Transcript
Page 1: Visit Buffalo Niagara 2013 annual report

Y E A R I N

R E V I E W

Page 2: Visit Buffalo Niagara 2013 annual report

Dear Tourism Advocate,

In a year filled with highlights for the local tourism industry, one in particular stands out: the launch of our Canadian Marketing Initiative. Working in

collaboration with the Niagara Tourism & Convention Corp. and with the support of the Western New York Regional Economic Development Council, Visit Buffalo Niagara kicked off the initiative with a consumer research study followed by the first phase implementa-tion of a digital advertising campaign aimed at consumers throughout the southern Ontario market. Working with the Toronto-based agencies BBDO and PHD, we began the process of building on an already strong foundation of shopping trips from Ontario. The first phase of the campaign launched in mid-November and the early returns were encouraging, with more than 18,000 visitors driven to the VBN and NTCC websites. The Canadian Marketing Initiative will continue throughout 2014. We’ll report on results as they come in through the Tourism Insider Newsletter.

In the domestic market we continued our relationship with the digitally savvy destination marketing agency, eBrains. After realizing a truly impressive ROI from our 2012 campaign we re-engaged eBrains to conduct a lead generation program designed to further grow the VBN database, manage our e-newsletters and oversee a contextual display advertising campaign. A conversion study is currently underway and we should have results by the second quarter of 2014.

The conventions and meetings side of our business was also plenty busy in 2013 generating a near record 165,000 definite room nights booked and servicing an eclectic mix of conventions and amateur athletics. With events ranging from the Golden Age Games to the New York State Bar Law Examiners Bar Exam to the Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE) to the Color Run, Buffalo continued to fill hotel rooms from a broad base of regional, state and national clients. It’s worth noting here that the success of the HighEdWeb Annual Confer-ence was a particularly satisfying accomplishment given that it made full use of the recently installed state-of-the-

art technology upgrades at the Convention Center that resulted from a significant investment from the County of Erie and a $500,000 grant from Empire State Devel-opment. HighEdWeb delegates also fully embraced an innovative social media program devised by the staffs of the Center and VBN. Our performance drew rave reviews and set the stage for a further demonstration of our social media savvy during 2014 events such as NCAA basketball and the Congress for the New Urbanism.

I’m also pleased to report that our new Airport Visitor Center continues to live up to our expectations, servicing

nearly 84,000 customers in 2013 and hitting our target goal of $225,000 in merchandise sales during our first full year of operation. We continue to win friends and influence people at the airport, taking full advantage of our prominent position on the secure side of the concourse.

Finally, I would be remiss if I failed to mention the transition in leadership the organization experienced in 2013. After more than three years of exemplary

leadership, Dottie Gallagher-Cohen stepped down as President and CEO in May to take on a similar role with the Buffalo Niagara Partnership. At that time, David Marzo, our Chief Financial Officer, assumed the additional role of Interim CEO. Dave performed his dual duties admirably while we conducted a national search for Dottie’s successor. In late November, we introduced Patrick Kaler, formerly President and CEO of the Loudoun County, Virginia Convention & Visitors Association, as Visit Buffalo Niagara’s next Chief Executive Officer. I have every confidence that our organization and region are both poised for even greater success under Patrick’s leadership.

Very truly yours,

DENNIS P. MURPHY Chairman of the Board, Visit Buffalo Niagara President and CEO, InnVest Lodging Services

The success of the 2013 HighEdWeb Conference was a

particularly satisfying

accomplishment.

ON THE COVER: Speaker during the general session of the HigEdWeb Annual Conference, which generated 1,500 hotel room nights and had an estimated economic impact of over $1,000,000.

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BUFFALO NIAGARA FILM COMMISSION

1,325,102 Unique visits to

visitbuffaloniagara.com, up 18.7% from 2012

VBN MARKETING

JUST THE FACTS: 2013 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 nearly $1 million and increased the number of unique web visitors to visitbuffaloniagara.com to 1,325,102 (up 18.7 percent over 2012). VBN’s sales team also produced solid results in 2013, securing 164,327 future hotel room nights; booking 443 conventions, meetings, amateur athletic events and group tours; and generating 823 sales leads. These efforts will result in $122 million in future economic impact.

83 Out-of-town

media hits

83 Local media

hits

Record breaking

figures are in red

BUFFALO NIAGARA CONVENTION CENTER

258 Days the Center was

occupied

151 Events hosted

34,055 Hotel room nights utilized due to events at the Center

BUFFALO NIAGARA SPORTS COMMISSION

72,480 Hotel room nights

92,187 Attendance

225 Production days with

Film Office involvement

37 Projects

completed

54 Completed

production scouts

Media value of out-of-town media coverage

Local direct spend due to Film Office activity

$7.6 million

VBN CONVENTION, SPORTS & GROUP TOUR SALES

$122 millionFuture economic

impact

823 Future

sales leads

443 Conventions, meetings,

amateur athletic events or group tours booked

Hotel room nights booked

164,327

Amateur sporting events serviced

in 2013

129

People attended events at the

Convention Center

294,384

$993,000

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Fresh Online Solutions: eBrains partnership continues to drive resultsVBN continued our

engagement of

eBrains, the online

marketing agency

that focuses on

measurable returns

via lead generation,

email, search and

display ads. Building

on our highly

successful 2012

campaign that

delivered 4,150 new

visitor parties and

more than $3 million

in new spending –

an ROI of more

than 30 to 1 –

VBN charged

eBrains with

growing our cus-

tomer database,

managing our news-

letters to engage and

convert subscribers

and deploying

a contextual

display advertising

campaign to reach

prospects when they

are viewing content

compatible with

the VBN message. Messaging focused on arts/culture, history/

heritage, family activities, Niagara Falls, gardening, shopping and

the culinary sector.

Employing this multifaceted strategy, eBrains delivered the

following high-level metrics:

14.6 million measured impressions of Buffalo Niagara

89,417 clicks/visits to the site

118,818 additional meaningful actions on the site past the click

Texas A&M University will be engaged to conduct a conversion

study to determine how many of these potential visitors came

to Buffalo Niagara and the economic impact they left behind.

The findings of the research study will be available in spring 2014.

CANADIAN MARKETING INITIATIVE: Winning Hearts and Minds in Southern OntarioBuffalo Niagara’s unique position on the Canadian border gives us enviable access to eight million potential visitors in southern Ontario. As a result of a $195,000 New York State Regional Economic Develop-ment Council grant, VBN and the Niagara Tourism & Convention Corp. were able to launch a Canadian Marketing Initiative in 2013. Designed to entice Canadians to do more while they’re here and visit more often, the initiative is grounded on in-depth customer research conducted on our behalf by Longwoods International and Protean Strategies. Employing this research to hone our message and identify the best prospects, VBN launched an all-digital presence (paid search, banners, social media) in this key market in November. Phase 1 of the consumer advertising campaign, which ran through Dec. 31st, delivered more than 18,000 engagements with the visitbuffaloniagara.com and niagara-usa.com websites by Canadian consumers. Phase 2 is currently underway and will run through the end of February 2014.

A $250,000 grant from the Western New York Power Proceeds Allocation Board, matched by a $150,000 commit-ment from VBN and $100,000 from the NTCC, will enable the Canadian Marketing Initiative to continue throughout 2014.

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Each year, a delegation of Visit Buffalo Niagara staff members

and representatives from our region’s retail districts and malls

attend the National Women’s Show

in Toronto to drive more

cross-border shopping.

This year, they came

equipped with a sleek

new tool – the 36-page

Buffalo Niagara

Shopping Guide,

which includes maps,

directions and insider tips

on the best places to stay,

play, shop and eat in Buffalo Niagara.

2013 was another tremendous year for Buffalo in the

national – and international – media. As a result of

VBN’s media relations work, The New York Times

was particularly attentive to Buffalo in the year just

past, running stories about the success of economic

development initiatives at the Buffalo Niagara

Medical Campus and the Larkin District, as well

as pieces about the Buffalo Niagara International

Airport, Garden Walk Buffalo and a feature in the

Sunday Times Travel section devoted to the exciting

developments at Canalside and elsewhere in the city.

The Canadian media also set their sights on Buffalo

in 2013. In November, the website for Chatelaine,

Canada’s largest circulation magazine, ran the story

10 fantastic things to do in Buffalo, NY. Not to be

outdone, Canada.com raved about Buffalo’s arts,

culture and dining, titled Brilliant, resilient Buffalo

New York. To round it all off, the Toronto Star ran

an entire special section devoted to Buffalo in

December. Other highlights included coverage in

the Boston Globe, USA Today, Traditional Home

and Long Weekends magazine.

BUFFALO IN THE NEWS

Guiding Canadians to Our Stores

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The HighEdWeb Conference made full use of the state-of-the-art technology upgrades at the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center.

WEBSITE VISITORS

VISITOR INFO ON-THE-GO

508,875

MOBILE VISITS TOTAL OF VISITS TO DEDICATED MOBILE SITE AND MAIN SITE VIA A MOBILE DEVICEJanuary 1-December 31, 2013

3,111iPAD APP DOWNLOADSJanuary 1-December 31, 2013

30%of all website visitors

are from Canada

UNITED KINGDOM

GERMANYAUSTRALIA

INDIA

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e f

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

446,998 pageviews

SHOPPING442,146 pageviews

FAMILY FUN137,265 pageviews

TOP 5 COUNTRIES OF ORIGIN FOR NON-U.S. WEBSITE VISITORS

MOST VISITED CONTENT

TOTAL VISITS

1,325,102An increase of 18.7% over 2012

All Wired UpThe Buffalo Niagara

Convention Center (BNCC)

recently wrapped up a

complete technology

upgrade, made possible

through support from the

County of Erie and Empire

State Development.

The center received a total

re-cabling of all public spaces

in the building and the addition

of a high-density wireless

network covering the building’s

110,000 square feet of meeting

and event space.

The upgrades have increased

high-speed internet bandwidth

by a factor of ten, allowing

exhibitors and guests instant

and unimpeded access to any

applications they require.

Highlights include:

100 MB of bandwidth

More than 240 data ports

throughout the building

70 wireless access points

The ability to accommodate

up to 7,000 devices

Installation of 11 digital

signage boards throughout

the facility

Free WiFi zone in the lobby

CANADA

b

A DIGITALLY SAVVY DESTINATION

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What do you do when 750 tech-savvy, self-

described nerds come to your city? Blow their

minds on social media.

From October 5 to 9, Buffalo welcomed the

HighEdWeb Annual Conference, attracting

attendees from across North America. Visit

Buffalo Niagara worked closely with the

Buffalo Niagara Convention Center and the

Hyatt Regency to create a robust social media

plan that included:

Surprising guests with “random acts of kindness”

(like showing up with coffee when someone

tweeted that they could use a caffeine boost)

Running an Instagram contest that received

659 entries

Activating our “Tweet Team” of more than

40 local social media influencers

Responding to tweets on everything from

nightlife to artisanal sausage.

Along the way, VBN converted hundreds of

strangers into ambassadors for Buffalo. Get a

snapshot of what VBN and its partners did here:

visitbuffaloniagara.com/HEWEB

For years, Visit Buffalo Niagara has been an industry leader in social media. Our momentum in this space continued to grow in 2013.

Between our pages for Visit Buffalo Niagara, The 716, Shopping in Buffalo, Buffalo Niagara Sports Commission and National Garden Festival, VBN had more than 138,000 Facebook fans as of

December 31. We also created Vine and Google+ accounts and grew our Twitter account to 9,300 followers (an 80 percent increase), Instagram to 722 followers and Pinterest to 540 followers.

FOLLOW THE LEADER

Our Instagram contest captured the imaginations and focused the attention of the Higher Ed Web delegates, who found a visually

appealing city outside the walls of the Convention Center.

Strangers To Ambassadors In Five Days

MORE THAN

FACEBOOK FANS138,000

7

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Hundreds of veterans converged on Buffalo last spring to compete in the National Veterans Golden Age Games.

SMITH TRAVEL RESEARCH ERIE COUNTY HOTEL REPORT

OCCUPANCY AVERAGE HOTEL RATE REVENUES 2013 65.4% $96.47 $217,886,799 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 2013, Erie County hotel revenues jumped 4 percent, the average rate charged by hotels rose 2.5 percent and

monthly occupancy rates exceeded the national average

for much 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

43.5

53.7

60.463.0

71.676.4

83.8 85.8

69.968.3

60.0

50.2

47.5

57.4

64.7

63.469.2

71.1

69.964.0

63.7

58.5

51.0

63.8

MONTHLY OCCUPANCY PERCENTAGE, 2013

A Golden OpportunityThe National Veterans Golden Age Games, May 30

to June 4, brought 850 veterans and their families

from around the country to Buffalo to compete in

events ranging from swimming to basketball to

checkers. The event had an estimated economic

impact of $2.2 million.

Color Us HappySome 10,000 people got covered in colored corn

starch as they ran Buffalo’s inaugural Color Run

along the waterfront on August 17. The estimated

economic impact of the race was $239,795.

MAJOR 2013 CONVENTIONS Arranged by estimated economic impactNAME ESTIMATED ECONOMIC IMPACT DATE ATTENDEESNew York State Board of Law Examiners $3,435,011 July 28 2,800New York State Board of Law Examiners $2,123,410 Feb. 24 1,800New York State Bureau of Emergency Medical Services $1,769,000 Oct. 24 2,000International F. & A.M. Masons & Order of Eastern Star $1,570,708 July 12 650New York State Public Employees Federation $1,559,854 Sep. 29 1,000 Agricultural Media Summit $1,444,344 Aug. 2 600 Department of New York Veterans of Foreign Wars $1,381,427 June 11 800National Association of Campus Activities $1,232,591 Oct. 15 1,200Higher Education Web Professionals Association $1,095,900 Oct. 5 750Multiple District 20 Lions Club of New York State and Bermuda $1,042,436 May 15 1,500Buffalo Niagara Dental Meeting $944,949 Sep. 23 2,000Alcoholism & Substance Abuse Providers of New York State $822,253 May 3 650American Association of Airport Executives $768, 151 Apr. 19 400Business Alliance for Living Economies $717,205 June 11 700Creating Keepsakes $682,420 May 15 1,000

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LODGING EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR Lori Hint Courtyard by Marriott Buffalo Airport

LODGING MANAGER OF THE YEAR Holly Homesburger Hyatt Regency Buffalo

LODGING G.M. OF THE YEAR Jay Dellavecchia Hyatt Regency Buffalo

TOURISM EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR Patrick Kavanagh Forest Lawn

TOURISM EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR William Vanecek Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority

TOURISM INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR Culinary Tourism Christa Glennie Seychew

TOURISM VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR Denise Prince Buffalo Tours

TOURISM VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR Phyllis W. Pierce

Highlighting Our Industry

2013 Beacon Award honorees (left to right): Denise Prince, William Vanacek, Holly Homesburger, Jay Dellavecchia, Lori Hint, Christa Glennie Seychew and Patrick Kavanagh.

MAJOR JUMP IN VISITOR CENTER TRAFFICVisit Buffalo Niagara’s two visitor centers, located on the secure side of the Buffalo Niagara International Airport and within the Market Arcade Building in downtown Buffalo, experienced growth in 2013. Between them, they answered 124,366 inquiries.

TOTAL VISITOR CENTER INQUIRIES IN 2013

124,366

Approximately 600 guests joined VBN on May 1 for

our third annual Travel & Tourism Beacon Awards

Luncheon, where we recognized superior service

throughout our industry, from volunteer docents to

hotel general managers.

Each year, the Tim Russert Award is presented to a

worthy recipient who has demonstrated a long-term

commitment to promoting Buffalo. The award winner

is then inducted into the Buffalo Ambassador Hall of

Fame. This year’s recipients were the members of the

band The Goo Goo Dolls.

Kathy Russert presenting the Tim Russert Award to The Goo Goo Dolls at the Travel & Tourism Beacon Awards luncheon.

RIC

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2013 BEACON AWARD WINNERS

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Tourism in Buffalo Niagara is big business and getting bigger, according to a study recently released by Tourism Economics, a unit of Philadelphia-based Oxford Economics. In fact, the Greater Niagara region – along with Central New York – had the highest growth rate (5.7%) of all of New York State’s vacation regions in 2012. The study concluded that Erie County’s travel and tourism industry generated nearly $1.6 billion in traveler spending in 2012, supported more than 20,000 jobs and created $490 million in direct labor income. The really good news is that tourism expenditures resulted in $105 million in local taxes and $86 million in state taxes in 2012, saving the average Erie County household $506 in taxes!

VBN, together with our

counterparts at Niagara Tourism

Convention Corp (NTCC) applied

for, and were awarded a

$195,000 REDC grant to

support a $600,000 marketing

campaign in Canada. The tourism promotion agencies will contribute

$250,000 to the fund and will raise the additional $155,000 from its

tourism partners who want to advertise in Canada. The campaign will

seek to encourage Canadian shoppers to do more while visiting the

region and also has a goal of incrementally increasing visitation. The

typical Canadian shopper makes about three trips a year to WNY to

shop. “The majority of day visitors plan their visit within a week or

so. We believe if they have more information about all there is to do

and see here in WNY they will visit more often,” said VBN President &

CEO Dottie Gallagher-Cohen. Canadian shoppers spend about

$930 million in WNY each year.

GET THE INSIDE SCOOP!VBN’s Tourism Insider email newsletter grew

to 3,190 subscribers – an increase of about

29 percent – in 2013. Want to keep up on news

related to Buffalo’s travel and tourism industry,

from hotel stats to our latest videos to a list of

upcoming conventions, meetings and amateur

sporting events? Then sign up for the Tourism

Insider at BuffaloAmbassador.com

29%TOURISM INSIDER

SUBSCRIPTIONS INCREASED

Buffalo, In FocusThree-quarters of a million. That’s how many views

VBN’s videos have received on YouTube.

In 2013, VBN continued our partnership with Paget

Films to produce fresh, fun, high-quality videos

about Buffalo’s art scene, the West Side Bazaar,

family attractions, Frank Lloyd Wright’s Buffalo and

the experience of touring the city on a Segway or

the Open-Air Autobus of Buffalo.

VBN was also a major financial supporter of Paget

Films’ short film Buffalo: America’s Best Designed

City, which includes jaw-dropping aerial footage

of Buffalo and looks at the history and future of our

city’s world-class urban design. In three months, this

film attracted more than 150,000 YouTube views.

Buffalo: America’s Best Designed City

ArtBFLO

Buffalo Niagara: Bring the Kids!

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At The Movies: Promoting Buffalo as a Film Production Site

On July 1 The Buffalo Niagara Film Office moved to its new home at WNY Public Broadcasting in downtown Buffalo. This move places the film office in a 24-7-production facility, which includes a 7,500 sq. ft. New York State Qualified Soundstage in the hub of downtown Buffalo.

FILM OFFICE FINDS A NEW HOME

Universal Studios “Best Man Holiday” shot at

Ralph Wilson Stadium. This major studio feature

film included the hiring of over 1,500 local extras

over four days of shooting at the stadium and

generated $1.5 million in direct local spending in

Western New York.

The History Channel’s “Top Gear” shot an episode on

the streets of Buffalo and at Fort Niagara State Park.

The Skyway was shut down providing a beautiful

Buffalo backdrop for this episode, which featured

various challenges for modified amphibious vehicles.

Black Rose Films “The Romans” produced by

Corey Green and Larry Quinn and starring Stephen

Henderson and many up and coming local actors

used the east side of Buffalo as the back drop for

its modern day tale of gang warfare.

Nike chose Buffalo’s Central Terminal and various

other locations as the background for its “Lunar One

Shot” Skateboard Shoe campaign, which will be seen

internationally and features world famous members

of the Nike Skateboard Team.

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Cindy Abbott-Letro Law Offices of Francis A. LetroDonald K. Boswell WNY Public Broadcasting AssociationSteve Boyd Steve Boyd, P.C.Jonathan A. Dandes Rich Baseball OperationsDottie Gallagher-Cohen VBN/Buffalo Niagara PartnershipC. Douglas Hartmayer NFTARandall Kramer MusicalFare TheatreSusan M. LoTempio Lynn Marinelli Erie County LegislatureJohn J. Mills Erie County LegislatureKerry C. Mitchell

Dennis P. Murphy InnVest Lodging Services, Inc.Minesh Patel Adam’s Mark HotelGary D. Praetzel, Ph.D. Niagara UniversityMary F. Roberts Martin House Restoration Corp.James T. Sandoro Buffalo Transportation / Pierce-Arrow MuseumPaul Snyder, III Snyder CorporationToni L. Vazquez Maria Whyte County of ErieLeslie H. Zemsky Larkin Square

2013 VISIT BUFFALO NIAGARA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

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Buffalo will welcome NCAA Men’s Basketball Second and Third Round games back to the First Niagara Center on Thursday, March 20 and Saturday, March 22. This will mark Buffalo’s fifth time hosting the preliminary rounds of the tournament. Thousands of out-of-town basketball fans are expected to fill First Niagara Center to capacity and leave behind an estimated economic impact of more than $5.5 million.

From June 4 to 7, Buffalo will host the 22nd annual Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU), attracting a projected 2,000

attendees from all over the U.S., Canada and several other countries to town.

The National Horseshoe Pitchers Association World Tournament, July 14 to 26, 2014, will bring some 1,500 participants and their friends and families to Buffalo.

A $50,000 grant from the Western New York Regional Economic Development Council will enable VBN to promote the 20th anniversary of Garden Walk Buffalo and the 5th anniversary of the National Garden Festival.

WHAT’S AHEAD IN 20142014 is shaping up to be another exciting year!

Kaler Takes the LeadIn May, Visit Buffalo Niagara President and CEO Dottie Gallagher-Cohen moved on

from the organization to assume the same role at the Buffalo Niagara Partnership.

VBN’s board of directors launched a national search to find her successor, and in

November, the board introduced their selection, Patrick J. Kaler. Kaler comes to VBN

from Visit Loudoun, the tourism agency for Loudoun County, Virginia located just

outside of Washington, D.C., where he also served as president and CEO. Kaler has held

several other senior tourism positions during his career, including senior director of

travel industry and tourism development for the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention

Board, executive director of the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority and executive director

for the Great Lakes of North America.

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2013 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

Donald K. Boswell WNY Public Broadcasting Association

Dottie Gallagher-Cohen VBN/Buffalo Niagara PartnershipMary F. Roberts Martin House Restoration Corp.Maria Whyte County of ErieGary D. Praetzel Niagara University

Executive Committee

STAFF: David Marzo Chief Financial Officer

COMMITTEE MEMBERSTom Beiter Buffalo Niagara Convention CenterDottie Gallagher-Cohen VBN/Buffalo Niagara Partnership

Lynn Marinelli Erie County LegislaturePaul Murphy Buffalo Niagara Convention CenterMary F. Roberts Martin House Restoration Corp.

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 BuffaloMark Dickerson Embassy Suites BuffaloJohn Dubreville Hale Northeastern Ann Dugan Buffalo Lodging

Barb Hughes AAA Thomas Keane Hart HotelsBruce Kolesnick University at Buffalo John Malkus Hyatt Regency BuffaloRuss Papia Millennium HotelMinesh Patel Adam’s Mark Bonnie Phillips Martin’s Fantasy IslandMatt Spencer Comfort Suites Edwin Shelp Adam’s Mark

Sales Committee

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 NFTASusan 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

STAFF: Paul Murphy Facility DirectorCOMMITTEE MEMBERSJohn J. Mills Erie County LegislatureRudi Rainer Super 8 Hotel

James T. Sandoro Buffalo Transportation/ Pierce-Arrow Museum

Jeff Zack County of Erie

Convention Center Operations Committee

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2013 BUFFALO NIAGARA CONVENTION CENTER STAFF

CHAIR: Jonathan A. Dandes Rich Baseball OperationsTom 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 CollegeTherese Forton-Barnes Events to a TSherry Frost Clarence SoccerRalph Galanti Erie Community College (retired)Mike Gentile Niagara UniversityKathleen Gregoire Skating Club of WNYEric Guzdek Northtown Center at AmherstJim Hanley Hanley Fishing ChartersC. Douglas Hartmayer NFTAPerry Jenkins University at BuffaloPeter Jerebko Erie Community College

Ed Kilgore Channel 2 NewsBrian Kiszewski Monsignor Martin Athletic AssociationTom Koeller Buffalo State CollegeJohn Lambert University at BuffaloDan Loncto Fleet Feet 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 HockeyLisa Scherer Ride for RoswellTimm Slade Section VI

2013 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 ManagerHeather Keller Sales & Service CoordinatorSusan Kimmins Sales & Catering ManagerCraig Landseadel Sous Chef

MaryAnn Martin Accounting & Benefits ManagerSamuel Mendez Assistant Operations ManagerLeslie Millender Lobby ReceptionistPaul Murphy Facility DirectorTerry O’Brien Operations ManagerKeith Pitman ElectricianKenneth 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 SpecialistLindsay Carucci Sport Services ManagerTim 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 & CEO

Charles Giglia Director of Sports SalesPete Harvey Director of Sports DevelopmentEd Healy Vice President of MarketingJay Josker Sport Services ManagerCindy Sterner-Kincaide Director, Buffalo Ambassador

ProgramTracy Martell Convention Services ManagerDavid Marzo Chief Financial OfficerLeah Mueller Tourism Sales DirectorDanielle Pappas Administrative AssistantMary 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

2013 VISIT BUFFALO NIAGARA STAFF

I’M GOING TO GET STRAIGHT TO THE POINT: GO TO BUFFALO THIS WEEKEND.

CHATELAINE

Page 15: Visit Buffalo Niagara 2013 annual report

617 Main Street § Suite 200 § Buffalo, new York 14203 § 716.852.0511VISITBUFFALONIAGARA.COM

If architecture is anything to go by, Buffalo ranks as one of the great cities of America.TORONTO STAR

I’M GOING TO GET STRAIGHT TO THE POINT: GO TO BUFFALO THIS WEEKEND.

CHATELAINE

With new waterfront bars , outdoor markets and upscale restaurants , developers are honoring original designs dating back to Buffalo’s heyday . THE NEW YORK TIMES

BUFFALO WAS BRIMMING

WITH ENERGY.THE BOSTON GLOBE

Buffalo is an eclectic kind of city that offers so much for every type of traveler – including experiences that won’t soon be forgotten.CANADA.COM

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING ABOUT BUFFALO

...a casual visit to Parkside, and the older Victorian neighborhoods

closer in to downtown, including the West Side, Richmond Avenue, Elmwood Village, and Allentown,

suggests a thriving urban environment. Restaurants and art galleries are conspicuous. There is substantial

bicycle and foot traffic. Grand old houses are being restored. A funky

Bohemian vibe resonates.AMERICAN BUNGLAOW

Elmwood Village, hands down, wins the prize for hippest place in Buffalo. Located

in the heart of the city, accessible from Interstate 190, it’s a place where tattoo parlors and high-end hair salons and

art galleries seamlessly co-exist.

ERIE TIMES-NEWS


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