. Discover Albany also hired Wildwood participants to work at the Visitor Center.
70,755 YTD Attendance
sales & services
2024 sales efforts were a continuation of our strategy to focus on regional meeting planners to develop leads for our destination. This regional strategy was highlighted by our participation in MPI events for the New England chapter, the New Jersey chapter, as well as, our local Upstate New York chapter. In addition to MPI events, Discover Albany attended Destination East in Niagara Falls, NY and participated in the Empire State Society of Association Executives Annual Tradeshow in Saratoga, NY. These efforts continue to re-enforce relationships that are currently producing leads for our destination.
According to 2Synergize, 15% of all leads in 2024 reported to MINT+ came from NY, NJ, MA, PA.
2024 LEAD/BOOKING METRICS
Discover Albany in 2024 was once again a busy year for Destination Services. The Sales and Services Team led the way in destination hospitality by supporting the NCAA Women’s Super Regional Basketball tournament in late March. The department dedicated hours of planning leading to the event and during the week of the tournament poured over 150 hours into making sure guests from across the country felt welcome.
In addition to the efforts with the NCAA, citywide Discover Albany Services ranged from the ordinary to the personalized.
• Customized Visitor Information tables
• Planner Referrals to local transportation and dining options
• Food Recovery
• Guest Speaker gifts
• Customized sizzle reels for attendance building
• Cultivating local champions to assist in connecting with local constituencies
• Food Truck outings
While the list is not exhaustive, it highlights the wide variety of services our meeting and convention clients rely on to execute successful events. This year Destination Services touched over 100 distinct events.
film albany
Film Albany is dedicated to fostering a vibrant and sustainable film industry in Albany, by offering exceptional support and resources to filmmakers. Committed to advancing workforce development, engaging the community, and driving economic growth, we empower filmmakers while creating lasting opportunities for the region’s creative professionals and businesses. Through strong partnerships with local businesses, government agencies, and the community, we provide seamless location services and showcase Albany’s unique assets as a premier destination for film and media productions.
ECONOMIC IMPACT HIGHLIGHTS
Major Productions:
• Paramount Pictures: Weeklong shoot at a NYS Qualified Production facility generated $500,000+ in economic impact. Highlights included 300 extras, and 1,000 sleeping room nights. This production also rented parking lots, AV, and production offices.
• The Gilded Age (HBO): Multiple shoots across Albany, Schenectady, and Troy with an estimated $1.2 million in location fees and 4,000 sleeping room nights. Notable investments included $50,000+ in renovations to a local venue and $13,000 in parking lot fees. Local crew and extras hired; businesses received buyouts of 1–3 days.
• Hallmark Production: Contributed 1,200 sleeping room nights in downtown Albany and Latham. Filming included multiple city locations and engaged local crew and services.
INQUIRIES & MICROSITE ACTIVITY
• Total Film-Related Inquiries (2024): Over 290 inquiries were received via email, Instagram, and Facebook covering crew referrals, permits, locations, and casting.
Microsite (Website) Traffic:
• Total views throughout the year exceeded 7,500
• Location Gallery Views: Over 83,000 photo views MARKETING & INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT
• VIP Fam Tour (November): Hosted 6 producers, line producers, and location managers; resulted in a confirmed independent production in New Scotland (6–8 week shoot).
• Sundance Bid Submitted: Film Albany and Discover Albany submitted a joint bid to host the prestigious event. Media Exposure:
• Film Albany promoted NYS Film Tax Credits through multiple interviews (Capitol Press Room, Spotlight News, Spectrum News) and features in industry publications including MPA’s The Credits Social Media Growth:
• Added over 650 new followers, with 101,790 people reached during The Gilded Age filming window alone. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT & EDUCATION
• Supported educational efforts with Albany Academy Film Class, St. Rose Media Dept, Youth FX, and Tech Valley High School.
• Participated in public workshops, panels, and local events including Union College’s Creative Fusion, Juneteenth celebration, and The Albany Pine Bush Preserve Photo Exhibit.
• Helped coordinate workforce development workshops with Stockade Works and the NYS Governor’s Film Office of Motion Picture and Television Development. Regional Collaboration:
• Co-hosted Capital Region & Adirondack Film Industry Day featuring key speakers, panels, and recognition of Paul Grondahl with the Trailblazer Award. Event received strong industry attendance and regional support.
• Worked in tandem with Film Schenectady, Saratoga Film, and Albany Capital Center to provide production tours and services.
• Joined quarterly Film USA calls, maintaining strong national visibility.
albany sports
2024 was punctuated by Discover Albany’s leveraging a New York State DMO federal grant that afforded us the opportunity to host a sports familiarization event in Albany. Partnering with 10 other New York State destinations, 24 event rights holders in the sports market segment participated in a two-day event. The FAM featured a walking tour of downtown Albany, individual networking appointments with all 24 event planners, and an afternoon at the Saratoga Race Course for the first day of the Belmont Stakes. This two-day event generated immediate results in bookings that totaled 1500 room nights and continued interest with a roster of new sports clients.
The team followed up the Sports FAM Tour with a tradeshow presence at TEAMs, a leading conference and expo for the sports-event industry. Amy and Jay hosted meetings with 35 rights holders and hosted a headshot photo booth for all attendees.
In 2024 our efforts in the sports market segment have generated 12 strong prospects with events totaling nearly 10,000 guest rooms for
ALBANY
COUNTYSp ts Sp ts
Albany County as well as uncovering an additional 50+ opportunities, totaling more than 55,000 guest rooms. Long range planning combined with strategic facility construction and expansion and unwavering local community support are required to win a bigger portion of this market. We look forward to being the leader in this ongoing conversation.
marketing
The Marketing Department has continued to build upon legacy programs as well as some new tactics in 2024. From administering a regional EDA grant highlighting the great outdoor offerings in the Captial-Saratoga Region to the release of another destination guide the marketing team has continued to highlight the best of Albany County to visitors and locals alike.
In 2024, the Discover Albany Destination Guide was produced entirely in-house, including ad sales, content creation, and design. The guide launched in June and focused on the historic events that shape Albany County’s identity. Since its release, 10,000 copies have been distributed.
The Marketing Department also developed a new logo, a microsite and a social media presence for Albany County Rev250 Commission in commemoration of the county’s role in the American Revolution.
With support from the Capital Saratoga EDA Grant, the department initiated a comprehensive website redesign for the region, helped with the development of a “Visit the USA” landing page, and launched both domestic and international digital campaigns.
We also worked with a media company to coordinate a video and photo shoot to strengthen the region’s visual storytelling throughout the campaign.
Albany Halloween saw the launch of a new, stand-alone website, so it was more easily found by travelers and locals alike. The Halloween activity was promoted in the spring with a targeted geofenced “Fallbany” campaign aimed at the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival visitors. A social media campaign was run throughout August. Additionally, Miss New York made a return visit during the Halloween Festival, bringing further visibility to the event. This visit was cross posted on New York By Rail social channels to appeal to the New York City market taking the train.
The department also partnered with Brand USA on a Spring Programmatic Campaign targeting Eastern Canada, driving interest in Albany as a travel destination. Marketing supported early planning for the 400th Anniversary of Fort Orange and provided essential services to the Sales team during Albany’s hosting of the NCAA Tournament in March.
Familiarization (FAM) tours remained a key initiative in 2024, including a Gilded Agethemed tour for 20 international tour operators led by Maeve McEneny-Johnson.
DIGITAL DATA
ALBANY.ORG
589K users 1.7M pageviews
Traffic Sources:
• Organic Search 600K
• Direct 106K
• Referral 32K
Top 5 Cities:
Top 5 Markets:
• United States 550K
• Canada 8.9K
• United Kingdom 3K
• India 1.6K
• Australia 1.5K
Top 5 Pages:
• New York City 105K
• Albany 71K
• Boston 32K
• Syracuse 18K
• Ashburn 17K
• Events Calendar
• Things to Do
• Annual Events & Festivals
• Live Music
• Attractions
In 2024 80 new blog posts were written and received 176.3K views.
DISCOVER ALBANY APP
5,046 users 52,943 pageviews
Our app has the ability to send in-app messages to users. There were three different organizations that used these in-app messages to welcome attendees to Albany. There were 227 impressions on those and 78 clicks that led to the conference website.
SOCIAL MEDIA
The big emphasis on Social Media in 2024 is increasing the amount of engagement that we were getting on posts across all of our platforms by 10%. We ended up increasing engagements by 13.2% across all platforms with most platforms achieving well over a 10% increase. When it came to social media followers we increased our growth by 5.4% across platforms.
• Organic Social 15K Engagement:
• X: +4%
• Facebook: +28.5%
• Instagram: -13%
• LinkedIn: +15.2%
• TikTok: +44.1% Followers:
• X: 11,102
• Facebook: 18,972
• Instagram: 21,431
• LinkedIn: 1,958
• TikTok: 1,384
The Discover Albany and the Capital District Transportation Authority (CDTA) Universal Access Program provides employees of eligible Discover Albany partners with access to the entire CDTA route network. This Partner benefit is available to the Promotional and Non-Profit Promotional levels. Now in it’s second year, this program is as popular as ever among eligible Discover Albany partners.
DISCOVER ALBANY 2024 CDTA UNIVERSAL ACCESS STATS
Total Active Cards: 720
Hotel Users: 14 partners | 435 employees
Non-Hotel Users: 13 partners | 285 employees
TOURISM PROMOTION MATCHING GRANTS
The enacted budget includes $3.45M in funding for the program, the same as in the 2024-2025 budget. This program matches dollar-fordollar local and regional marketing programs with state funding.
The Governor had proposed reducing the program by $1 million. The Senate, in its budget, increased it to $5 million but the final budget held funding flat. NYSHTA and its partners thanked Senator Michelle Hinchey and Assemblyman Billy Jones for leading this important effort.
FILM TAX CREDIT
The Governor had proposed an extension, and significant changes, to the program in her 2025-2026 budget proposal. Many of the tweaks were adopted, along with an extension through 2036. The additions to the program include music scoring costs, which are eligible for an additional 10% incentive as long as five musicians are hired to perform work in New York State. The tax credit was increased by an additional $100 million with those dollars earmarked specifically for independent film projects. The enacted budget also includes an acceleration in access to the funding. For applications filed after January 1, 2025, the production can claim its credit in the allocation year. The requirement that stipulates credits of more than $5 million must be paid over three years, beginning with the allocation year, has been removed.
PARTNER SPEED NETWORKING EVENT
Discover Albany brought back a favorite event from the past, Partner Speed Networking! We held another speed networking event in February at the Albany Airport Inn. It was a well attended event where hotels, attractions, heritage centers and services were able to connect about upcoming programming, events, and how they can partner in the future.
SHORT TERM RENTAL CHAPTER AMENDMENT SIGNED
In December, Governor Hochul signed the Short-Term Rental Bill into law, with some key amendments. The original legislation proposed that short-term rentals be registered with the Department of State, but after negotiations, the amended version, introduced by Senator Michelle Hinchey and Assemblymember Gabriella Romero, shifts the registration responsibility to the counties. This amendment (NY State Senate Bill 2025-S820) was signed into law on Friday, February 28, 2025.
KEY TAKEAWAYS: The law’s effective date is 275 days from the signing, which means the registration component will take effect on November 28, 2025. By this date, counties must either implement a registration process or pass a local law opting out of the requirement. As a reminder, the tax provisions of the law went into effect on March 1, 2025.
noteworthy projects
2024 WOMEN’S MARCH MADNESS ALBANY REGIONALS
In March Albany welcomed the Women’s March Madness Regionals. Discover Albany worked closely with the local organizing committee, the NCAA and numerous local organizations and civil offices in Albany. Welcoming 55,000 fans to the MVP Arena and downtown Albany was a large undertaking and it touched every one of Discover Albany’s departments.
SALES AND SERVICES
• Organized a site tour for the NCAA Women’s Basketball Albany Regional.
• In collaboration with the Downtown BID, Central Avenue BID, and Lark Street BID, curated dining options for the tournament, including those available on Easter Sunday. This information was integrated into the landing page.
• Supported NCAA hotels by providing QR code signs at front desks, directing guests to the landing page for dining, entertainment, and attraction options.
• Facilitated the delivery of hotel kits from the arena to NCAA hotels.
• Assisted in coordinating food truck activities and family-friendly options, such as a DJ, face tattoos, and the Discover Albany mobile kiosk.
• After determining that shuttle service wouldn’t be necessary, formed a subcommittee comprising Albany PD Traffic Engineering and Albany Parking Authority to manage the 2024 Parking Plan.
• Developed a Landing Page/Microsite offering parking options along with entertainment, dining, and attraction suggestions for visitors and the community. This link was distributed to various community partners, resulting in over 9,000 views on the microsite.
• Sent out 3 NCAA Frontline/Traffic Advisories to 2,300 email addresses, achieving an impressive open rate of 40.4%. These advisories included the landing page link.
• Fielded numerous inquiries regarding parking, game information, and arena accessibility.
MARKETING
• Gathered materials, laid out and worked as the liaison with the Times Union design team
• Designed airport signage to welcome fans flying in for the tournament
• Designed and ordered tattoos for tournament attendees
• Hotel Package Delivery
• QR Code posters designed & delivered to hotels
• Four blogs dedicated to NCAA information:
◊ Things to Do Near the MVP Arena: 458 Views
◊ Where to Dine on Easter in Albany County: 2,593 Views
◊ 2024 Guide: Where to Celebrate Easter in the Capital Region: 1,291 Views
◊ 5 Women Who Made Sports History with Ties to Albany: 268 Views
• Consumer Newsletter
◊ March Consumer Newsletter (sent on March 1) was sent to 29,134 contacts and had an open rate of 21.7% and a click through rate of .8%
• 31 NCAA Specific posts across all of our channels
◊ Instagram Posts/Reels: 2
◊ Instagram Stories: 8
◊ TikTok Posts: 2
◊ Facebook Posts: 13
◊ X (Formerly Twitter: 5
◊ LinkedIn: 1
◊ These posts garnered 181,642 Impressions and 4,201 Engagements
noteworthy projects
DMO GROUP EDA GRANT
The New York State Destination Marketing Organizations (NYSDMO), a coalition of 19 regional tourism entities, are implementing a collaborative, statewide sales and marketing campaign to elevate New York as a premier destination for leisure travel, group tours, meetings, conventions, and amateur sports. This initiative includes integrated domestic and international marketing efforts targeting key feeder markets through digital campaigns, trade show participation, media outreach, and influencer engagement. Strategies include product training, familiarization (FAM) tours, the creation of a statewide promotional video, and promotion of outdoor recreation, arts, culture, and cuisine. NYSDMO is also focused on post-pandemic economic recovery by driving visitation and showcasing the state’s diverse venues and facilities. Key partnerships and sponsorships—such as with IPW, American Bus Association, and Sports ETA—enhance visibility and engagement with decision-makers. Supported by EDA funding, the project promotes both short- and long-term tourism growth, unifying New York’s destinations under a shared brand narrative and strategic plan.
CAPITAL-SARATOGA REGION EDA GRANT
The Capital-Saratoga Region was awarded a $750,000 EDA grant in 2023. Our agency Miles Partnership kicked off the work funded by this grant in 2024. Miles is leading an integrated tourism campaign to drive visitation to New York’s Capital-Saratoga Region. In partnership with Ad+genuity, Nativo, and Adara, they are executing cost-efficient, data-driven marketing across the U.S., Canada, the UK, and Germany. The team is developing targeted media and content plans, promoting the region as an accessible extension of NYC travel, and leveraging native advertising to showcase outdoor experiences. A strategic partnership with Atlas Obscura is delivering lasting content and over 5.5M guaranteed impressions. Campaign performance is being measured through Adara analytics, tying media engagement directly to hotel and flight bookings. In addition to the robust domestic and international campaign the grant funded a new website, a photo and video shoot providing both visual assets for the campaign and for each of the counties to use on their own. Discover Albany is administering this grant on behalf of the region and has overseen every element in this process.
WELCOME BOXES
Discover Albany had the unique request from a client to put together 350 welcome boxes. Each box was thoughtfully filled with locally produced snack items and unique souvenir items, designed to provide an authentic Albany memory. The Community Engagement Team, Sales Department and Visitor Center staff worked hard to curate the items, fill the boxes, and then deliver them to the meeting for our clients.
foundation
Discover Albany announces $73,572 in funding for the latest round of the Michele L. Vennard Hospitality Grant Program, during a presentation at the Albany Distilling Company Bar and Bottle Shop.
The grant fund, which is managed by the Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region (CFGCR), supports programs that aid in building and sustaining Albany County tourism destinations, attractions, events, and tourismrelated activities. The grants encourage collaboration between nonprofit organizations, community groups, and hospitality businesses to further extend the economic impact of tourism and business.
Over the course of the past twelve years, the Michele L. Vennard Hospitality Grant Program has awarded 208 grants totaling $674,983 to organizations that create programs and tourist-attracting events in our community.
Albany Barn Inc
GIFTED Winter Market 2025
Albany Center Galleries, Inc
Summer Art Fest 2025
grant recipients
Lark Street Business Improvement District
Busk Fest
Metroland, Inc.
First Fridays Free Music and Arts
Albany County Historical Association | Ten Broeck
Mansion
Albany County, Road to Revolution 1775/2025: Ten Broeck
Mansion Juneteenth/Oct Path Through History
Albany Institute of History & Art
2025 Exhibition Season Communications Sponsorship
Bring on the Spectrum, Inc.
BOTS Family Getaway to Albany County
Contemporary Circus and Immersive Arts Center
Circus in the Park : Albany
Erie Canalway Heritage Fund, Inc.
The Erie Canal: America’s Gateway Marketing Campaign
Friends of Pruyn House
Old-Fashioned Sunday
Friends of Thacher State Park
Reimagining the Emma Treadwell Thacher Nature Center
Historic Altamont
Milestone: The Long Path Altamont Project
Historic Cherry Hill
Autumn at the Hill: A Program Series Promoting Regional
Tourism at Cherry Hill
Musicians of Ma’alwyck
Musicians of Ma’alwyck at the Schuyler Mansion, Fall 2025 & Spring 2026
Old Songs, Inc.
The Old Songs Festival of Traditional Music and Dance
Opalka Gallery
Boosting promotion of the Fall Pop-Up Beer Garden series and exhibition program
Organization of Adirondack Rowers and Scullers, Inc.
dba Albany Rowing Center
Support for 2025 Head of the Hudson Regatta
Palace Theatre / Palace Performing Arts Center, Inc
2025 Season
Parks & Trails New York
Celebrating the Bicentennial of the Erie Canal in Albany with Cycle the Erie Canal
Playhouse Stage Company
Free Outdoor Summer Theatre at Park Playhouse
Steamer No.10 Theatre, Inc
Exterior Lighting for Handicapped Ramp
The Pine Hollow Arboretum
Horticultural Collection Tree Labels
award recipients
PROFESSOR ANTHONY STRIANESE HOSPITALITY EXCELLENCE AWARD
Albany’s Hospitality Industry is an essential component of the Capital Region’s economic vitality. The Professor Anthony J. Strianese Hospitality Excellence Award is the only honor developed solely to recognize excellence in travel and tourism and represents the best of Albany’s hospitality culture. There are hospitality professionals around the world who were positively influenced by Professor Strianese and his 40-year career in hospitality, naming the award for Toby is a great honor to his memory.
Tony Iadicicco Maggie Mancinelli-Cahill
HONORABLE MATTHEW T. PETER DESTINATION INNOVATOR AWARD
Executive Director Albany Center Gallery Producing
The Honorable Matthew T. Peter Destination Innovator Award is awarded annually to a person; and/or organization; who has made a lasting impact on Albany County as a destination. The nominee will have launched a new or revitalized program, event, or attraction; or made a significant impact on the destination’s ability to serve the public; through innovation and collaboration.
visitor data
VISITOR IMPACT ON LOCAL ECONOMY
WHO IS THE ALBANY VISITOR
WHERE WERE VISITORS FROM
CONDENSED BALANCE SHEET (AS OF 12/31/24, UNAUDITED)