New York State Tourism to woo agents with UK representation

New York State’s Division of Tourism has signed up KBC PR & Marketing to serve as its UK in-market representative, responsible for travel trade sales, marketing and public relations efforts.

KBC will focus on encouraging UK and Irish travellers to spend more time exploring the range of visitor experiences available across New York’s 11 travel regions.

Ross Levi, executive director and vice president for the New York State Division of Tourism, said: “The UK and Ireland are key markets for our tourism businesses, and we place great emphasis on specialist tour operators and travel agents who are essential to our international visitation.

“KBC’s expertise and connections within the industry, coupled with their ability to tell our stories with flair, will be key in encouraging more travellers to discover New York State.”

Located in the northeastern US, New York State is well-known as the home of the country’s largest and most populous city – New York City – and the Niagara Falls.
It also offers hiking and biking in the Adirondacks, wine trails in the Finger Lakes, enjoying a ski and spa getaways in the Catskills, Revolutionary War and Underground Railroad at sites in the Capital-Saratoga region, art and historic homes in the Hudson Valley, and beaches at Long Island.

Levi added: “When international travellers hear ‘New York’ their first thoughts are often of skyscrapers, city lights, Broadway shows and the Statue of Liberty.

“Our other regions offer rich culture and history, stunning landscapes, and endless year-round opportunities to explore the great outdoors.

“KBC will be a key partner in our quest to increase awareness and welcome more visitors to destinations across the state.”

Fronted by trade representation director Lisa Cooper and PR director David Ezra, KBC has more than 20 years of experience in promoting US and Canadian tourism.

Travel trade activity for New York State will be led by senior trade account manager Liz Langan.

Cooper commented: “The combination of city and outdoor adventures in upstate New York is highly appealing, and with travel to the US booming right now it’s the perfect time to encourage travellers to extend their stay and discover more in the destination.

“The I LOVE NY brand is already well-established and we are looking forward to working closely with our key travel industry partners and media to grow visitor numbers and share the love across the wider state.”

KBC will now add travel trade and media representation for New York State to its client portfolio, which also includes the Utah Office of Tourism, the Great American West, Explore Georgia, the Florida Keys & Key West, Destination British Columbia, Travel Alberta, Rocky Mountaineer and the US Travel Association.

Pictured: View from Sunset Rock at North-South Lake Campground, Haines Falls, NY, Greene County, Catskill Region.