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Dear Tourism Advocate,

Looking back at 2012, it was an exceptional year for tourism and Visit Buffalo Niagara (VBN). We conducted research that gave us, for the first time, a comprehensive look at who is visiting our region. This intelligence has guided our marketing plans, helping us craft better messages and target those people most likely to visit. Graph #1 below shows how many visitors our region receives from the U.S. and Canada (note: it does not include our international visitors).

We are now receiving significant assistance from New York State in our efforts. Governor Cuomo is a believer in tourism as an economic engine for the state and is reinvigorating I Love NY in a way that is helping Western New York. And in his bold Billion for Buffalo plan, he has recognized that there is a perception gap between what people think our region is (snow and chicken wings) and what it really is – a deep and rich cultural and heritage tourism destination. If the plan unfolds as recommended, New York will invest more than $1 million in WNY tourism promotion. That part of the plan is being developed by VBN, Niagara USA, New York State Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation and the Niagara Tourism & Convention Corporation (NTCC).

The WNY Regional Economic Development Council (REDC) also added $195,000 of state resources to a marketing fund created by VBN and NTCC to improve our marketing to our most valuable audience, Canadians (see page 6). The leadership provided by the REDC, and its co-chair Howard Zemsky in particular, cannot be overstated.

One of the more notable new efforts in 2012 was our digital lead generation campaign this spring, which brought more than 4,000 new leisure visitors here, who spent more than $3 million in the region. The campaign cost was $100,000 and we delivered a 30 to 1 ROI. I am hopeful that this test program sets the stage for a higher level of funding support for Visit Buffalo Niagara in the future, since one of our current challenges is that our budget spending power has declined significantly over the past decade (see graph #2). I am confident, with smart research, well executed plans and proven ROI, that this is a challenge we will overcome.

Thank you for your continued support.

DoTTiE GallaGHEr-CoHEn President & CEO gallaghercohen@visitbuffaloniagara.com • 716-961-0200

SmiTH TravEl rESEarCH EriE CounTy HoTEl rEporT oCCupanCy avEraGE raTE HoTEl rEvEnuES 2012 66.4% $93.92 $209,550,115 2011 66.1% $90.96 $197,823,142 2010 64.7% $87.45 $185,541,315

anoTHEr rECorD-BrEakinG yEar for EriE CounTy HoTElSIn 2012, Erie County hotel revenues jumped 6 percent, the average

rate charged by hotels rose just over 3 percent and monthly occu-

pancy rates exceeded the national average for much of the year.

KC K

RATT

vBn BuDGET/BuyinG powEru.S. anD CanaDian viSiTaTion To THE Buffalo niaGara rEGion

U.S. DOMESTIC OVERNIGHT TRIPS TO

THE BUFFALO DMA2,500,000

17.1%

CANADIAN DAY TRIPS IN THEBUFFALO NIAGARA REGION

1,900,00013.0%

U.S. DOMESTIC DAY TRIPS TO THE

BUFFALO DMA2,800,000

19.2%

CANADIAN OVERNIGHT TRIPS IN THE BUFFALO

NIAGARA REGION1,200,000

8.2%

U.S. DOMESTIC DAY TRIPS TO NIAGARA FALLS, NY

3,400,00023.3%

U.S. DOMESTIC OVERNIGHT TRIPS TO NIAGARA FALLS, NY

2,800,00019.2%

90%

80%

70%

60%

50%

40%

ERIE COUNTY

JAN

NATIONAL AVERAGE

FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

44.6

55.3

63.361.8

71.2

79.183.0 86.7

71.3

67.260.7

51.2

49.1

56.564.4

63.467.8

70.0

70.3

63.563.6

57.4

49.4

61.8

monTHly oCCupanCy pErCEnTaGE, 2012

0

500,000

1,000,000

1,500,000

2,000,000

2,500,000

3,000,000

3,500,000

4,000,000Buying Power$3,960,000

VBN Budget$2,947,658

VBN Budget &Buying Power$3,300,000

2000 2012

VBN has 17% less BuyiNg power iN

2012 thaN 2000

b c

Adjustment of 2000 budget to 2012 inflation using the Consumer Price Index

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BUFFALO NIAGARA FILM COMMISSION

811,585 Unique visits to

visitbuffaloniagara.com, up 37% from 2011

VBN MARKETING

Just the Facts: 2012 at a GlanceSome of our greatest successes came on the marketing front, as VBN generated non-local media coverage with a total media value of $2 million (our best year ever) and increased the number of unique web visitors to visitbuffaloniagara.com to 811,585 (up 37 percent over 2011). VBN’s sales team also produced solid results in 2012, securing 161,152 future hotel room nights; booking 427 conventions, meetings, amateur athletic events and group tours; and generating 771 sales leads. These efforts will result in $129 million in future economic impact.

86 Out-of-town

media hits

112 Local media

hits

Record breaking

figures are in red

BUFFALO NIAGARA CONVENTION CENTER

244 Nights the Center

was occupied

217 Events hosted

30,500 Hotel room nights utilized due to events at the Center

BUFFALO NIAGARA SPORTS COMMISSION

51 Completed location scouts

41 Projects completed

71,193 Hotel room nights

82,634 Attendance

Media value of out-of-town media coverage

Production days with Film Commission

involvement

275

VBN CONVENTION, SPORTS & GROUP TOUR SALES

$129 millionFuture economic

impact

771 Sales leads

427 Conventions, meetings,

amateur athletic events or group tours booked

Hotel room nights booked

161,152

Amateur sporting events

125

People attended events at the

Convention Center

250,000

$2 MIllION

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VBN opened a new Buffalo Niagara Visitor Center on the secure side of the Buffalo

Niagara International Airport in July. The center positions VBN to promote our

region to the 5 million passengers who fly in and out of the airport each year. It also

fits squarely into VBN’s Canadian marketing strategy, providing access and exposure

to the vast number of Canadian travelers who use the airport.

In addition to providing free tourist information, the visitor center sells unique

Buffalo-related items, from apparel to DVDs to handmade artisan goods, many of

which are also available via VBN’s new web store, buffaloniagarashop.com.

All proceeds from merchandise sales go back into promoting the region.

First Niagara Bank provided a generous $100,000 sponsorship to defray the costs of the center, the Margaret L.

Wendt Foundation issued a grant for technology and BHNT Architects and LPCiminelli contributed their

services for the build-out.

PlayinG with the BiG Boys: Buffalo Niagara becomes a top 20 U.S. destination for overseas visitorsFor the first time ever, the Buffalo Niagara region was one of the top 20 u.S. destinations for overseas visitors. In May, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Office of Travel and Tourism Industries (OTTI) released its “Overseas Visitation Estimates for U.S. States, Cities, and Census Regions” report for 2011. The report estimates that the Buffalo-Niagara Falls metro statistical area received 335,000 visitors from outside the U.S., Canada and Mexico in 2011, making it the 20th ranked metro area in the U.S.The top five incoming markets for overseas visitors to the region are:

4. ITALY3. GERMANY 5. AUSTRALIA1. INDIA 2. CHINA

New Airport Visitor Center Takes Flight

airporT viSiTor CEnTEr HaD

36,849walk-in viSiTorS anD

in mErCHanDiSE SalES in 6 monTHS

$98,000

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SEEinG STarSWhat a year it was for the Buffalo Bisons! Congratu-lations to the team for celebrating their 25th season at Coca-Cola Field and then hosting the Triple-a all-Star Game and Home run Derby. VBN was excited to hear about the team’s new affiliation with the Toronto Blue Jays, which will open additional doors for Canadian marketing.

SprinTinG To CrEaTE a Half maraTHonImagine training for weeks and making plans to travel hundreds of miles to compete in a half marathon that would begin at Ralph Wilson Stadium, loop through Orchard Park and end at the stadium’s 50 yard line. Then imagine that the race is suddenly canceled eight days before it is to be run, with no refunds. That’s what happened when an out-of-town race promoter backed out of a race in June. Rather than let hundreds of racers be disappointed, the Buffalo Niagara Sports Commission teamed up with Eclipse Multi-Sport, the Buffalo Bills and the Town of Orchard Park to quickly create the 50 yard finish – a very similar, but different, race that ran at the same time as the canceled race. The 50 Yard Finish was put together within a week and it debuted to rave reviews, prompting plans for it to become an annual event.

Sled Hockey Central From Feb. 23 to 25, the top two sled hockey teams in the

world faced-off against each other at the Northtown

Center at Amherst, as the American and Canadian

national teams took to the ice. Then, from Nov. 9 to 11,

the Northtown Center hosted the NHL Sled Hockey

Classic, featuring 14 sled hockey teams sponsored by

NHL teams.

USA Hockey Streak Continues Amherst Youth Hockey and the Northtown Center at Amherst have hosted a USA Hockey Youth event every

year since 2006. From March 28 to April 1, they added another feather to their caps by becoming the first

host location to house all four age levels (12 and under, 14 and under, 16 and under and 18 and under) of

USA Hockey’s Tier I National Championships at the same time. Forty-eight teams from across the country,

from as far away as Alaska and Texas, came to town to compete, occupying approximately 6,000 hotel room

nights and creating an estimated economic impact of $2.15 million.

northtown center Puts their comPetition on ice

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LoVe thy NeighBor: VBN coNtiNueD to LooK North oF the BorDer iN 2012

stylin’ and Profilin’: rESEarCHinG CanaDian SHoppErS

in Buffalo niaGara

demoGraPhics

Skews slightly FemaLeyouNger – 50% are 25 to 44 years old

Employed FuLL-time, with KiDs at homeweLL eDucateD – 85% have received some

post-secondary educationSignificant asiaN market, which is in line

with the Greater Toronto Area’s populationaBoVe aVerage iNcome

BehaViors

3.1 miLLioN shopping trips annually » 1.9 million day trips » 1.2 million overnight trips Spend $933 miLLioN annually 2/3 of day trip visitors planned their

visit within 2 to 3 weeks of departureBuffalo has a unique perceptual leg up on our competitors (Toronto, Hamilton, Montreal) for being thought of as a FuN pLace to shop » Being a fun place to shop is one of the most important

drivers of destination interest and one that BuFFaLo DeLiVers weLL oN

uNtappeD opportuNity – More than 40% of all shopping trips feature nothing other than shopping.

rESEarCH in moTion: Putting Data into ActionAs a result of our Canadian research,

VBN and the NTCC applied and won

a $195,000 New York State Regional

Economic Development Council

grant to create a Canadian marketing

program. The funds will be part of a

$600,000 program to entice Canadi-

ans to do more while they’re here and

visit more often.

VBN also rolled out a Buffalo Loves

Canada visitor readiness and

appreciation campaign that will

reinforce the notion that it’s fun to

visit and shop in Western New York.

HanD-in-HanD: VBN teams up with NTCC on Major InitiativesWhile VBN and the Niagara Tourism &

Convention Corporation (NTCC)

have a long history of working

together, 2012 was a year of

expanded collaboration. On top

of the Canadian research and

marketing campaign mentioned

on this page, the two organizations

have teamed up to define the

allocation of funds for tourism out

of New York State Governor Andrew

Cuomo’s Billion for Buffalo program.

Over the winter of 2012, Visit Buffalo Niagara and the Niagara Tourism & Convention Corporation (NTCC) engaged Longwoods International, a world leader in tourism marketing research, to conduct a study on Buffalo Niagara as a shopping destination for Canadians. In addition to the two agencies, funding for the study was provided by The Buffalo News, Eastern Hills Mall, the Fashion Outlets of Niagara Falls and the Seneca Niagara Casino. Here are some of the highlights from the findings:

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Natalie Tronolone (left) and Sarah Graf (center) of the Walden Galleria join VBN Visitor Center Manager Denise Drews at the National Women’s Show in Toronto.

LoVe thy NeighBor: VBN coNtiNueD to LooK North oF the BorDer iN 2012

Meet & Greet: Coming Face to Face with Canadian MediaBuffalo invaded Toronto on March 7, when VBN set

up a Marketplace and Reception at the George R.

Gardiner Museum of Ceramic Art. The event

featured VBN staff members and representatives

from 22 local tourism partners, ranging from the

Albright-Knox Art Gallery to the Mansion on

Delaware Avenue to Vidler’s 5&10, who met with 30

members of the Toronto media and more than 20

group tour planners.

In June, VBN Director of Tourism Sales Leah

Mueller represented Buffalo at a media marketplace

in Toronto set up by I Love New York.

Then on Oct. 2, VBN Communications Manager

Peter Burakowski attended Discover America Day

Canada in Toronto, where he had meetings with a

dozen travel writers from across Canada.

VBN staff and tourism partners meet with members of the Ontario travel media and group tour operators.

Busloads of Business: OMCA comes to BuffaloIn October, for the first time ever, the Ontario

Motor Coach Association (OMCA) held its annual

Conference and Marketplace outside of Canada.

The location: Buffalo.

Some 600 delegates, including tour operators, tour

suppliers, coach operators and coach suppliers from

all over North America, came to town, resulting in an

immediate estimated economic impact of $884,304

for the region. However, the conference’s long-

term benefits for Buffalo could be much greater,

as Canadian tour operators were exposed to Buffalo’s

attractions, lodging and hospitality.

VBN Director of Tourism Sales Leah Mueller announces the start of the OMCA Conference and Marketplace.

showinG off our shoPPinGVBN sponsored the National Women’s Show in Toronto to promote shopping in Buffalo and exhibited at the show with partners from the Elmwood Village, Hertel Avenue and the Walden Galleria. Close to 1,000 attendees entered VBN’s Win the Ultimate Shopping Weekend contest.

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wEBSiTE viSiTorS

viSiTor info on-THE-Go

stayiNg coNNecteD: VBN’s DigitaL preseNce coNtiNueD to grow iN 2012

31,073moBilE viSiTSJan. 1-Dec. 31, 2012

1,459ipaD app DownloaDS

June 15-Dec. 31, 2012

33%of all website

visitors are from Canada

UNITED KINGDOM

GERMANY

AUSTRALIA

INDIA

b

c d

e f

CANADA

SHoppinG340,831 pageviews

CalEnDar of EvEnTS241,957 pageviews

family fun150,082 pageviews

Top 5 CounTriES of oriGin for non-u.S. wEBSiTE viSiTorS

moST viSiTED ConTEnT

uniQuE wEBSiTE

viSiTorS

2010 2011 2012

1,000,000

750,000

500,000

250,000

0

438,839

594,153

811,585

VBN’s Website Sees Heavy TrafficVisitBuffaloNiagara.com

welcomed 811,585 unique

visitors in 2012, a 37 percent

jump over 2011 and an

85 percent jump over 2010.

Bookings of hotels and

attractions through our online

booking service, ARES, totaled

$139,138 in package sales.

There’s an app for thatIn June, VBN debuted a free iPad/

iPhone app version of its Buffalo

Niagara Visitor Guide, which

enhanced the print version of the

guide with embedded videos,

audio files, photo galleries and a

chicken wing recipe. Available

through the iTunes store, it was

downloaded 1,459 times.

uniQuE viSiTorS in 2012 uP 37%

ovEr 2011

811,585

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BuffaloForRealTV episode “Ready Teddy”

stayiNg coNNecteD: VBN’s DigitaL preseNce coNtiNueD to grow iN 2012

Passing the Test: Digital Media Marketing Trial Delivers VBN executed a trial digital marketing plan that used online ads to

identify people interested in visiting the region and then encouraged

them to subscribe to our email newsletters, resulting in 50,000 new

subscribers. Texas A&M University Professor Jim Petrick then

conducted a conversion study to see how many of these people

visited after receiving information from VBN.

The results were impressive.

Over a six month time period,

the campaign delivered

4,150 new visitor parties and

$3,164,375 in new spending

on a $100,000 investment –

an ROI of more than 30 to 1.

Very Pinteresting: Staying at the forefront of social media trendsVBN introduced Pinterest and

Instagram accounts in 2012,

while growing its Facebook

pages for Visit Buffalo Niagara to

57,167 fans, the Buffalo Niagara

Convention Center to 1,326,

the Buffalo Niagara Sports

Commission to 194, the National

Garden Festival to 3,662,

The 716 to 70,450 and

Shopping in Buffalo to 4,406;

and its Twitter accounts for Visit

Buffalo Niagara to 5,167 followers

and the National Garden Festival

to 82 followers. VBN also created

a “Tweet Team” of influential local

social media users to help drive

attention to tourism partners

and events.

From pussy wiLLows to presiDeNts: FIve New vIdeOs debutedVBN continued its popular, lighthearted BuffaloForRealTV online video series in 2012 by producing videos about the Sportsmen’s Tavern, our local food scene, Buffalo’s presidential connections, Dyngus Day and the National Garden Festival. See all of VBN’s videos at youtube.com/buffalocvb.

morE THan

faCEBook fanS130,000

in inCrEmEnTal viSiTor SpEnDinG

$3,164,375DiGiTal CampaiGn DElivErS

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Buffalo hosted the 108th national Convention of the national rural letter Carriers’ association in August. The convention featured 3,000 attendees from all 50 states, generating $6.96 million in estimated economic impact.

Buffalo deliVers for letter carriers

Major 2012 Conventions Arranged by estimated economic impactName estimateD ecoNomic impact Date atteNDeesNational Rural Letter Carriers’ Association $6,963,663 Aug. 7-19 3,000

New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) $4,461,386 April 26-29 2,800

New York State Board of Law Examiners $2,765,248 July 24-25 3,000

NYS Association for the Education of Young Children $2,412,608 April 18-22 2,000

NYS Volunteer Firemen’s Parade & $2,374,395 Aug. 17-19 2,000 Drill Team Captains Association

New York State Board of Law Examiners $1,972,043 Feb. 26 1,800

American Association of Airport Executives $1,064,360 April 13-19 800

Association of Firearm and Tool Mark Examiners $1,022,135 June 24-29 400

NYS Middle School Association $1,020,077 Oct. 18-20 2,000

Buffalo Niagara Dental Meeting $942,373 Oct. 3-5 2,000

Civil Service Employees Association $839,663 June 1-3 750

Delaware North Companies $541,242 Nov. 11-16 350

United University Professions $444,174 Oct. 11-13 400

Sweet Adelines-Region 16 $286,174 Sept. 27-30 500

National Association of Student $191,199 June 10-12 250 Personnel Administrators

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LODGING EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR michael Hicks Comfort Suites-Downtown

LODGING MANAGER OF THE YEAR kevin Hudson Hyatt Regency Buffalo

LODGING G.M. OF THE YEAR Shelly Cieslak Fairfield Inn & Suites

TOURISM EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR Eric Guzdek Northtown Center at Amherst

TOURISM ExECUTIVE OF THE YEAR Drew Cerza National Buffalo Wing Festival

TOURISM INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR Garden walk Buffalo

TOURISM VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR linda adams Darwin Martin House Complex

Shining a Light on TourismVisit Buffalo Niagara held its second annual Travel & Tourism

Beacon Awards Luncheon at the Buffalo Niagara Convention

Center on May 10. The event recognized superior service throughout

the industry, from volunteer docents to hotel general managers.

Approximately 400 guests were in attendance.

The luncheon featured the induction of the late Meet the Press

moderator and consummate Buffalo booster Tim Russert into the

Buffalo Ambassador Hall of Fame as the first ever Lifetime Achievement

Award winner for his work on behalf of Buffalo. The award, which will

hereafter be known as the Tim Russert Award, was accepted by Tim’s

son Luke Russert in a videotaped address to the audience.

The following additional awards were presented:

BUFFALO AMBASSADORS OF THE YEAR

national preservation Conference local organizing CommitteeCatherine Schweitzer, Co-ChairRobert Skerker, Co-Chair

George ArthurSarah Gelman CarneyMaura CohenLiz Dann

Holly DonaldsonCindy & Paul GorskiGeri KozlowskiHenry McCartney

Blythe MerrillKerry MitchellMary RobertsBernie Tolbert

Steve WeissTom & Louise Yots

VBN Board Chair Dennis Murphy and President and CEO Dottie Gallagher-Cohen (right) present the Tourism Volunteer of the Year award to Linda Adams.

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makinG HEaDlinESEver wonder how major media stories about Buffalo show up in outlets like the Globe & Mail, the Toronto Sun, the New York Post, the Christian Science Monitor, FoxNews.com, Bloomberg.com and USAToday.com? It often has something to do with VBN. Throughout the year, VBN pitches stories to regional, national and Canadian media, assists them with inquiries and hosts writers to tour our tourism assets.

ToTal mEDia valuE ofnon-loCal 2012 CovEraGE

$2 million(A NEW RECORD!)

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LOOKING FORWARD:

A National Conference about Local BusinessIn 2013, Buffalo will have the country thinking

local, as we welcome the Business Alliance for Local

Living Economies (BALLE)’s 11th annual Business

Conference. BALLE is a fast growing network of

North American local entrepreneurs, local business

alliances and local economy funders. The confer-

ence will bring more than 600 attendees to town

from June 12 to 14,

resulting in

an estimated

economic impact

of $717,250.

what’s ahead in 20132013 is shaping up to be another exciting year! Look for VBN to:} release a benchmarking study comparing

the practices of VBN to peer cVBs } roll out a $600,000 canadian

marketing plan } expand its Buffalo Loves canada visitor

readiness program

wireD up: wallEnDa STunT lED film CommiSSion projECTS

$717,250ESTimaTED EConomiC

impaCT

Left: Nik Wallenda crosses Niagara Falls. Right: Actors Dennis Haysbert, Ariana Richards (background), Kate Vernon and Wes Studi appear in a “Battle Dogs” scene shot at the Buffalo Central Terminal.

In 2012, the Buffalo Niagara Film Commission assisted in 41 completed projects in Western New York, resulting in 275 production days of work and $6.1 million in direct spending. The most visible of the projects was the ABC News Special “World’s Greatest Stunts” featuring Nik Wallenda’s crossing of Niagara Falls on a high wire, which was seen by more than 100 million people throughout the world. More than 100 Western New Yorkers were hired to facilitate the broadcast and dozens of local vendors provided everything from the harness to catering to power generators to construction equipment.

Other TV highlights included NBC’s “Biggest Loser,” MTV’s “Catfish,” The Food Channel’s “Restaurant Impossible” and VH1’s “Mob Wives.”Principal photography was also shot for several feature films, including “Battle Dogs,” starring Dennis Haysbert, Ernie Hudson and Wes Studi, which employed more than 300 extras and crew over the course of 20 days in September and October. The commission also assisted with the films “Return to the Class of Nukem High” by legendary director Lloyd Kaufman, “Model Hunger,” “Buffalo Boys” and “Give and Take.”

BUFFALO NIAGARAF I L M O F F I C E

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Cindy abbott-letro Law Offices of Francis A. LetroDonald k. Boswell WNY Public Broadcasting AssociationSteve Boyd O’Brien Boyd, P.C.louis p. Ciminelli LPCiminelli, Inc. jonathan a. Dandes Rich Baseball OperationsDottie Gallagher-Cohen Visit Buffalo NiagaraC. Douglas Hartmayer NFTArandall kramer MusicalFare TheatreSusan m. loTempio lynn marinelli Erie County Legislaturejohn j. mills Erie County Legislature

kerry C. mitchell Consulate General of CanadaDennis p. murphy InnVest Lodging Services, Inc.minesh patel Adam’s Mark HotelGary D. praetzel, ph.D. Niagara Universitymary f. roberts Martin House Restoration Corporationandrew j. rudnick Buffalo Niagara Partnershipjames T. Sandoro Buffalo Transportation / Pierce-Arrow Museumpaul Snyder, iii Snyder CorporationToni l. vazquez maria whyte Erie County Legislature

2012 VISIT BUFFALO NIAGARA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Tourism Insider Readership Jumps 59 PercentVBN’s monthly Tourism Insider email newsletter is

one of the best resources for keeping up-to-date about

Buffalo’s tourism economy and it’s a

key part of VBN’s Buffalo Ambassador

program. In 2012, VBN actively attracted

new newsletter readers, expanding our

list by 59 percent to 2,380 subscribers.

The newsletter is emailed monthly and

it’s filled with useful visitation statistics;

links to travel stories about Buffalo; lists

of upcoming meetings, conventions and

amateur sporting events; information

about volunteer opportunities; and the

latest news about hotels and attractions

in our region. Sign up for the newsletter

at BuffaloAmbassador.com!

lET’S TalkDid you know that VBN President & CEO Dottie Gallagher-Cohen is available to speak to your group or business? To schedule a presentation about tourism in Buffalo Niagara, contact Judy Smith at 716-218-2938 or smith@visitbuffaloniagara.com.

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2012 COMMITTEES OF VISIT BUFFALO NIAGARA AND THE BUFFALO NIAGARA CONVENTION CENTER MANAGEMENT CORPORATION

CHAIR: Dennis p. murphy InnVest Lodging Services, Inc.

COMMITTEE MEMBERSjonathan a. Dandes Rich Baseball Operations CHAIR-ELECT

Donald k. Boswell WNY Public Broadcasting VICE-CHAIR AssociationDottie Gallagher-Cohen Visit Buffalo Niagara PRESIDENT

andrew j. rudnick Buffalo Niagara Partnership TREASURER

mary f. roberts Martin House Restoration SECRETARY Corporationmaria whyte County of Erie COUNTY REPRESENTATIVE

Gary D. praetzel Niagara University IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR

Executive Committee

CHAIR: andrew j. rudnick Buffalo Niagara Partnership

STAFF: David marzo Chief Financial Officer

COMMITTEE MEMBERSTom Beiter Buffalo Niagara Convention Center

Dottie Gallagher-Cohen Visit Buffalo Niagaralynn marinelli Erie County Legislaturepaul murphy Buffalo Niagara Convention Centermary f. roberts Martin House Restoration Corporation

Budget/Finance/Audit Committee

STAFF: mike Even VP of Sales

COMMITTEE MEMBERSphil alterio Buffalo Niagara Marriott melissa Burke Buffalo Niagara Convention CenterDave Carroll Hart Hotelsjay Dellavecchia Hyatt Regency Buffalojohn Dubreville Hale Northeastern ann Dugan Buffalo Lodging

Dottie Gallagher-Cohen Visit Buffalo NiagaraBarb Hughes AAA Thomas keane Hart HotelsBruce kolesnick University at Buffalo karen miranda Embassy Suitesminesh patel Adam’s Mark Bonnie phillips Martin’s Fantasy Islandmatt Spencer Comfort Suites julie williams Hyatt Regency Buffalo

Sales Committee

CHAIR: Drew Cerza Just Wing It Productions STAFF: Ed Healy VP of MarketingCOMMITTEE MEMBERSjustin azzarella Evergreen Association of WNYSteve Boyd O’Brien Boyd, P.C.joseph Brennan University at Buffaloanthony Conte Shea’s Performing Arts CenterDottie Gallagher-Cohen Visit Buffalo NiagaraC. Douglas Hartmayer NFTA

Susan m. loTempio nick magnini WUTVandy major Buffalo Billsart page rudi rainer Super 8 Hoteljames T. Sandoro Buffalo Transportation/

Pierce-Arrow Museummargie Stehlik Martin House Restoration Corporation

Marketing Committee

CHAIR: louis p. Ciminelli LPCiminelli, Inc.STAFF: paul murphy Facility DirectorCOMMITTEE MEMBERSDottie Gallagher-Cohen Visit Buffalo Niagara

john j. mills Erie County Legislaturerudi rainer Super 8 Hoteljeff Zack County of Erie

Convention Center Operations Committee

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2012 BUFFALO NIAGARA CONVENTION CENTER STAFF

Tom ahern Buffalo SabresGordon anthony Canisius CollegeChris aronica Aronica & Associatesadam Benigni Channel 2 NewsBrad Boyle Erie Community Collegeruss Brandon Buffalo Billsmike Buczkowski Buffalo Bisonsvic Carucci Cleveland BrownsBrian Cavanaugh D’Youville Collegejonathan a. Dandes Rich Baseball OperationsTherese forton-Barnes Events to a TSherry frost Clarence Soccerralph Galanti Erie Community College (retired)mike Gentile Niagara Universitykathleen Gregoire Skating Club of Western New Yorkjim Hanley Hanley Fishing ChartersC. Douglas Hartmayer NFTAperry jenkins University at Buffalo

peter jerebko Erie Community CollegeEd kilgore Channel 2 NewsBrian kiszewski Monsignor Martin Athletic AssociationTom koeller Buffalo State Collegejohn lambert University at BuffaloEd lindsey Amateur Softball Associationjohn maddock Canisius CollegeBill maher Canisius Collegelynn marinelli Erie CountyTom marks Gr8 Lakes Fishing Adventuresjohn murphy Buffalo BillsSister maria pares Buffalo Academy of the Sacred Heartron raccuia AdPro Team SportsEdward rath Erie CountyDonald reed University at Buffalojeff russo Channel 7 NewsBob Schell Amherst Youth HockeyTimm Slade Section VI

2012 BUFFALO NIAGARA SPORTS COMMISSION ADVISORY COUNCIL

melissa Bean Convention & Event Service Manager

Tom Beiter Controllermelissa Burke Senior Director of

Sales and Marketingangelo Canna, jr. Food & Beverage Manager lorna Cullen Executive Assistantmichelle Helles Convention Sales ManagerSusan kimmins Sales & Catering ManagerCraig landseadel Sous Chefmaryann martin Accounting & Benefits ManagerSamuel mendez Assistant Operations Manager

leslie millender Lobby Receptionistpaul murphy Facility DirectorTerry o’Brien Operations Managerkeith pitman ElectricianBonnie pritchard Receptionist/

Administrative Assistant kenneth Sandford Chief Engineerraymond Thom Executive Chefraymond williams Timekeeper/Security Danielle winiarski Convention & Event

Service Manager

melissa Barrie Information Specialistkathy Benzel Information Technology/ Online Content Managerpeter Burakowski Communications Managermichele Butlak Accounting and Benefits ManagerGiovanni Centurione Information SpecialistTim Clark Director, Buffalo Niagara Film Commissionkaren Cox Convention Services Managerlinda D’agostino Director of Sales & Government RelationsDenise Drews Downtown Visitor Center Managermichael Even Vice President of Sales & Serviceskaren fashana Marketing & Co-op Advertising ManagerDottie Gallagher-Cohen President & CEOCharles Giglia Director of Sports Sales

pete Harvey Director of Sports DevelopmentEd Healy Vice President of Marketingjay josker Sport Services ManagerHeather keller Administrative AssistantCindy Sterner-kincaide Director, Buffalo Ambassador

ProgramTracy martell Convention Services ManagerDavid marzo Chief Financial Officerleah mueller Tourism Sales Directormary jane poleto Airport Visitor Center Managerjudy Smith Director of Administrationmatt Steinberg Director of Creative Servicesrich wall Operations Manager/

Production Services, Buffalo Niagara Film Commission

lori white National Sales ManagerDionne williamson National Sales Manager

2012 VISIT BUFFALO NIAGARA STAFF

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