A great place to live is a great place to visit, and that is as true for Central New York as anywhere. With new tourism amenities like the Lakeview Amphitheater complementing existing venues and experiences such as the newly renovated Hotel Syracuse (Marriott Syracuse Downtown) and the New York State Fair, the region is not only […]
A great place to live is a great place to visit, and that is as true for Central New York as anywhere. With new tourism amenities like the Lakeview Amphitheater complementing existing venues and experiences such as the newly renovated Hotel Syracuse (Marriott Syracuse Downtown) and the New York State Fair, the region is not only gaining recognition as a destination for travelers, but also as one where tourism is driving economic growth.
Each year, travel spending across the five county Central New York region contributes $1.4 billion to the economy and supports 25,000 jobs. Over the past several years, we have seen an increase in this spending with many visitors highlighting shopping at places like Destiny USA as the purpose of their visit. In Onondaga County this all translates to about $585 in local and state tax savings annually for residents.
Downtown Syracuse has emerged as a livable, walkable destination for leisure and group travelers. Investment in the transformational $60 million renovation of the Hotel Syracuse has added 30,000 square feet of meeting space and 261 rooms, and is expected to bring an additional 10,000 room nights each year in convention-center business to the region.
And we are already reaping the benefits of the new Lakeview Amphitheater. In June, the Dave Matthews Band performed to a sellout crowd of more than 17,500 people. The new venue wasn’t the only area business to benefit from the incredibly popular weekday show. Local hotels saw a 13 percent spike in guests the night of the concert compared to the previous year. With typical overnight visitors to Syracuse spending more than $1,000 per trip, and day visitors spending about $400, area businesses are also seeing an impact.
During the Great New York State Fair, visitors are seeing the results of a $50 million renovation, the most significant transformation since the gates first opened in 1890. This investment is expected to drive additional economic impact as visitors to the 12-day event will also spend money at area restaurants, hotels, and shopping and entertainment venues. The additional exhibition space at the Fairgrounds also means events like the Syracuse Nationals, which this year attracted 90,000 visitors, can grow their footprint.
I hope you have the opportunity to enjoy these great events and, perhaps, welcome new visitors to our region. In doing so, you are contributing to our economic vitality and our livability.
Robert M. (Rob) Simpson is president and CEO of CenterState CEO, the primary economic-development organization for Central New York. This editorial is drawn and edited from the “CEO Focus” email newsletter that the organization sent to members on Aug. 18.