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Entries Tagged as 'News'

Tourists Make a Billion-Dollar Impact on Northern New York

April 30th, 2007 · 1 Comment · News

Northern New York Tourism Expenditures by Type - SmallThe Northern New York Travel & Tourism Research Center has released the results of the 2006 Economic Impact of Expenditures by Tourists on Northern New York study. Or more simply know as the NNYTTRC’s 2nd EIETNNY study. Funny, but just like a good blog post, titles are everything.

Here are some key points from their press release (PDF):

Tourists Make a Billion-Dollar Impact on Northern New York

  • Tourists spent almost $1.7 billion while visiting the 10 counties of Northern New York last year
  • $187 million in local government revenues
  • 37,000 jobs are supported by both direct and indirect tourist dollars
  • $147.7 million in total state revenue
  • $746 million in wages, salaries and income earned by business owners
  • Without these visitor expenditures, overall unemployment in Northern New York in 2006 would have increased to 19 percent, and local residents’ taxes would have increased an estimated $737 per household in order to maintain government services at current levels
  • Lower Average Daily Rate, Smaller Party Size, Shorter Length of Stay

Adirondack Highlights

  • Tourist expediture $1.25 billion, up 3%
  • Overnight Person Visits up 3%
  • $117 million in local government revenue, up 6%
  • $523 million in wages, salaries and income earned by business owners

This second study was conducted by Davidson-Peterson Associates and provides comparative data to the baseline study done in 2003.

The complete results of this study and previous studies are available on the NNYTTRC’s website in PDF format. Each of the 10 Counties – Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Hamilton, Herkimer/Town of Webb, Lewis, Warren, St. Lawrence, Jefferson, and Oswego – has their own detailed report which contain the results for the entire Northern New York study region, the relevant tourism region (Adirondacks and Thousand Islands), and the county. Other comparative tables also available.

“The Northern New York Travel and Tourism Research Center was created in 2001 in response to the need for tourism research and data collection, as expressed by tourism industry professionals and economic developers in the region.”

I encourage everyone to take a look at their other reports, some really interesting data covering many aspects of our region. What a great resource – a big thanks to Laurie and the rest of the staff there!

Bonus for Adirondack Base Camp readers – Slide Summary – (PPT)

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Adirondack Northway Cellphones

April 29th, 2007 · No Comments · News

The Glens Falls – Post Star is featuring several stories today regarding the ongoing issue of cellphone coverage on the Adirondack Northway. More specifically the lack of available service along the highway which passes through a remote section of the Adirondack Mountains. Recent interest in the issue was renewed after the death of Alfred Langer who drove off the highway, in the middle-of-the-night, during a storm. He and his wife were trapped in their vehicle for several hours before he died and the lack of cellphone coverage has been blamed.

The brokered agreement between the State, cellphone service providers, and environmental groups seems to have satisfied most everyone involved. Including me. I don’t have a cell phone, and I don’t want to subsidize those that do. Frankly, I don’t want to make it easier for people to drive and talk at the same time.

Better to realize the potential hazards of driving on remote roads. In the “old days”, people would prepare themselves for road trips. Somehow this sense of personal responsibility has been replaced by a reliance on others. Don Lehman describes the enhanced police coverage of the stretch of road known as “the Death Zone” and suggests some safety measures:

Being prepared isn’t just for drivers roaming north to northern Warren, Essex and Clinton counties on the Northway, though. Motorists should always have a satchel full of emergency items in their car for situations when help isn’t readily available, police said.

Such a kit should include a flashlight, matches, extra clothing, rugged footwear, basic tools like pliers and a screwdriver, flares and flags, water, ice scraper, tow rope, funnel and a compass.

I doubt that most people even check their spare “donuts” anymore. To that list I would add – snow shovel, gloves, food, lighter, and first-aid kit.

The Post-Star has also asked reader to submit their experiences with cell phones in the Adirondacks. I’d like to remind everyone that the lack of cell coverage, anywhere in the world, has never caused or prevented any driving accidents. On the contrary, the use of cell phones has.

Update: The Post-Star features two more articles again today:

‘They’ve got to do better’

Technology continues to evolve

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City of Glens Falls Gets New Logo

April 25th, 2007 · 3 Comments · News

City of Glens Falls LogoI like it. Simple, refined, and with personality behind the design. The Base Camp could use a logo too. Any suggestions?

Update: Seems not everyone likes the logo.

Logo not worth the price tag – Glens Falls logo design should have been open to local artists

The Post-Star editorial asks, “As for the design of the logo itself, why go to an outside source?”

I’m sure the long-time association that Mayor Roy Akins had with I Love NY has absolutely nothing to do with it.

Found this, no big deal really. Sounds like a reasonable plan actually.

City of Glens Falls – IDA 5-16-06 MEETING MINUTES (DOC)

Mayor Akins stated on the LDC and IDA they’ve been trying to find the right logos. With the City’s Centennial coming up he had been looking for a logo and print material for the 2008 celebration and for the City to use thereafter. He reached out to Milton Glasier and asked him if he was willing to jump in to this question with him. He said he would be willing to work with him on developing a logo and a poster, which they could sell and he would sign 100 of them. It will cost between $20-25,000 for the entire package – $10,000 for the logo and $15,000 for the poster, which they could sell to get some of the money back. It would help create a new image for the City and a cornerstone to work with thereafter.

After discussion, the following resolution was passed:

RESOLUTION NO. 23

On the motion of Commissioner McPhillips, seconded by Commissioner Robinson, all voting affirmatively, it was

RESOLVED THAT, the Glens Falls Industrial Agency hereby approves funding of up to $25,000 for a City logo design and Centennial poster project to be done by Milton Glasier.

Here’s a mention about the logo. Funny coincidence that these “astute” and “curious” folks found this same story!

The astute members of our Logowatch Team, Bierut and Millman, direct us towards this aesthetic scuffle in Glens Falls, New York, affectionately referred to as “Hometown U.S.A.” It appears Milton Glaser was paid $25,000 to create a logo commemorating the city’s centennial in 2008.
…
But being the rather design-curious folks we are, we checked with the city council records to find out how, for example, a name like Milton Glaser’s makes its way into a city council meeting in Hometown U.S.A.

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