named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Destinations of New York State Scholarship Program
Provides tuition and internship scholarships to New York State students pursuing tourism-related degrees
New York State Tourism Conference
Annual spring event convening tourism industry leaders to share best practices, emerging trends, and thought leadership
New York State Tourism Excellence Awards
Ceremony recognizing outstanding contributions to New York State's tourism industry
Scholarship Auction
Annual fundraising event at the NYS Tourism Conference that raises funds for tourism, hospitality, and culinary scholarships
activities · 9 groups
What they do
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Student Career Readiness and Internship Placement 2 activities
- Higher education engagement and outreachConvenes higher education institutions to distribute scholarship applications, participate in NYSTIA programming, engage in career outreach at events such as NYSSCA, and strengthen academic partnerships in hospitality and tourism education.
- Workforce and career pathway developmentBuilds career pathways in tourism by connecting talent to employment opportunities, enhancing employer capacity, supporting academic-industry partnerships, and promoting hospitality and tourism careers to students and educators across New York State.
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Industry Advocacy and Regulatory Engagement 1 activity
- Advocacy for tourism industry policiesEngages in legislative advocacy at state and national levels to advance policies that strengthen New York State's tourism industry, including participation in Tourism Action Day, legislative fly-ins, development of talking points, and publication of advocacy campaigns.
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Organizational DEI Capacity Building 1 activity
- Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiativesAdvances diversity, equity, and inclusion in the tourism industry through monthly virtual meetings of a dedicated council, development of DEAI resources, sharing of case studies, panel presentations, and promotion of inclusive practices among members.
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Professional Association Capacity Building 1 activity
- Member networking and communication servicesConnects members through a weekly e-newsletter, social media, signature events, and collaborative forums, providing clear communication, accessible resources, and engagement opportunities to support a connected tourism industry.
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Organizational Governance & Leadership Development 1 activity
- Member-driven strategic planning and governanceOperates as a member-directed organization focused on long-term strategic planning, stewardship, and organizational agenda-setting, with regular reviews of programming and outreach to support member success.
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Educator Conferences & Professional Development Events 1 activity
- Professional development and industry education programsProvides educational programming, workshops, best practices sharing, and thought leadership through annual events such as the New York State Tourism Conference and the Tourism Excellence Summit, along with ongoing resources to enhance professionalism in the tourism sector.
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Regional Tourism Promotion 1 activity
- Promotion of sustainable tourism practicesSupports sustainable tourism across New York State by developing sustainability guidelines, maintaining an online repository of tools and initiatives, and promoting sustainability through event programming and member resources.
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Industry-Specific Student Scholarships and Competitions 1 activity
- Scholarship funding and student support programFunds and administers the Destinations of New York State Scholarship Fund, awarding $10,000 annually in tuition and internship scholarships to students in tourism-related programs at New York State institutions, with recipient selection managed in collaboration with the Higher Education Advisory Council.
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Industry and Community Recognition Awards 1 activity
- Tourism industry recognition and awards programOrganizes and executes the annual New York State Tourism Excellence Awards, a formal recognition program honoring outstanding contributions by tourism professionals and organizations, including managing judging, designing awards, issuing press releases, and hosting the ceremony.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$928K
Contributions & grants$00%
Program service revenue$917K99%
Investment income$11K1%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$926K
Program expenses89%
Admin / overhead11%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$166K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$485K
Cash$190K
Investments$0
Liabilities$255K
Net assets$230K
Liquid reserves2.5 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -13.6%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ROBERT PROVOST | PRESIDENT & CEO | 10 | $9K |
board members · 21
- BETH DUANE — DIRECTOR
- CASSANDRA HARRINGTON — TREASURER
- COREY FRAM — IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR
- DARRYL LEGGIERI — DIRECTOR
- DWAYNE THOMAS — DIRECTOR
- ERIC SZUCS — DIRECTOR
- GARY HAHN — DIRECTOR
- GREG LADUCA — CHAIR
- HAYLEY CORIATY — DIRECTOR
- HEATHER BAGSHAW — VICE CHAIR/MEMBERSHIP
- HILARY FENNER — DIRECTOR
- HILLARIE LOGAN-DUCHENE — VICE CHAIR/ADVOCACY
- JOHN PERCY — DIRECTOR
- KELLY ANN CURTIN — DIRECTOR
- KRISTY KENNEDY — DIRECTOR
- LISA BERGER — DIRECTOR
- OLGA LUZ TIRADO — DIRECTOR
- SARA POE — DIRECTOR
- SARAH FOSTER — DIRECTOR
- STEPHANIE JOHNSON — VICE CHAIR-ELECT
- TODD GARAFANO — SECRETARY
relationships · 67
Who they work with
- Advance Media New York Partner — Represented on the Membership Committee by Bridget Cerrone, Senior Travel Marketing Strategist.
- Advance Media New York Partner — Senior Account Manager at Advance Media New York serves as a sponsor on the Tourism Excellence Awards Committee.
- Akwesasne Travel Partner — Organization represented by Raeann Adams on the NYSTIA Sustainability Task Force.
- Albany Convention Center Authority Partner — Represented on the Membership Committee by Monica Kurzejeski, Executive Director/CEO.
- Allegany County Tourism Partner — Represented on the Membership Committee by Ashley Smith, Director of Economic Development.
- Alon Tourism Solutions Partner — Co-chair of the Tourism Excellence Awards Committee is Director of Operations at Alon Tourism Solutions.
- Ambassadors Council Partner — Collaborates with the Membership Committee on member outreach and development.
- Brookfield Renewable US Partner — Organization represented by Mark Luciano on the NYSTIA Sustainability Task Force.
- Campground Owners of New York Partner — President & CEO serves as ex officio board member
- Cattaraugus County Tourism Partner — Tourism Specialist, Samantha Hayes, is a member of the NYSTIA Communications Committee.
- Cayuga County Office of Tourism Partner — Co-chairs the NYSTIA Membership Committee through Hilary Fenner, Marketing & Group Sales Director.
- Coalition of New York State Tourism (CONY) Partner — Coordinates with CONY as an association colleague in New York State on tourism advocacy.
- Community Foundation of Orange and Sullivan Counties Government — Fiscally maintains the Destinations of New York State Scholarship Fund and awards grants directly to educational institutions.
- Destination Marketing Corp. Partner — President & CEO, Cassandra Harrington, serves as Board Chair and Ex Officio member of the NYSTIA Communications Committee.
- Destinations International Partner — Specific committee members liaison with Destinations International to coordinate tourism advocacy efforts.
- Discover Albany Partner — Director of Marketing, Kathryn Cotter, serves as Co-Chair of the NYSTIA Communications Committee.
- Discover Cayuga Lake Partner — Member organization participating in the NYSTIA Sustainability Task Force and nominated for the Tourism Excellence Award.
- Discover Long Island Partner — Executive Director of Marketing, Allison Brown, serves as Chair of the NYSTIA Communications Committee.
- Discover Upstate NY Partner — Represented on the Membership Committee by David Granoff, Executive Website Director.
- Empire State Development Government — Danae Jones-Persip, Senior Manager of Travel Trade and Programs at New York State Division of Tourism at Empire State Development, is a member of the NYSTIA DEAI Committee.
- Empire State Development Government — NYS Division of Tourism representative serves as ex officio board member
- Empire State Development Corporation Government — Parent agency of the New York State Division of Tourism, which partners with NYSTIA
- Finger Lakes Community College Partner — Member institution represented on the Higher Education Advisory Council through its hospitality program faculty.
- Finger Lakes Community College Partner — Ryan McCabe, Associate Provost at Finger Lakes Community College, is a committee member, reflecting collaboration with educational institutions.
- Finger Lakes Visitor Connection Partner — Valerie Knoblauch, retired President of Finger Lakes Visitor Connection, is a committee member, reflecting a partnership through engagement.
- Great Destinations of New York State Partner — Collaborates to provide travel and tourist information to the public.
- Higher Education Advisory Council Partner — Collaborates on distributing scholarship applications, engaging in programming, and selecting scholarship recipients.
- Lewis County Chamber of Commerce Partner — Member organization of NYSTIA that benefits from networking, legislative representation, and growth support.
- Lynkwell Partner — Organization represented by Kate Kruk, Chair of the NYSTIA Sustainability Task Force.
- Marketing Association of New York State (MANY) Partner — Coordinates with MANY as an association colleague in New York State on tourism advocacy.
+ 37 more
strategies · 3
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.
- Member-Driven Advocacy and Governancemethodology: member_driven_governanceBy structuring the organization as member-driven and member-directed, with input through committees and governance, it aligns advocacy, marketing, and strategic initiatives to real industry needs, producing more effective and legitimate outcomes because members co-create solutions and lend collective credibility to policy engagement.
- Tourism as a Public Good via Economic and Social Value Translationmethodology: policy_adjacent_stakeholder_engagementBy demonstrating tourism’s measurable economic impact (jobs, tax revenue, small business vitality) and social value (community pride, quality of life), the organization secures recognition from policymakers and stakeholders as an essential public good, thereby increasing support for pro-tourism policies and investments because evidence-based advocacy shifts perception from leisure to economic necessity.
- Workforce Development Through Education and Employer-Education Alignmentmethodology: workforce_pipeline_developmentBy linking education systems with tourism employers through scholarships, early outreach, and replicable pipeline models, the organization increases job placements and industry engagement because structured pathways from education to employment address labor shortages and improve sector sustainability.