New York State’s new Welcome Center at Destiny USA (clockwise from top left) and a new Exposition Center at the State Fairgrounds. Bicyclists toured Syracuse in 2018, and the Landmark Theatre could have another record season.
Among the 87 goals set in the original FOCUS community visioning sessions in 1998 was a desire to combine tourism efforts in Syracuse and the region.
Central New York tourism accommodations have expanded greatly since 1998. Syracuse Hancock International Airport is newly remodeled with a welcome center. There are new attractions in the region including the amphitheater on Onondaga Lake and the Exposition Center at the State Fairgrounds. And new hotels have opened in the lakefront district as well as award-winning restorations of downtown hotels.
Partnerships in regional promotion also have sprung up. In September Syracuse University Athletic Department announced a new collaboration with Destiny. Centerstate CEO and CNY Arts have each adopted regional emphasis that stretches well beyond Syracuse. Theater debuts, music festivals, and bike, wine and brewery tours round out the seasons.
New York State has opened visitor centers in the region including one at Destiny in Syracuse and one in Preble, both staffed by Visit Syracuse and Centerstate CEO.
Progress in welcoming visitors is just one of the 20 highlights in the goals advanced in the past 20 years. See what can be done and has been done, not necessarily by FOCUS, but by Forging Our Community’s United Strength. To learn more about FOCUS the 87 Goals and the 20 highlighted go to www.focussyracuse.org/about.