Dear Friend of Tourism,
It was one year ago that I moved here to become
Visit Buffalo Niagara’s new President and CEO.
My first day on the job coincided with the region’s
first blizzard in over 20 years.
Welcome to Buffalo!
But, as it always does, the snow melted. And what
remained was what attracted me here after working in
tourism in Lake Tahoe, Los Angeles and Virginia’s wine
country: an unprecedented, historic renaissance that
presents so many opportunities.
It’s incredible to think how different
Buffalo is from just one year ago.
A visitor can spend an afternoon
skating or ice cycling at Canalside,
grab a bite to eat at (716) Food &
Sport, see a concert or Sabres game
at First Niagara Center and stay at a
Courtyard by Marriott, all within two
city blocks of each other. Of those four
spots, only FNC was there at the start
of 2014.
New cultural attractions boosted Buffalo’s visitor
profile, too. The opening of the Frank Lloyd Wright
Filling Station at the Buffalo Transportation Pierce
Arrow Museum in June enhanced the city’s reputation
as a destination for architecture, while history buffs
and news fans are flocking to the “Inside Tim Russert’s
Office: If It’s Sunday, It’s Meet the Press” exhibit at the
Buffalo History Museum.
After a day of touring Buffalo, visitors can whet their
whistles at one of nearly a dozen craft breweries
in greater Buffalo; four opened in the city just in
2014. Resurgence Brewing Company has turned
Niagara Street into a popular nightspot, while Flying
Bison Brewing Company and the Hydraulic Hearth
restaurant are helping Larkinville evolve into a
12-month destination.
Nearly 400 new hotel rooms came online countywide
in 2014, including the Hilton Garden Inn downtown,
with more than 550 expected in 2015. The upcoming
completion of the Martin House Complex restoration,
opening of the Explore & More Children’s Museum
on Buffalo’s waterfront and possible expansion of the
venerable Albright-Knox Art Gallery show the sky is
the limit for attracting new visitors.
Emblematic of this renewed civic energy and vitality is
the new Visit Buffalo Niagara corporate identity; it’s
fun, playful and confident – just like our destination.
Our marketing and media relations efforts helped
land over 100 stories in The Toronto Star, Huffington
Post, Washington Post and in dozens of other outlets
last year, while each convention VBN’s sales staff
booked has introduced a revitalized Buffalo to tens of
thousands of new visitors, from the
Congress for the New Urbanism to
the American Society of Mechanical
Engineers. Buffalo continued to emerge
as an amateur sports mecca in 2014,
with events like the NCAA Men’s
Basketball Tournament and National
Horseshoe Pitcher’s Association
Tournament reinforcing the city’s
growing reputation for hosting
athletic events.
Our new partnership with the Seneca Gaming
Corporation enabled us to share the news of Buffalo’s
extreme makeover with an unprecedented frequency
and prominence in media outlets within a four-hour
radius of the city, while the Canadian Marketing
Initiative continues to tell Buffalo’s story in our key
feeder market of Southern Ontario.
The new VBN website will help us tell Buffalo’s story
better than ever before. We’re looking forward to
giving our all toward promoting a resurgent Buffalo to
the rest of the world in 2015. Remember: If you haven’t
seen Buffalo lately, you haven’t seen Buffalo!
Very truly yours,
PATRICK KALER
President and CEO
If you haven’t seen Buffalo
lately, you haven’t seen
Buffalo.
3
VISITBU
FFALO
NIA
GA
RA
.CO
M20
14 A
NN
UA
L BU
SINE
SS RE
VIE
W
JUST THE FACTS: 2014 AT A GLANCEBuffalo’s renaissance was in full swing in 2014; new hotels, attractions and restaurants helped transform the city. VBN took full advantage of this flurry of activity. The earned media value VBN’s media relations team produced grew by more than $600,000 from 2013, while the total number of local and non-local placements increased by over 20 percent. Total website visits increased to 1,497,327, a jump of 13 percent. It was a solid year for VBN’s sales team as well. The team booked 460 conventions in 2014, up from 443 the year before. It also secured 170,447 future hotel room nights and 832 sales leads. Buffalo’s return as a NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament host was just one reason the Buffalo Niagara Sports Commission excelled in 2014, too. The Commission serviced 169 total events that generated over 122,839 attendees and 101,410 hotel room nights, all sharp increases over 2013.
Record breaking
figures are in red
VBN CONVENTION, SPORTS & GROUP TOUR SALES
$120 million Future economic
impact
832 Future
sales leads
460 Conventions, meetings,
amateur athletic events or group tours booked
170,447 Hotel room
nights booked
BUFFALO NIAGARA CONVENTION CENTER
300,071 People attended
events at the Convention Center
27,000 Hotel room nights utilized
due to events at the Center
259 Days the Center
was occupied
169BUFFALO NIAGARA SPORTS COMMISSION
Amateur sporting events serviced
in 2013
101,410 Hotel room nights
122,839 Attendance
VBN MARKETING
$1.66 million
Media value of out-of-town
media coverage 1,138,012 YouTube views
1,375 YouTube
subscribers
1,497,327 Unique visits to the website,
up 13% from 2013.
101 Out-of-town
media placements
106 Local media placements
161 Events hosted
4
Visit Buffalo Niagara was excited to partner with the
Seneca Gaming Corporation last spring on marketing
Buffalo throughout the surrounding region.
Part of the casino’s advertising budget is now
used for promoting Buffalo in media outlets within
a four-hour radius. VBN exercises creative control
over the messaging used in these advertisements.
The agreement has allowed VBN to market Buffalo
with an enhanced frequency and reach.
RHEA
AN
NA
A T R A V E L E R R E V I E W
VisitBuff aloNiagara.com » 1.800.BUFFALO
The Nearest Faraway Place
BUFFALO TRANSPORTATION/PIERCE-ARROW MUSUEM“ This is a small museum with a big and growing heart. As much as I thought I knew about cars, I did not know
how big a role Bu� alo played in auto production. The addition of an entire gas station in a museum is amazing.
If cars and the architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright are among your interests, set aside about an hour to visit
this gem of a little museum.”
Reviewed by Mike-20024, a TripAdvisor traveler » Washington, DC » July 20, 2014
“ Frank Lloyd Wright Gas Station + Famous Cars = Great for Car & Architecture Buff s”
BURCHFIELD PENNEY ART CENTER
“ I would absolutely recommend the Burchfield. We stumbled upon it after visiting the Albright-Knox,
and I’m so glad we crossed the street to check out this small but wonderful gallery...The Burchfield
design exhibit was the crowning jewel of the museum and definitely worth a visit.
Reviewed by E J, a TripAdvisor traveler » Rochester, NY » October 19, 2013“ What a great find!”
T R A V E L E R R E V I E W S
RHEA
AN
NA
Ringing EndorsementsThe buzz is building about Buffalo and visitors are
taking note – but don’t take our word for it. The
VBN marketing team collected dozens of third-party
endorsements of Buffalo from TripAdvisor and used
them as the cornerstone for much of 2014’s consumer
advertising. The five-star reviews of various
attractions were used with compelling imagery in
print publications and transit advertising in the
Greater Toronto area; an enthusiastic user-generated
testimonial from an actual visitor can work wonders
in a way that even the best copywriting can’t match!
VisitBuffaloNiagara.com » 1.800.BUFFALO
The Nearest Faraway Place
COLORED MUSICIANS CLUB & MUSEUM“ You will not be disappointed by the Jam Sessions on Sunday and Monday nights. The mix of people,
young and not so young, urban and suburban enjoyed each other and the fantastic skilled musicians...
People are coming in from near and far to visit the Jazz Club and Museum. Do not miss it!!”
ERIC
FRI
CKs
A T R A V E L E R R E V I E W
“ Wonderful Jazz Experience”Reviewed by Katie H, a TripAdvisor traveler » Buffalo, NY » Janaury 24, 2013
Upping The Ante On Marketing Buffalo
5
VISITBU
FFALO
NIA
GA
RA
.CO
M20
14 A
NN
UA
L BU
SINE
SS RE
VIE
W
VBN continued its engagement of online marketing
agency eBrains in 2014 with the aim of providing
integrated digital outreach campaigns for prospective
domestic and Canadian destination visitors to Buffalo
Niagara. The agency guarantees performance of
incremental visitor parties, direct visitor spending,
return on marketing investment (ROMI) and tax
revenues for Erie County.
Their performance against the guarantees is validated
by independent conversion studies conducted on
website visitor traffic and the VBN email database.
The studies are conducted by Texas A&M Department
of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Sciences who are
recognized as the “Gold Standard” by Destination
Marketing Association International. The study
validates both total visitor conversion and incremental
visitors within that total number. The data validated
includes visitor parties, size of party, spending, reason
for visit, lodging chosen and many other data points.
A third party validation for digital display advertising
impact on intent to visit is provided by Nielsen’s Vizu
division who conducts surveys to measure brand
impact across all industry category segments including
specific lift in intent to visit for destination marketing
organizations.
The full results of the 2014 conversion studies
will be available in April.
Employing this multifaceted strategy, eBrains delivered the following high-level metrics:
53,817,036 impressions
304,721 website visitors
10,734 new email leads to our database
DIGITAL DISPLAY OUTREACH
6
Canadian Marketing InitiativeThe Canadian Marketing
Initiative, a joint effort funded
by VBN & the Niagara Tourism
& Convention Corporation,
with support from the Regional
Economic Develoment Council,
aims to reach the Southern
Ontario market with an
integrated marketing strategy
built on a foundation of
measurable digital engagement.
The digital portion of the
marketing campaign supports,
integrates and complements
existing print advertising about
Buffalo and aims to cause more
visitation with extended stays
overnight. Through this campaign,
20,391 leads were added to VBN’s
databases and more than
109,000 Canadian visitors
came to the region.
In addition to this digital
campaign, VBN & the NTCC
ran a 10 week campaign with
the Toronto Star and the Path,
the underground system of
walkways in downtown Toronto.
The two agencies also advertised
with Fox 29 and WNED-TV, two
key local channels that have
large Canadian audiences, and
worked with Kathleen Rooney
Communications for additional
PR outreach into the Canadian
market. VBN and the NTCC
also shared a joint booth at
the National Women’s Show in
Toronto this past November.
WEBSITE VISITORS
VISITOR INFO ON-THE-GO
MOBILE VISITS TOTAL VISITS TO DEDICATED MOBILE SITE
AND MAIN SITE VIA A MOBILE DEVICEJanuary 1-December 31, 2014
38%of all website visitors
are from Canada
UNITED KINGDOM
GERMANYAUSTRALIA
INDIA
c d
e f
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
1,501,257 pageviews
(desktop & mobile)
SHOPPING211,290 pageviews
(desktop only)
FAMILY FUN142,240 pageviews
(desktop only)
TOP 5 COUNTRIES OF ORIGIN FOR NON-U.S. WEBSITE VISITORS
MOST VISITED CONTENT
TOTAL VISITS 1,497,327An increase of 13% over 2013
A total of 6,603,276 pageviews including display
CANADA
b
A DIGITALLY SAVVY DESTINATION
483,875
VBN had another terrific year on the media relations
front. We hosted more than 30 press visits in 2014 and
assisted with dozens of other stories. In total, VBN’s
efforts yielded 101 out-of-town media placements
valued at $1.66 million in earned media value, including
hits in The Toronto Star, The Washington Post and
Huffington Post. VBN also generated 106 stories in local
media outlets.
The Center of AttentionThe Buffalo Niagara Convention Center (BNCC)
experienced a record-breaking year in 2014. More than
300,000 people attended 161 different events over
the course of the year. These events contributed an
estimated $27 million to the local economy, based on
the Association of Venue Managers calculator. Among
the notable events hosted at the Center were the
American Society of Mechanical Engineers,
the Congress for the New Urbanism, Delaware
North Companies Food & Beverage Summit and the
bi-annual New York State Board of Law Examiners Bar
Exams. In addition, BNCC secured a six-year contract
to continue hosting the International Aviation Snow
Symposium. Given this success, it should come as no
surprise that the Center recorded an impressive score of
4.8/5 on its Guest Satisfaction Survey.
BUFFALO IN THE NEWS
300,000 161
people attendeddifferent events
7
VISITBU
FFALO
NIA
GA
RA
.CO
M20
14 A
NN
UA
L BU
SINE
SS RE
VIE
W
8
SMITH TRAVEL RESEARCH ERIE COUNTY HOTEL REPORT
OCCUPANCY AVERAGE HOTEL RATE REVENUES
2014 64.1% $99.56 $228,301,134 2013 65.4% $96.47 $217,886,799 2012 66.4% $93.92 $209,550,115 2011 66.1% $90.96 $197,823,142
Hoteliers are taking notice of Buffalo’s renaissance.
Nearly 400 new rooms came online in 2014 including the
Courtyard by Marriott Canalside and the Hilton Garden
Inn downtown. Demand continued to rise in 2014, by 1.6
percent, and occupancy rates exceeded the national average
for almost half of the year.
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
ERIE COUNTY
JAN
NATIONAL AVERAGE
FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
43.3
50.2
56.458.8
67.3
75.0
86.1 87.2
70.6
67.558.2
48.0
52.658.7
68.0
65.771.6
73.6
71.767.0
65.3
60.3
52.0
65.7
MONTHLY OCCUPANCY PERCENTAGE, 2014
Another Record-Breaking Year for Erie County Hotels
A Slam DunkThe second and third rounds of the NCAA Men’s
Basketball Tournament returned to Buffalo last
March, bringing thousands of visitors into the
downtown core and generating an estimated
$5.2 million in economic impact.
A Real RingerThe National Horseshoe Pitcher’s Association
held its annual tournament in Hamburg. Some
1,300 participants, as well their families and
friends, convened on the Hamburg Fairgrounds
for 12 days in July, leaving behind an estimated
$2 million in economic impact for the area.
MAJOR 2014 CONVENTIONS Arranged by estimated economic impactNAME ESTIMATED ECONOMIC IMPACT DATE ATTENDEESNew York State Board of Law Examiners $3,417,752 July 27 2,800New York State Board of Law Examiners $2,182,124 Feb. 23 1,800Congress for the New Urbanism $2,078,412 June 2 1,500Church of God and Saints of Christ $1,470,963 June 9 900Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance $1,448,037 Sept. 13 600American Society of Mechanical Engineers $1,424,274 Aug. 16 700General Grand Council Royal Arch and Cryptic Masons International $1,111,244 Aug. 22 700Association of Reciprocal Safety Councils, Inc. $804,476 Oct. 3 475Creative Problem Solving Institute $693,530 June 17 600The International Association of Laryngectomees $686,748 June 23 450Delaware North Companies $612,253 Nov. 9 500American Association of Airport Executives $603,899 Aug. 15 430NYS Association of Counties $560,653 Sept. 16 400Elks Association $533,708 May 15 750Diocese of Buffalo-Dept. of Youth & Young Adult Ministry $499,651 Feb. 14 1,000American Music Therapy Association $479,410 April 1 415
9
VISITBU
FFALO
NIA
GA
RA
.CO
M20
14 A
NN
UA
L BU
SINE
SS RE
VIE
WBe Social, Buffalo
VBN’s social media efforts reached new heights in 2014. In
May, Visit Buffalo Niagara launched its “Summer of Buffalove”
contest, asking its followers to submit photos of the best of
Buffalo to the hashtag #Buffalove14, and awarding weekly
prizes. Over the course of the summer, the contest yielded
2,700 photo entries, which showed off summer in Buffalo
to tens of thousands of prospective visitors. VBN then took
those photos and turned them into the “Drink it In” video that
gained local media coverage and garnered over 6,700 views on
YouTube. Social media is empowering VBN’s Twitter, Instagram
and Facebook followers to help tell the story of Buffalo’s
renaissance through their photos!
THE SUMMER OF BUFFALOVE
70,876 likes
THE 716 FACEBOOK
62,238 likes
VISIT BUFFALO NIAGARA FACEBOOK
14,090 likes
3,355 likes
@buffalony ON INSTAGRAM
10
New Virtual HomeWith Buffalo undergoing a dramatic transformation, it was time for
big changes to VisitBuffaloNiagara.com, too. VBN selected Portland,
Oregon web developers Substance, whose previous work included
Traveloregon.com, to design a state-of-the-art site. The new website,
which the VBN marketing staff spent much of 2014 working on, tells
the story of Buffalo’s renaissance through an emphasis on compelling
pictures and video and totally refreshed copy.
New DigsAfter 15 years in the Market Arcade building,
Visit Buffalo Niagara moved to a new visitor
center and corporate offices last fall in
downtown Buffalo’s Brisbane Building.
The new visitor center’s visibility at a busy
downtown intersection – Clinton and
Washington Streets – and its proximity to the
Buffalo Niagara Convention Center, Canalside
and several hotels makes it more visible and
accessible to visitors and locals alike.
113,419 Total Visitor Center
Inquiries in 2014
MARKET ARCADE, BRISBANE BUILDING & AIRPORT
MONITORING THE PULSE OF BUFFALO TOURISMIn order to better monitor and measure
Buffalo Niagara tourism, Visit Buffalo
Niagara created a new monthly
publication, Buffalo Niagara Travel Pulse.
This statistical update and analysis tracks
information obtained from Smith Travel,
such as hotel occupancy, average daily
rate, Canadian currency exchange and
cross border as well as Buffalo Niagara
International Airport traffic. To date,
there are 1,072 subscribers to Buffalo
Niagara Travel Pulse.
We also implemented a new volunteer
orientation program and of the 234
volunteers we work with, 65 percent
have gone through the program. In
addition, our Tourism Insider monthly
newsletter is up to 3,376 subscribers,
a nine percent increase from 2013.
11
VISITBU
FFALO
NIA
GA
RA
.CO
M20
14 A
NN
UA
L BU
SINE
SS RE
VIE
W
OUTSTANDING LODGING EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR
Kyle Johnson Hyatt Regency Buffalo
OUTSTANDING LODGING MANAGER OF THE YEAR
Lauren Solak Hyatt Regency Buffalo
OUTSTANDING LODGING G.M. OF THE YEAR
Peter Florczak Buffalo Niagara Marriott
OUTSTANDING TOURISM EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR
Michael Powers Buffalo Zoo
OUTSTANDING TOURISM VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR
Ed Dore PLANT WNY
OUTSTANDING TOURISM EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR
Martin Biniasz Dyngus Day USA and Forgotten Buffalo Tours
OUTSTANDING TOURISM INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR
Robert Lennartz Western New York Southtowns Scenic Byway
BUFFALO AMBASSADOR OF THE YEAR
Carol Speser
2014 BINATIONAL BEACON AWARD
Niagara 1812 Bicentennial Legacy Council
2014 Beacon Award winners, top row: Kyle Johnson, Michael Powers, Lauren Solak, Brian Merritt (representing Niagara 1812 Bicentennial Legacy Council), Thomas Schofield, Peter Florczak; bottom row: Martin Biniasz, Carol Speser, Ed Dore, Robert Lennartz
Visit Buffalo Niagara’s Beacon Awards, which recognize
excellence in Buffalo’s tourism and hospitality industry, attracted
nearly 500 attendees to the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center
last May. Here are the 2014 honorees:
CEO Patrick Kaler and Outstanding Tourism Volunteer of the Year Ed Dore
A BEACON OF EXCELLENCE
TRAVEL
& TOURISM
P R E S E N T E D B Y
12
International ExposureDid you know that Buffalo
Niagara is one of the
top 25 U.S. Regions for
inbound visitation from
overseas international
visitors? In 2014, Visit
Buffalo Niagara made
an unprecedented push
into overseas markets,
including the United
Kingdom, Germany
and China, to drive that visitation even higher. VBN attended a sales
mission in collaboration with I Love NY in the U.K. and Ireland
that prompted a group of European tour operators to visit
Buffalo last fall on a familiarization tour.
Attendance at the International Pow Wow (I.P.W.) last spring
resulted in Buffalo’s inclusion in several tour operator catalogs and
online product offerings. VBN also hosted two separate groups
of tour operators and public relations specialists from China in
2014 and worked in collaboration with Brand USA to premiere
three Buffalo videos geared toward British, German and Chinese
tourists. All three videos can be found at visitbuffaloniagara.com,
discoveramerica.com and the VBN YouTube channel. Visit Buffalo
Niagara also offers its website in seven different languages!
Visit Buffalo Niagara debuted a new corporate identity late in
2014 to coincide with its move to a new visitor center and offices.
The playful, confident, seamless integration of Buffalo and Niagara
Falls received accolades since debuting last fall, including a silver
ADDY from the Advertising Club of Buffalo. In addition, VBN published
a refreshed touring guide and shopping guide in 2014 that included a
greater emphasis on compelling imagery,
shorter copy, better organized sections
and higher quality of paper.
Shopping BUFFALO
GuideNIAGARA
VISITBUFFALONIAGARA.COM
2014/2015TOURING GUIDE
THE WING DYNASTY5 0 Y E A R S O F A B U F F A L O C L A S S I C
Designing an Identity
OVER ONE MILLION STRONGVisit Buffalo Niagara’s YouTube channel
views topped 1 million in 2014 thanks
to several new videos produced in
collaboration with Paget Films. VBN
dedicated Let It Snow: A Buffalo
Frozen Parody to Buffalo’s resilient
citizens following the November 2014
snowstorm. Yahoo, AOL News and
dozens of other media outlets featured
the video, which went viral, attracting
more than 185,000 views.
The Buffalo. For Real TV YouTube series
continued to chronicle the Queen City’s
renaissance, including features on the
Hotel @ the Lafayette, Horsefeathers
Market and the wide variety of foodie
finds in the Elmwood Village. VBN
added a new host to the series: Sara
Kow-Falcone, who joins Nelson Starr in
showing viewers the best of Buffalo. The
BFRTV series also made its television
debut in 2014; a compilation of the
Buffalo. For Real TV videos aired on
WUTV Fox 29 last summer.
Last year also featured the premiere
of VBN’s first video made entirely of
photos submitted by its followers.
Drink it In: The Summer of #Buffalove14
highlighted some of the best of the 2,700
submissions VBN received from its best
of Buffalo social media photo contest.
13
VISITBU
FFALO
NIA
GA
RA
.CO
M20
14 A
NN
UA
L BU
SINE
SS RE
VIE
W
Cindy Abbott-Letro Law Offices of Francis A. LetroDonald K. Boswell WNY Public Broadcasting AssociationSteve Boyd, Esq. Steve Boyd, P.C.Jonathan A. Dandes Rich Baseball OperationsDottie Gallagher-Cohen Buffalo Niagara PartnershipC. Douglas Hartmayer NFTALesley Haynes County of Erie AppointmentPatrick J. Kaler Visit Buffalo NiagaraRandall Kramer MusicalFare TheatreKerry C. Mitchell County of Erie Appointment
Dennis P. Murphy InnVest Lodging Services, Inc.Minesh Patel Adam’s Mark HotelGary D. Praetzel, Ph.D. Niagara UniversityEdward A. Rath, III Erie County LegislatureMary F. Roberts Martin House Restoration CorporationJames T. Sandoro The Buffalo Transportation Pierce Arrow Museum Paul Snyder, III, CEO Snyder CorporationToni L. Vazquez County of Erie AppointmentMaria Whyte County of ErieLeslie H. Zemsky Larkin Square
2014 VISIT BUFFALO NIAGARA BOARD OF DIRECTORS
2014 COMMITTEES
CHAIR: Dennis P. Murphy InnVest Lodging Services, Inc.
COMMITTEE MEMBERSCHAIR-ELECT: Jonathan A. Dandes Rich Baseball OperationsVICE CHAIR: Donald K. Boswell WNEDPRESIDENT: Patrick Kaler Visit Buffalo Niagara
SECRETARY: Dottie Gallagher-Cohen Buffalo Niagara PartnershipTREASURER : Mary F. Roberts Martin House Restoration Corp.COUNTY REPRESENTATIVE: Maria Whyte County of ErieIMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR: Gary D. Praetzel Niagara University
Executive Committee
} The New York State Board of Law Examiners will conduct exams for approximately 2,800 participants in February and 3,500 participants in July. Participants will travel from around the world for the opportunity to take the NYS Bar exam. Together these events will have an economic impact of more than $6 million.
} New York State United Teachers will be in Buffalo in April at the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center and a number of downtown hotels during their conference. Approximately 3,000 conventioneers are expected at the event, which will have an economic impact of over $2.5 million.
} In addition, the American Legion will host their convention in July with 2,000 attendees expected to stay in Erie County hotels, eat in area restaurants and experience the many attractions available here. The convention is expected to have an economic impact of more than $2.5 million.
} In October, the Civil Service Employees Association will welcome 1,600 attendees to the Queen City. Estimated economic impact is $2.4 million.
WHAT’S AHEAD IN 2015
CHAIR: Mary F. Roberts Martin House Restoration CorpSTAFF: David Marzo Chief Financial Officer
COMMITTEE MEMBERSSteve Boyd, Esq. Steve Boyd, P.C.Toni Vazquez County of Erie Appointment
Budget/Finance/Audit Committee
14
CHAIR: Drew Cerza Just Wing It Productions STAFF: Ed Healy VP of MarketingCOMMITTEE MEMBERSJustin Azzarella Evergreen Association of WNYSteve Boyd Steve Boyd, P.C.Anthony Conte Shea’s Performing Arts CenterC. Douglas Hartmayer NFTA
Nick Magnini WUTVAndy Major Buffalo BillsRudi Rainer Super 8 HotelJames T. Sandoro Buffalo Transportation/
Pierce-Arrow MuseumMargie Stehlik Martin House Restoration Corporation
Marketing Committee
Rick Aronberg STAR SwimmingChris Aronica Aronica & AssociatesRuss Brandon Buffalo BillsMike Buczkowski Buffalo BisonsStephen Butler Niagara UniversityBrian Cavanaugh D’Youville CollegeDrew Cerza Just Wing It ProductionsRyan Coate Global SpectrumJonathan A. Dandes Rich Baseball OperationsTherese Forton-Barnes Events to a TeeSean Green RiverworksKathleen Gregoire Skating Club of WNYEric Guzdek Northtown Center at AmherstC. Douglas Hartmayer NFTAPerry Jenkins University at Buffalo
Peter Jerebko Erie Community CollegeLeo Kaminsky NYSPHSAATom Koller Buffalo State CollegeJohn Maddock Canisius CollegeBill Maher Canisius CollegeLynn Marinelli Empire State Development Corp.Ron Raccuia AdPro Team SportsEdward Rath, Jr. Erie County LegislatureDonald Reed University at BuffaloBob Schell Amherst Youth HockeyLisa Scherer Scherer Event ManagementTimm Slade Section VICharles C. Swanekamp, Esq. Jaeckle, Fleischmann & MugelChris Todorov NFTA
2014 BUFFALO NIAGARA SPORTS COMMISSION ADVISORY COUNCIL
STAFF: Mike Even VP of Sales
COMMITTEE MEMBERSPhil Alterio Buffalo Niagara Marriott Mark Bibb Adam’s Mark Mark Brown Buffalo LodgingMelissa Burke Buffalo Niagara Convention CenterDave Carroll Hart HotelsWendy Clubine Buffalo LodgingJay Dellavecchia Hyatt Regency BuffaloBryan Drew Embassy Suites BuffaloMark Dickerson Embassy Suites Buffalo
John Dubreville Hale Northeastern Peter Florczak Buffalo Niagara Marriott Barbara Hughes AAA Bob Karamazyn Courtyard by Marriott Thomas Keane Hart HotelsBryan Messer Hyatt Regency BuffaloPaul Murphy Buffalo Niagara Convention CenterRuss Papia Millennium HotelMatt Spencer Comfort Suites Edwin Shelp Adam’s MarkTimothy Stone Hampton Inn & Suites Buffalo Downtown
Sales Committee
15
VISITBU
FFALO
NIA
GA
RA
.CO
M20
14 A
NN
UA
L BU
SINE
SS RE
VIE
W2014 BUFFALO NIAGARA CONVENTION CENTER STAFFMelissa Bean Convention & Event
Service ManagerTom Beiter ControllerMelissa Burke Senior Director of
Sales and MarketingAngelo Canna, Jr. Food & Beverage Manager Lorna Cullen Executive AssistantMichelle Helles Convention Sales ManagerHeather Keller Sales & Service CoordinatorSusan Kimmins Sales & Catering ManagerCraig Landseadel Sous ChefMaryAnn Martin Accounting & Benefits Manager
Samuel Mendez Assistant Operations ManagerLeslie Millender Lobby ReceptionistPaul Murphy Facility DirectorTerry O’Brien Operations ManagerKeith Pitman ElectricianKenneth Sandford Chief EngineerRaymond Thom Executive ChefAmy Trautman Convention Sales ManagerRaymond Williams Timekeeper/Security Danielle Winiarski Convention & Event
Service Manager
Kathy Benzel Information Technology/ Online Content ManagerMichele Butlak Accounting and Benefits ManagerGiovanni Centurione Information SpecialistLindsay Carucci Sport Services ManagerKaren Cox Convention Services ManagerLinda D’Agostino Director of Sales & Government RelationsDenise Drews Visitor Center ManagerMichael Even Vice President of Sales & ServicesKaren Fashana Marketing & Co-op Advertising ManagerCharles Giglia Director of Sports SalesPete Harvey Director of Sports Development
Brian Hayden Communications ManagerEd Healy Vice President of MarketingPatrick Kaler President & CEOCindy Kincaide Director, Industry Relations &
Destination DevelopmentTracy Martell Convention Services ManagerDavid Marzo Chief Financial OfficerLeah Mueller Tourism Sales DirectorDanielle Pastor Administrative AssistantMary Jane Poleto Information SpecialistJudy Smith Director of AdministrationMatt Steinberg Director of Creative ServicesLori White National Sales DirectorDionne Williamson Sales Director; SMERF & Corporate
2014 VISIT BUFFALO NIAGARA STAFF
Tourism Sales Director Leah Mueller led a FAM tour of international tour operators last spring, including a ride on the Maid of the Mist
BUFFALO IS RIPE FOR A NEW RENAISSANCE
and for me as a Torontonian, I am very excited because this gives us so many
options as visitors that doesn’t spell shopping. There’s art, culture, food,
drink and charming neighborhoods. It’s the perfect weekend getaway!
GOINGAWESOMEPLACES.COM
403 Main Street » Suite 630 » Buffalo, New York 14203 » 716.852.0511
VisitBuffaloNiagara.com
What They’re Saying About Buffalo
Buffalo was a complete surprise – I had no idea the city was filled with groundbreaking architecture, world class art, historic sites, quirky neighborhoods and good food!DANI HEINRICH, GLOBETROTTER GIRLS
With rehabbed architectural gems, stylish hotels, and innovative new restaurants, the upstate city now has far more to recommend outside of chicken wings.NEW YORK MAGAZINE
Whole neighborhoods and waterfronts have been revitalized, and there’s a
growing cultural and culinary scene that goes far beyond the chicken wings
that bear the city’s name (and were invented here). An industrial center at the terminus of the Erie Canal, Buffalo
was never a tourist destination. But it is now growing into one.
HUFFINGTON POST
A SOUTH BEACH-INSPIRED GATHERING PLACE. BIKE LANES AND KAYAK TOURS. FREE OUTDOOR YOGA CLASSES. ALFRESCO DANCING AND DINING.READY FOR THIS ONE?
IT’S ALL IN BUFFALO.THE WASHINGTON POST
Visitors who take some time and get off the highway will now sense a buzz
in downtown Buffalo. Hundreds of millions of dollars have been poured
into revitalization, particularly around the harbor, the river and the historic canal area. Buffalonians are energized by it all, and they’re convinced visitors
will like what they see.THE TORONTO STAR