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FINGER LAKES REGIONAL TOURISM DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

PENN YAN, NY · EIN 161450281 · Form 990EZ · FY2024 · Micro (<$100K) · fingerlakes.org
revenue
$0
expenses
net assets
$0
employees
mission · from form 990

TO ADMINISTER FUNDS FOR DEVELOPMENT OF TOURISM FACILITIES AND THE IMPROVEMENT OF INFRASTRUCTURE THAT SUPPORTS THE REGIONAL TOURISM INDUSTRY.

profile · synthesized from sources

The Finger Lakes Tourism Alliance (Explore Finger Lakes) is a destination marketing organization promoting tourism in New York's Finger Lakes region. It provides travel planning resources and promotes attractions, lodging, dining, and beverage producers. The organization supports regional economic growth by marketing the area as a world-class destination for visitors.

named programs · 2 · from sources

What they call their work

Explore Finger Lakes
Branded campaign promoting the Finger Lakes region as a premier travel destination through marketing, digital content, and visitor resources
Year In Review
Annual report showcasing the organization's accomplishments, impact, and promotional efforts in advancing regional tourism
activities · 8 groups

What they do

  • Regional Tourism Promotion 4 activities
    • Conducts destination marketing campaigns under the "Explore Finger Lakes" brand
      Runs regional, national, and international marketing campaigns to promote tourism in the Finger Lakes through the "Explore Finger Lakes" brand.
    • Facilitates a regional tourism partnership network
      Operates a membership network of over 540 tourism-related businesses and organizations in the Finger Lakes region to foster collaboration and regional development.
    • Produces and shares blog content about the Finger Lakes region
      Creates blog content featuring insider information on destinations, events, and lesser-known facts about the Finger Lakes to engage potential visitors.
    • Promotes exemplary Finger Lakes destinations
      Identifies and promotes ten destinations in the Finger Lakes region that demonstrate exceptional hospitality and visitor experiences.
  • Capital Infrastructure Funding 1 activity
    • Administers funds for tourism facility development and infrastructure improvement
      Manages and allocates funding to support the development of tourism-related facilities and improvements to infrastructure that benefit the regional tourism industry.
  • Community Festival & Event Production 1 activity
    • Hosts the CMoG Summer of Wonder event
      Organizes and hosts the CMoG Summer of Wonder event annually from May 23 to September 7, 2026, offering cultural and artistic programming.
  • LGBTQ+ Community Events and Celebrations 1 activity
    • Organizes and promotes LGBTQ+ pride events in the Finger Lakes region
      Plans and promotes a series of LGBTQ+ pride events including the FLX Pride Festival, Rochester Pride Parade & Festival, and Naples NY Pride Celebration, featuring performances, vendors, food, and community activities.
  • Outdoor Recreation Access Promotion 1 activity
    • Provides access to state park recreational opportunities
      Offers information and promotion of recreational activities at state parks in the Finger Lakes region, including hiking, camping, swimming, waterfall viewing, and guided tours.
  • Visitor Information and Trip Planning Services 1 activity
    • Provides travel planning information for the Finger Lakes region
      Offers comprehensive travel planning resources on attractions, lodging, dining, wineries, breweries, cideries, and distilleries to support visitation to the Finger Lakes region.
  • County and Regional Agricultural Fair Management 1 activity
    • Supports development of local farm and craft markets
      Played a foundational role in organizing the Windmill Farm and Craft Market, including hosting a community meeting in 1986, selecting a site, and launching the market in 1987 with over 80 vendors.
  • Uncategorized 2 activities
    • Operates scenic and wine-themed train excursions
      Runs a 90-minute round-trip scenic train experience from Waterloo, including seasonal wine train excursions with curated wine tastings and charcuterie boxes from Seneca Lake wineries, available from late May through September.
    • Plans commemorative activities for the nation's 250th anniversary
      Preparing to organize and promote events in 2026 to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence.
financials · form 990EZ · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$0
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Program service revenue
Investment income
Other revenue
expenses
Total expenses
Program expenses
Admin / overhead
Fundraising
Salaries & benefits
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balance sheet
Total assets$0
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Net assets$0
5 years on record · 2020–2024
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

board members · 14
  • BONNIE HAYS — Director
  • CYNTHIA KIMBLE — Director
  • DANIELLE NEUSER — Director
  • FRED BONN — Director
  • HEATHER DAVIDSON — Director
  • JILL MYERS — Director
  • JOE GOBER — Director
  • JOHN POINTEK — Director
  • LAURA WINTER FALK — Director
  • MATT HUFNAGEL — Director
  • NEIL MORRIS — Director
  • SUE POELVOORDE — Director
  • TODD CHANDLER — Director
  • TOM MAY — Director
relationships · 22

Who they work with

  • Buttermilk Falls State Park Partner — Includes other state parks as part of a regional network of tourist destinations.
  • CMoG Partner — Collaborates to host the Summer of Wonder event at the museum.
  • Explore Finger Lakes Network — Member of the Explore Finger Lakes partnership network.
  • FLX Pride Partner — Collaborates to promote the FLX Pride Festival in Canandaigua.
  • Finger Lakes State Parks Regional Office Partner — Collaborates with state park authorities to promote regional tourism.
  • Finger Lakes Tourism Alliance Network — Collaborates with the Finger Lakes Tourism Alliance to promote regional wine, spirits, and hospitality.
  • Finger Lakes Tourism Alliance Network — Membership-based organization with over 540 partners in the tourism sector.
  • I LOVE NEW YORK Government — Uses the I LOVE NEW YORK trademark with permission from the New York State Department of Economic Development
  • Naples NY Pride Partner — Works with Naples NY Pride to highlight the annual pride celebration in Naples.
  • New York State Department of Economic Development Government — Owns and manages the I LOVE NEW YORK trademark used by the Finger Lakes Tourism Alliance in promotional materials.
  • New York State Department of Economic Development Government — Uses the I LOVE NEW YORK trademark with permission from the New York State Department of Economic Development.
  • Rochester Pride Partner — Partners to promote the Rochester Pride Parade & Festival.
  • Seneca Lake Wine Trail Partner — Collaborates with the Finger Lakes Tourism Alliance to promote wine tourism in the region.
  • Seneca Lake Wine Trail Partner — Partnership to feature wine selections from member wineries on the Wine Train experience.
  • Susie Stotlzfus Partner — Quilt maker whose encouragement helped catalyze community interest in establishing The Windmill Farm and Craft Market.
  • Village of Trumansburg Partner — Collaborates with local municipalities to promote tourism in the region.
  • Visit Ithaca Partner — Partners with local destination marketing organizations to support regional tourism initiatives.
  • Watkins Glen Area Chamber of Commerce Partner — Collaborates with the Finger Lakes Tourism Alliance to promote tourism in the Watkins Glen area.
  • Watkins Glen Area Chamber of Commerce Partner — Former employer of Jerakah Heady, Director of Partner Relations, indicating a professional connection between FLTA and the Chamber.
  • Watkins Glen International Partner — Works with the Finger Lakes Tourism Alliance to promote motorsport events and regional tourism.
  • Watkins Glen Promotions Inc Partner — Partners with the Finger Lakes Tourism Alliance to support tourism initiatives in Watkins Glen.
  • Wine Train Partner — Operates the Cayuga Limited alongside select Wine Train departures.
strategies · 5

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Collaborative Network Building to Amplify Regional Impact
    methodology: collaborative-partner-network
    By connecting residents and visitors with local service providers and collaborating with member partners, the organization strengthens community resilience and visitor experience because coordinated local networks increase resource accessibility and economic circulation within the region.
  • Destination Marketing for Regional Economic Growth
    methodology: destination_marketing
    By positioning the Finger Lakes as a world-class tourism destination through strategic promotion, the organization drives tourism-related economic growth because perceived destination quality increases visitor volume and spending.
  • Experiential Tourism Development to Enhance Visitor Engagement
    methodology: experiential-tourism
    By combining scenic rail travel with curated wine tasting and nostalgic vintage experiences, the organization enhances regional tourism engagement because immersive, multi-sensory experiences increase visitor satisfaction and length of stay.
  • Inclusive Hospitality to Broaden Visitor Engagement
    methodology: inclusive_hospitality
    By prioritizing comfort and inclusivity over formality or exclusivity, the organization creates more accessible and memorable hospitality experiences because lowering social barriers increases participation across diverse visitor groups.
  • Infrastructure Investment to Strengthen Tourism Industry
    methodology: infrastructure-investment
    By administering funds for tourism facilities and infrastructure, the organization strengthens the regional tourism industry because improved physical assets increase visitor capacity and experience quality.