named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
County Travel Guides
Provides downloadable visitor guides for each of the 14 counties in the Finger Lakes region
Interactive Finger Lakes Map
Online tool to help visitors explore the region by lake, county, or nearby attractions for trip planning
Top 75 Experiences in the Finger Lakes
Curated travel guide highlighting standout attractions, local favorites, and seasonal events across the region
Wine Trail Resources
Offers maps, brochures, and passports for regional wine trails including Cayuga Lake, Seneca Lake, and Keuka Lake
activities · 6 groups
What they do
-
Regional Tourism Promotion 2 activities
- Advocates for public awareness and financial support to enhance regional quality of lifeEngages in advocacy to increase public knowledge of and interest in the Finger Lakes region, promoting broader awareness and financial investment to improve quality of life.
- Promotes tourism in the Finger Lakes regionMarkets and promotes the Finger Lakes region as a premier tourist destination by highlighting wineries, historical sites, outdoor recreation, cultural events, and agritourism opportunities across multiple counties in New York. Operates as the official tourism promotion agency for the region.
-
-
Visitor Information and Trip Planning Services 2 activities
- Promotes tourism in specific counties and local destinationsHighlights unique attractions and experiences in counties such as Onondaga, Livingston, Ontario, Yates, and Cayuga, including historic downtowns, scenic byways, small towns, and local food and beverage experiences.
- Provides curated travel planning resourcesOffers interactive maps, county-specific guides, trail-specific materials, and curated lists such as the "Top 75 Experiences" to support visitor trip planning across the Finger Lakes region.
-
-
Community Festival & Event Production 1 activity
- Organizes and promotes seasonal festivals and eventsPlans, supports, and promotes over 40 annual festivals and events including the Rochester Lilac Festival, CGI Rochester International Jazz Festival, Taste of the Finger Lakes, Naples Grape Festival, Apple Tasting Tour, and winter holiday events such as Dickens Christmas and “It’s a Wonderful Life” Festival.
-
-
Outdoor Recreation Access Promotion 1 activity
- Promotes outdoor recreation and natural attractionsHighlights regional natural features such as Green Lakes State Park, over 31,000 acres of parkland, 150 miles of trails, and over 250 miles of recreation trails in Ontario County, as well as outdoor activities including hiking, biking, fishing, and paddling across multiple counties.
-
-
Historic Site Public Programming 1 activity
- Provides cultural and historical education to enrich visitor experienceShares scientific and Native American origin stories of the Finger Lakes, promotes Harriet Tubman National Historical Park, and offers self-guided historic walking tours to deepen visitor understanding of the region’s cultural and natural history.
-
-
Craft Beverage Tourism Trails 1 activity
- Supports and promotes regional wineries and craft beverage producersProvides promotional support for nearly 150 wineries and over 80 craft beverage producers—including breweries, distilleries, and cideries—across the Finger Lakes region, including curated trails such as the Sip on Syracuse Trail and the LivCo Libation Loop.
-
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$896K
Contributions & grants$278K31%
Program service revenue$618K69%
Investment income$1080%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$910K
Program expenses88%
Admin / overhead12%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineFacilities
balance sheet
Total assets$447K
Cash$424K
Investments$0
Liabilities$19K
Net assets$428K
Liquid reserves5.6 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -20.8%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
board members · 15
- ALEXIS ROLSTON — DIRECTOR
- CAROL EASTON — DIRECTOR
- CHRISTINE WORTH — DIRECTOR
- CYNTHIA RAJ — DIRECTOR (THRU APRIL 2024)
- JEFF SHIPLEY — CHAIR
- JESSICA BACHER — SECRETARY
- KAREN KUHL — TREASURER
- KELLY BURNS — DIRECTOR
- KEVIN PETERSON — DIRECTOR
- MICHELLE ENRIGHT — DIRECTOR
- NIGAR HALE — VICE CHAIR
- PEGGY COLEMAN — DIRECTOR
- RACHEL LABER PULVINO — DIRECTOR
- REBECCA MAFFEI — DIRECTOR
- VALERIE KNOBLAUCH — DIRECTOR
relationships · 63
Who they work with
- Alling Coverlet Museum Partner — Partner site featured in regional tourism promotion.
- Antique Wireless Museum Partner — Museum promoted for educational and technological history tourism.
- Atlas Obscura Partner — Features Gourdlandia, an attraction in Ithaca, as one of nine places in the area highlighted on its platform.
- Bristol Mountain Ski Partner — Partner destination for winter recreation promoted by the tourism council.
- Canandaigua Lake Wine Trail Partner — Collaborative trail promoted for wine tourism in Ontario County.
- Cayuga County Partner — Collaborates on regional tourism promotion and provides localized travel resources
- Cayuga Lake Wine Trail Partner — Collaborates with and promotes the oldest wine trail in the country as part of regional tourism offerings.
- Chemung County Partner — Collaborates on regional tourism promotion and provides localized travel resources
- Chimney Bluffs State Park Government — State park included in regional tourism promotion.
- Coleman’s Irish Pub Partner — Promotes Green Beer Sunday as part of Syracuse St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.
- Cornell University Partner — Collaborates with or promotes Cornell University as a point of interest in the Finger Lakes region.
- Corning Museum of Glass Partner — Collaborates with or promotes the Corning Museum of Glass as a cultural attraction in the Finger Lakes region.
- Cortland County Partner — Collaborates on regional tourism promotion and provides localized travel resources
- Dansville Artworks Partner — Partners with Dansville Artworks to promote the Fairy Door Trail as a cultural and tourism attraction in Dansville.
- Elmira Street Painting Festival Partner — Partners to promote public art and cultural engagement during summer months.
- FLX Table Partner — Restaurant promoted for high-end, seasonal dining experiences.
- Fainting Goat Island Inn Partner — Promotes haunted lodging experiences as part of fall-themed tourism offerings.
- Finger Lakes Forest Immersion Partner — Wellness experience promoted for nature-based mental and physical well-being.
- Fort Hill Cemetery Partner — Includes in historical tourism itineraries for visitors to Cayuga County.
- Fox Sisters Property Partner — Historic and spiritualism-related site featured in tourism content.
- Ganondagan State Historic Site Partner — Historic site promoted for cultural and Native American history tourism.
- Genesee Brewing Company Partner — Highlights the historical significance of the first brewery in New York state as part of regional heritage and tourism.
- Genesee Country Village & Museum Partner — Collaborates to promote historical events such as the chocolate-making weekend.
- Genesee Valley Hunt Races Partner — Supports and promotes the Genesee Valley Hunt Races, a historic equestrian event held annually in Geneseo.
- Harriet Tubman National Historical Park Partner — Collaborates on promoting historical tourism in Auburn, NY.
- Hill Cumorah Visitors Center Partner — Religious heritage site included in regional travel guide.
- Hoffman Clock Museum Partner — Partner site included in regional tourism offerings.
- Hotchkiss Peppermint Museum Partner — Partner site promoted as part of local heritage tourism.
- Hydesville Memorial Park Partner — Site associated with spiritualism history promoted for heritage tourism.
- Ithaca Farmers’ Market Partner — Hosts the Taste of the Finger Lakes event to showcase local food and drink.
+ 33 more
strategies · 4
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.
- Advocacy-Driven Resource Mobilizationmethodology: regional_advocacyBy advocating for greater awareness and financial support, the organization seeks to mobilize policy attention and resources to improve regional quality of life, because systemic investment amplifies tourism's economic and social impact beyond individual marketing efforts.
- Experience-Based Differentiationmethodology: experience_based_tourismBy offering a diverse portfolio of curated, distinctive experiences—spanning food, drink, recreation, and whimsical public art—the organization attracts broader visitor segments because perceived variety and uniqueness increase destination appeal and return intent.
- Story-Driven Regional Brandingmethodology: story_driven_tourismBy curating and promoting unique local stories, attractions, and cultural assets, the organization fosters emotional connections with visitors, increasing visitation and word-of-mouth sharing because narrative engagement deepens perceived authenticity and memorability of place.
- Territorial Leverage for Sustainable Tourismmethodology: terroir_based_tourismBy promoting the region’s natural terroir—its glacial geology and lake-moderated climate—the organization strengthens the identity and sustainability of local viticulture and agritourism, because linking tourism to ecological distinctiveness supports long-term economic and environmental resilience.