SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCE ‘BRAND USA’ IS RAMPING UP ITS EFFORTS TO PROMOTE TOURISM IN NIAGARA FALLS & BUFFALO – NEW PUSH WILL BRING MORE FOREIGN VISITORS & TOURISM DOLLARS TO WNY
Push By Federal Tourism Promotion Agency ‘Brand USA’ Comes After Schumer And Gillibrand Successfully Called For Niagara Falls & Buffalo To Be Added To Organization’s List of Top Tourist Destinations
Promotional Efforts For Niagara Falls & Buffalo Include New WNY Travel Journal for UK and German Tourists & Tour of The Region For Influential Foreign Travel Agents from UK and Ireland
Increased ‘Brand USA’ Efforts Will Boost Local Economy and Help Tourists Discover Wonders of WNY
This week, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced that Brand USA, a federally-funded entity that promotes U.S. tourist destinations to foreign travelers, has increased its efforts to promote the Niagara Falls/Buffalo region. Brand USA recently published comprehensive travel journals specifically targeted to travelers from the United Kingdom and Germany that included extensive information about the Niagara Falls/Buffalo region. In addition, Brand USA is also paying for 15 travel agents from the United Kingdom and Ireland to travel to Western New York later this month in order to familiarize themselves with the area’s tourist attractions. These new developments were made possible after Schumer and Gillibrand’s push last year that resulted in Brand USA’s including Niagara Falls and Buffalo in its promotional material and placing the region on its list of suggested trips. Schumer and Gillibrand noted that these efforts should attract additional visitors to the region and inject much-needed tourism dollars into the local economy.
“I am thrilled that Brand USA has decided to ramp up its efforts to bring foreign travelers to Western New York,” said Schumer. “From the breathtaking Niagara Falls, to the beautiful architecture of Buffalo, there are many exciting places throughout the region for foreign travelers to visit. Brand USA materials will encourage more travelers to see the beauty of Western New York by making them aware of everything the region has to offer. That is why Brand USA’s effort to promote the region is so important; now people around the world will begin to enjoy the world-class tourist destinations right here in our backyard, and bring much-needed tourism dollars with them.”
“Brand USA’s continued commitment to marketing the Greater Niagara Region is critical to bringing more international travelers,” said Gillibrand, who as a member of the President’s Export Council has worked to secure Brand USA’s involvement in promoting Western New York tourism, including convening a May 2013 tourism roundtable with Brand USA and other federal partners in Youngstown, NY. “This new attention by Brand USA will only enhance the work we’ve done as a community to make Niagara an international travel destination. Niagara County is a family friendly destination with iconic natural and cultural landmarks that people of all ages can enjoy. An increase in international visitors to Niagara would increase our export growth, facilitating job creation in the region.”
Last year, Schumer called on Brand USA to include the Niagara Falls and Buffalo regions on its promotional website – DiscoverAmerica.com – in order to attract additional visitors to the region. Until Schumer’s push, the website did not include any destinations in Western New York on its list of suggested trips in New York State. Created in 2010, Discover America provides materials for travelers from all over the world who are planning trips to the United States. It is one of Brand USA’s largest efforts to encourage foreign travelers to visit the U.S.
In his letter to Discover America in April 2013, Schumer pointed to a number of great destinations that Western New York offers to visiting tourists, including Niagara Falls, which is one of America’s greatest treasures and has long been one of the country’s most visited tourist destinations. Schumer noted that the city of Niagara Falls would benefit greatly from any increase in tourism. Schumer also specified a number of tourist destinations in Buffalo that would appeal to foreign tourists, including Frank Lloyd Wright’s masterpiece Darwin Martin House, Louis Sullivan’s intricately ornamented Guaranty Building, and the imposing H.H. Richardson Complex.
Gillibrand also worked closely with Brand USA to secure their commitment to promote the Greater Niagara Region as an international travel destination, featuring the region as a “Trip Idea” on the New York State page of Brand USA’s Discover America website, a commitment that was formalized at a May 2013 tourism roundtable Senator Gillibrand convened with Brand, the Department of Commerce, the Department of Homeland Security, and local officials to ensure all federal resources and support are made available to increase international travel to the area.
Brand USA was established by the Travel Promotion Act in 2010 with the goal of spearheading the nation's first global marketing effort to promote the United States as a premier travel destination and to communicate U.S. entry/exit policies and procedures. Formed as the Corporation for Travel Promotion, the public-private entity began operations in May 2011 and does business as Brand USA. Brand USA works in close partnership with the travel industry to maximize the economic and social benefits of travel. Through its call-to-action—
A copy of Sen. Schumer’s original letter to Christopher L. Thompson, President & CEO of Brand USA, appears below:
Dear Mr. Thompson,
I write you to highlight the need to increase Western New York’s involvement in Discover America’s New York State Page and other promotional materials. I applaud Discover America for its excellent coverage of what much of New York has to offer. From the beauty of the Finger Lakes to the dazzling lights of Times Square, Discover America has done a wonderful job at laying out much of what New York has to offer. I believe that with further attention paid to Western New York, particularly the sublime wonder of Niagara Falls and the bounty of architectural treasures offered in Buffalo, Discover America can do an even better job at selling New York to the world.
Niagara Falls State Park, America’s oldest state park, is consistently named as one of the Seven Wonders of the Natural World. Millions of tourists from around the world flock to Niagara Falls every year, making it one of the top tourism sites in the world – but I know we can do ever better with the support of Discover America. By highlighting the ease of access for foreign tourists through international airports in Buffalo and Niagara Falls, Discover America can spread the word that, though it is at the far end of the state, Niagara Falls is just as accessible as New York City. Along with the awe-inspiring scenery of Niagara Falls, Niagara County has so much more to offer. Niagara County boasts an extensive lakefront that is perfect for boating and fishing, a world-class wine trail, and multitudes of restaurants that are sure to impress anyone from around the world.
In addition to Niagara Falls, Western New York boasts one of the best collections of American architectural treasures. With Frank Lloyd Wright’s masterpiece Darwin Martin House, Louis Sullivan’s intricately ornamented Guaranty Building, and the imposing H.H. Richardson Complex, Buffalo certainly has no shortage of amazing architectural history for tourists to view and learn about. Complementing Buffalo’s architectural gems are its world-famous signature foods, major league sports, exciting nightlife and its walkable shopping districts.
I know that with the support of Discover America, we can showcase all of New York to the world and show them why Western New York, and the rest of the state, is such a great place to visit and have fun. Thank you for your attention to this matter, and I look forward to working with you on this issue.
Sincerely,
U.S. Senator
Charles E. Schumer