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SCVA celebrates tourism growth and award recipients

Joseph Abraham - Co-editor
Posted 12/9/19

MONTICELLO -- The Kartrite Resort and Indoor Waterpack was a packed house on Thursday night, hosting the Sullivan Catskills Visitors Association's 2019 Annual Meeting and Holiday Celebration.

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SCVA celebrates tourism growth and award recipients

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MONTICELLO -- The Kartrite Resort and Indoor Waterpack was a packed house on Thursday night, hosting the Sullivan Catskills Visitors Association's 2019 Annual Meeting and Holiday Celebration.

Tourism has long been a driving force of the county's economy. Even today, 18 percent of all Sullivan Catskills labor income is generated by tourism. In 2018, traveler spending was $515 million -- a 15 percent increase from 2017. The Catskills region of the state, as well as the Capital-Saratoga and Chautauqua-Allegheny regions saw the largest year-over-year traveler spending gains from 2017 to 2018.

Also, tourism in the Sullivan Catskills generated $61,936,000 in local and state taxes, and created a tax savings of $2,238 per household.

While positive economic statistics were a cause for celebration, as is tradition, the event honors several exceptional individuals and/or businesses.

Award recipients were Bethel Woods CEO Darlene Fedun (Tourism Trailblazer Award), Kartrite Director of Sales and Marketing Dan Paradiso (Star Individual Award), Lyman and Gary Holmes of Canal Towne Emporium (Star Business Achievement) and Sullivan County Director of Communications Dan Hust (T.O.A.S.T Award for Exceptional Service).

A surprise of the night was the presentation of a special award to ECCE B & B's Alan Rosenblatt who serves as Chair of the Sullivan Catskills Visitors Association (SCVA) Board of Directors. He will be stepping down from the position on December 31, and was honored for his dedication and leadership.

The keynote speaker for the evening was Berkeley Young of Young Strategies, who travelled from North Carolina to share his tourism expertise with those in attendance.

Reflecting on 2019, which served as the 50th Anniversary of Woodstock, one of the newest tourist attractions offered to visitors was the Sullivan Catskills Dove Trail. According to the SCVA, the trail had an estimated economic impact of $1.5 million. SCVA President/CEO Roberta Byron-Lockwood thanked Sullivan Renaissance and the county for their help with the trail. Also, it's expected that over five million visitors came to the Sullivan Catskills this year.

Another highlight of 2019 was that the Sullivan Catskills was named a top place to visit by Lonely Planet and Fodor's Travel. SCVA's social media following also saw tremendous growth this year, 52 percent to be exact.

Looking ahead to 2020, the Eldred Preserve property which will also be the home of the Bradstan Country Hotel and Old Homestead Restaurant will open its doors.

Also, Foster Supply Hospitality will be opening their fifth property -- Kenoza Hall. The 55-acre estate will have 22 guest rooms. It will also be the home to Hemlock Spa, inspired by the area's early Swiss and German settlers that will offer a range of Kneipp-inspired body treatments as well as an outdoor sauna and hot tub, a movement studio and pool.

In the SCVA's Annual Report, Byron-Lockwood said, “All of us at SCVA are grateful to our County Manager Joshua Potosek and Deputy County Manager John Liddle; our county legislature, state representatives; board of directors; members; and economic development partners -- including our newest, SUNY Sullivan's Catskill Hospitality Institute -- for providing us with resources to effectively market our destination and expand our legacy as America's premier vacationland to visitors from around the world.”

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