We here at the SCVA have had a busy 2023 so far, and wow it’s already the end of January! We have been working with our members, our partners, and our associates on a variety of initiatives. 

The SCVA conducted a workshop with our lodging and attractions members to build itineraries that will capture additional mid-week and shoulder season business in the Sullivan Catskills. Working together, we will have itineraries that can be presented to travel trade professionals and the international market, as well as to consumers on the Sullivan Catskills website. 

In February, we will hold a Legislative Networking Breakfast with the New York State Hospitality and Tourism Association (NYSHTA) at Bernie’s Holiday Restaurant. Several state and local elected officials are expected to attend the meeting and we will hear from industry professionals on a variety of topics.

The SCVA will give an update on the tourism industry in the Catskills and will discuss leisure and business travel trends in the region. Representatives from NYSHTA will provide a state-of-the-state legislative address, as well as a legislative recap and industry outlook.

And in January we launched our 2023 Sullivan Catskills Travel Guide. The 100-page printed guide is beautifully designed and packed with useful information for both our visitors and residents. The guide has already been distributed to our outlets in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania and Trade, Adventure and Outdoor Shows. It is also available online at our website, www.sullivancatskills.com. 

We are continuing our marketing efforts and are already planning a shoot for a spring commercial. The winter commercial is currently running on television and OTT and airing through February, garnering over 100,000 views.

Working with our public relations partners, we received major press placements in January. Sullivan Catskills is featured in a story about “Family-Friendly Road Trips in the US to Take with an Electric Vehicle” in Parents magazine online, which has a very wide reach – over 11.3 million!

As a result of our pitch, The DeBruce was named one of “The 30 Coziest Winter Weekend Getaways from NYC” by PureWow, an American digital media company that publishes women’s lifestyle content, with an article reach of 6.7 million.

The SCVA is working with Bethel Woods, the Rosen Group, and Core Creative on planning and marketing for the upcoming Catskill Cuisine. The two-day event will be held this spring at the iconic Bethel Woods grounds and at restaurants throughout the Sullivan Catskills. 

The first-ever event will highlight our culinary landscape featuring Catskills restaurants, chefs, local producers, local products and more. It will also have celebrity chefs on hand, including Scott Conant, renowned chef of Cellaio at Resorts World Catskills. 

There are a lot of exciting things going on. We are also re-designing our website to give it a fresh look and make it a more user-friendly experience, highlighting all that the Sullivan Catskills has to offer. Follow along so you don’t miss any updates. Visit www.sullivancatskills.com or call 845-747-4449.