The New York State Tourism Board has partnered with Discover Long Island and Beyond the Big Apple to promote the world-famous state to potential Australian tourists.
The New York State Tourism Board, in partnership with Beyond the Big Apple and Discover Long Island, completed a series of travel trade, consumer and media events this week as the state tourism board prepares for an influx of Australian tourists to the United States.
The delegation’s mission began on the Gold Coast, where the New York State office engaged with key partners at a networking lunch.
Following the Gold Coast, the delegation hosted a series of travel industry events in Brisbane and Sydney. In Brisbane, the team worked with Expedia TAAP to host a delicious agent breakfast for the company’s top selling retail agents and wholesale partners.
The Sydney mission included sales visits with some key partners and another Expedia TAAP agent event, this time a three-course dinner at the delicious Bistro George.
A highlight of the Sydney visit was the delegation’s participation in the Good Food & Wine Show, where they hosted media and industry VIPs. They partnered with Australian celebrity chef Kirsten Tibballs to create a New York State-style apple pie made with Crown Maple® maple syrup from the Hudson Valley and New York State’s abundant apple orchards. The New York State showcase aired live on Channel 7 Sunrise’s Weekend Weather segment with James Tobin during the show. They also ran a contest in partnership with United Airlines, which attracted hundreds of entries to win a trip to New York State that included an evening in New York City, Dutchess County and Long Island, dinner at the iconic Culinary Institute of America and sake tasting at Dassai Blue in the Hudson Valley.
To showcase the diverse food and beverage offerings across New York State, the team collaborated with Hudson Valley’s Harney & Sons Fine Tea for a hot cinnamon spice tea tasting, while Finger Lakes winery Living Roots Wine & Co. presented flavoursome Ristring, Chardonnay and Pinot Gris tastings to promote New York State as the third largest wine producing region in the US. Both Harney & Sons Fine Tea and Living Roots Wine & Co. are available in Australia and were well received by consumers.
“Spread across 11 diverse regions, from the famous Hamptons on Long Island to the roaring of Niagara Falls, and the bright lights of New York City to the art and history of the Hudson Valley, there are so many reasons to love New York State. Last week we were thrilled to showcase the full breadth of the state with our Australian partners and drive inquiries to the industry community through our extensive activity at the Good Food & Wine Show Sydney. New York State is a foodie destination like no other – it’s the birthplace of popular dishes like buffalo wings, thousand island dressing, club sandwiches and sliced New York style pizza – and it’s also home to one of the largest wine, craft beer and spirits industries in the United States, so partnering with the Good Food & Wine Show, and the amazing Kirsten Tibballs of Savour, was the perfect culinary pairing.” said Michael Cassis, New York State Tourism Account Director, Australia & New Zealand.
The mission included representatives from Discover Long Island and across the Big Apple who spoke about the hundreds of experiences and attractions that can be explored within a two-hour train ride from New York City, including Gilded Age mansions, iconic film and TV locations, wineries, art galleries, shopping outlets, historic sites, golf courses and more.
The mission continues on to New Zealand, with several more events scheduled in Auckland on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Australians visiting New York can fly on United Airlines from Brisbane, Sydney or Melbourne via Los Angeles International, San Francisco International or Houston, while New York City has connecting flights, trains and rental cars to Long Island and upstate New York.
