Y E A R I N R E V I E W

Dear Friend of Tourism,

It was one year ago that I moved here to become

Visit Buffalo Niagara’s new President and CEO.

My first day on the job coincided with the region’s

first blizzard in over 20 years.

Welcome to Buffalo!

But, as it always does, the snow melted. And what

remained was what attracted me here after working in

tourism in Lake Tahoe, Los Angeles and Virginia’s wine

country: an unprecedented, historic renaissance that

presents so many opportunities.

It’s incredible to think how different

Buffalo is from just one year ago.

A visitor can spend an afternoon

skating or ice cycling at Canalside,

grab a bite to eat at (716) Food &

Sport, see a concert or Sabres game

at First Niagara Center and stay at a

Courtyard by Marriott, all within two

city blocks of each other. Of those four

spots, only FNC was there at the start

of 2014.

New cultural attractions boosted Buffalo’s visitor

profile, too. The opening of the Frank Lloyd Wright

Filling Station at the Buffalo Transportation Pierce

Arrow Museum in June enhanced the city’s reputation

as a destination for architecture, while history buffs

and news fans are flocking to the “Inside Tim Russert’s

Office: If It’s Sunday, It’s Meet the Press” exhibit at the

Buffalo History Museum.

After a day of touring Buffalo, visitors can whet their

whistles at one of nearly a dozen craft breweries

in greater Buffalo; four opened in the city just in

2014. Resurgence Brewing Company has turned

Niagara Street into a popular nightspot, while Flying

Bison Brewing Company and the Hydraulic Hearth

restaurant are helping Larkinville evolve into a

12-month destination.

Nearly 400 new hotel rooms came online countywide

in 2014, including the Hilton Garden Inn downtown,

with more than 550 expected in 2015. The upcoming

completion of the Martin House Complex restoration,

opening of the Explore & More Children’s Museum

on Buffalo’s waterfront and possible expansion of the

venerable Albright-Knox Art Gallery show the sky is

the limit for attracting new visitors.

Emblematic of this renewed civic energy and vitality is

the new Visit Buffalo Niagara corporate identity; it’s

fun, playful and confident – just like our destination.

Our marketing and media relations efforts helped

land over 100 stories in The Toronto Star, Huffington

Post, Washington Post and in dozens of other outlets

last year, while each convention VBN’s sales staff

booked has introduced a revitalized Buffalo to tens of

thousands of new visitors, from the

Congress for the New Urbanism to

the American Society of Mechanical

Engineers. Buffalo continued to emerge

as an amateur sports mecca in 2014,

with events like the NCAA Men’s

Basketball Tournament and National

Horseshoe Pitcher’s Association

Tournament reinforcing the city’s

growing reputation for hosting

athletic events.

Our new partnership with the Seneca Gaming

Corporation enabled us to share the news of Buffalo’s

extreme makeover with an unprecedented frequency

and prominence in media outlets within a four-hour

radius of the city, while the Canadian Marketing

Initiative continues to tell Buffalo’s story in our key

feeder market of Southern Ontario.

The new VBN website will help us tell Buffalo’s story

better than ever before. We’re looking forward to

giving our all toward promoting a resurgent Buffalo to

the rest of the world in 2015. Remember: If you haven’t

seen Buffalo lately, you haven’t seen Buffalo!

Very truly yours,

PATRICK KALER

President and CEO

If you haven’t seen Buffalo

lately, you haven’t seen

Buffalo.

3

VISITBU

FFALO

NIA

GA

RA

.CO

M20

14 A

NN

UA

L BU

SINE

SS RE

VIE

W

JUST THE FACTS: 2014 AT A GLANCEBuffalo’s renaissance was in full swing in 2014; new hotels, attractions and restaurants helped transform the city. VBN took full advantage of this flurry of activity. The earned media value VBN’s media relations team produced grew by more than $600,000 from 2013, while the total number of local and non-local placements increased by over 20 percent. Total website visits increased to 1,497,327, a jump of 13 percent. It was a solid year for VBN’s sales team as well. The team booked 460 conventions in 2014, up from 443 the year before. It also secured 170,447 future hotel room nights and 832 sales leads. Buffalo’s return as a NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament host was just one reason the Buffalo Niagara Sports Commission excelled in 2014, too. The Commission serviced 169 total events that generated over 122,839 attendees and 101,410 hotel room nights, all sharp increases over 2013.

Record breaking

figures are in red

VBN CONVENTION, SPORTS & GROUP TOUR SALES

$120 million Future economic

impact

832 Future

sales leads

460 Conventions, meetings,

amateur athletic events or group tours booked

170,447 Hotel room

nights booked

BUFFALO NIAGARA CONVENTION CENTER

300,071 People attended

events at the Convention Center

27,000 Hotel room nights utilized

due to events at the Center

259 Days the Center

was occupied

169BUFFALO NIAGARA SPORTS COMMISSION

Amateur sporting events serviced

in 2013

101,410 Hotel room nights

122,839 Attendance

VBN MARKETING

$1.66 million

Media value of out-of-town

media coverage 1,138,012 YouTube views

1,375 YouTube

subscribers

1,497,327 Unique visits to the website,

up 13% from 2013.

101 Out-of-town

media placements

106 Local media placements

161 Events hosted

4

Visit Buffalo Niagara was excited to partner with the

Seneca Gaming Corporation last spring on marketing

Buffalo throughout the surrounding region.

Part of the casino’s advertising budget is now

used for promoting Buffalo in media outlets within

a four-hour radius. VBN exercises creative control

over the messaging used in these advertisements.

The agreement has allowed VBN to market Buffalo

with an enhanced frequency and reach.

RHEA

AN

NA

A T R A V E L E R R E V I E W

VisitBuff aloNiagara.com » 1.800.BUFFALO

The Nearest Faraway Place

BUFFALO TRANSPORTATION/PIERCE-ARROW MUSUEM“ This is a small museum with a big and growing heart. As much as I thought I knew about cars, I did not know

how big a role Bu� alo played in auto production. The addition of an entire gas station in a museum is amazing.

If cars and the architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright are among your interests, set aside about an hour to visit

this gem of a little museum.”

Reviewed by Mike-20024, a TripAdvisor traveler » Washington, DC » July 20, 2014

“ Frank Lloyd Wright Gas Station + Famous Cars = Great for Car & Architecture Buff s”

BURCHFIELD PENNEY ART CENTER

“ I would absolutely recommend the Burchfield. We stumbled upon it after visiting the Albright-Knox,

and I’m so glad we crossed the street to check out this small but wonderful gallery...The Burchfield

design exhibit was the crowning jewel of the museum and definitely worth a visit.

Reviewed by E J, a TripAdvisor traveler » Rochester, NY » October 19, 2013“ What a great find!”

T R A V E L E R R E V I E W S

RHEA

AN

NA

Ringing EndorsementsThe buzz is building about Buffalo and visitors are

taking note – but don’t take our word for it. The

VBN marketing team collected dozens of third-party

endorsements of Buffalo from TripAdvisor and used

them as the cornerstone for much of 2014’s consumer

advertising. The five-star reviews of various

attractions were used with compelling imagery in

print publications and transit advertising in the

Greater Toronto area; an enthusiastic user-generated

testimonial from an actual visitor can work wonders

in a way that even the best copywriting can’t match!

VisitBuffaloNiagara.com » 1.800.BUFFALO

The Nearest Faraway Place

COLORED MUSICIANS CLUB & MUSEUM“ You will not be disappointed by the Jam Sessions on Sunday and Monday nights. The mix of people,

young and not so young, urban and suburban enjoyed each other and the fantastic skilled musicians...

People are coming in from near and far to visit the Jazz Club and Museum. Do not miss it!!”

ERIC

FRI

CKs

A T R A V E L E R R E V I E W

“ Wonderful Jazz Experience”Reviewed by Katie H, a TripAdvisor traveler » Buffalo, NY » Janaury 24, 2013

Upping The Ante On Marketing Buffalo

5

VISITBU

FFALO

NIA

GA

RA

.CO

M20

14 A

NN

UA

L BU

SINE

SS RE

VIE

W

VBN continued its engagement of online marketing

agency eBrains in 2014 with the aim of providing

integrated digital outreach campaigns for prospective

domestic and Canadian destination visitors to Buffalo

Niagara. The agency guarantees performance of

incremental visitor parties, direct visitor spending,

return on marketing investment (ROMI) and tax

revenues for Erie County.

Their performance against the guarantees is validated

by independent conversion studies conducted on

website visitor traffic and the VBN email database.

The studies are conducted by Texas A&M Department

of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Sciences who are

recognized as the “Gold Standard” by Destination

Marketing Association International. The study

validates both total visitor conversion and incremental

visitors within that total number. The data validated

includes visitor parties, size of party, spending, reason

for visit, lodging chosen and many other data points.

A third party validation for digital display advertising

impact on intent to visit is provided by Nielsen’s Vizu

division who conducts surveys to measure brand

impact across all industry category segments including

specific lift in intent to visit for destination marketing

organizations.

The full results of the 2014 conversion studies

will be available in April.

Employing this multifaceted strategy, eBrains delivered the following high-level metrics:

53,817,036 impressions

304,721 website visitors

10,734 new email leads to our database

DIGITAL DISPLAY OUTREACH

6

Canadian Marketing InitiativeThe Canadian Marketing

Initiative, a joint effort funded

by VBN & the Niagara Tourism

& Convention Corporation,

with support from the Regional

Economic Develoment Council,

aims to reach the Southern

Ontario market with an

integrated marketing strategy

built on a foundation of

measurable digital engagement.

The digital portion of the

marketing campaign supports,

integrates and complements

existing print advertising about

Buffalo and aims to cause more

visitation with extended stays

overnight. Through this campaign,

20,391 leads were added to VBN’s

databases and more than

109,000 Canadian visitors

came to the region.

In addition to this digital

campaign, VBN & the NTCC

ran a 10 week campaign with

the Toronto Star and the Path,

the underground system of

walkways in downtown Toronto.

The two agencies also advertised

with Fox 29 and WNED-TV, two

key local channels that have

large Canadian audiences, and

worked with Kathleen Rooney

Communications for additional

PR outreach into the Canadian

market. VBN and the NTCC

also shared a joint booth at

the National Women’s Show in

Toronto this past November.

WEBSITE VISITORS

VISITOR INFO ON-THE-GO

MOBILE VISITS TOTAL VISITS TO DEDICATED MOBILE SITE

AND MAIN SITE VIA A MOBILE DEVICEJanuary 1-December 31, 2014

38%of all website visitors

are from Canada

UNITED KINGDOM

GERMANYAUSTRALIA

INDIA

c d

e f

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

1,501,257 pageviews

(desktop & mobile)

SHOPPING211,290 pageviews

(desktop only)

FAMILY FUN142,240 pageviews

(desktop only)

TOP 5 COUNTRIES OF ORIGIN FOR NON-U.S. WEBSITE VISITORS

MOST VISITED CONTENT

TOTAL VISITS 1,497,327An increase of 13% over 2013

A total of 6,603,276 pageviews including display

CANADA

b

A DIGITALLY SAVVY DESTINATION

483,875

VBN had another terrific year on the media relations

front. We hosted more than 30 press visits in 2014 and

assisted with dozens of other stories. In total, VBN’s

efforts yielded 101 out-of-town media placements

valued at $1.66 million in earned media value, including

hits in The Toronto Star, The Washington Post and

Huffington Post. VBN also generated 106 stories in local

media outlets.

The Center of AttentionThe Buffalo Niagara Convention Center (BNCC)

experienced a record-breaking year in 2014. More than

300,000 people attended 161 different events over

the course of the year. These events contributed an

estimated $27 million to the local economy, based on

the Association of Venue Managers calculator. Among

the notable events hosted at the Center were the

American Society of Mechanical Engineers,

the Congress for the New Urbanism, Delaware

North Companies Food & Beverage Summit and the

bi-annual New York State Board of Law Examiners Bar

Exams. In addition, BNCC secured a six-year contract

to continue hosting the International Aviation Snow

Symposium. Given this success, it should come as no

surprise that the Center recorded an impressive score of

4.8/5 on its Guest Satisfaction Survey.

BUFFALO IN THE NEWS

300,000 161

people attendeddifferent events

7

VISITBU

FFALO

NIA

GA

RA

.CO

M20

14 A

NN

UA

L BU

SINE

SS RE

VIE

W

8

SMITH TRAVEL RESEARCH ERIE COUNTY HOTEL REPORT

OCCUPANCY AVERAGE HOTEL RATE REVENUES

2014 64.1% $99.56 $228,301,134 2013 65.4% $96.47 $217,886,799 2012 66.4% $93.92 $209,550,115 2011 66.1% $90.96 $197,823,142

Hoteliers are taking notice of Buffalo’s renaissance.

Nearly 400 new rooms came online in 2014 including the

Courtyard by Marriott Canalside and the Hilton Garden

Inn downtown. Demand continued to rise in 2014, by 1.6

percent, and occupancy rates exceeded the national average

for almost half of the year.

90%

80%

70%

60%

50%

40%

ERIE COUNTY

JAN

NATIONAL AVERAGE

FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

43.3

50.2

56.458.8

67.3

75.0

86.1 87.2

70.6

67.558.2

48.0

52.658.7

68.0

65.771.6

73.6

71.767.0

65.3

60.3

52.0

65.7

MONTHLY OCCUPANCY PERCENTAGE, 2014

Another Record-Breaking Year for Erie County Hotels

A Slam DunkThe second and third rounds of the NCAA Men’s

Basketball Tournament returned to Buffalo last

March, bringing thousands of visitors into the

downtown core and generating an estimated

$5.2 million in economic impact.

A Real RingerThe National Horseshoe Pitcher’s Association

held its annual tournament in Hamburg. Some

1,300 participants, as well their families and

friends, convened on the Hamburg Fairgrounds

for 12 days in July, leaving behind an estimated

$2 million in economic impact for the area.

MAJOR 2014 CONVENTIONS Arranged by estimated economic impactNAME ESTIMATED ECONOMIC IMPACT DATE ATTENDEESNew York State Board of Law Examiners $3,417,752 July 27 2,800New York State Board of Law Examiners $2,182,124 Feb. 23 1,800Congress for the New Urbanism $2,078,412 June 2 1,500Church of God and Saints of Christ $1,470,963 June 9 900Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance $1,448,037 Sept. 13 600American Society of Mechanical Engineers $1,424,274 Aug. 16 700General Grand Council Royal Arch and Cryptic Masons International $1,111,244 Aug. 22 700Association of Reciprocal Safety Councils, Inc. $804,476 Oct. 3 475Creative Problem Solving Institute $693,530 June 17 600The International Association of Laryngectomees $686,748 June 23 450Delaware North Companies $612,253 Nov. 9 500American Association of Airport Executives $603,899 Aug. 15 430NYS Association of Counties $560,653 Sept. 16 400Elks Association $533,708 May 15 750Diocese of Buffalo-Dept. of Youth & Young Adult Ministry $499,651 Feb. 14 1,000American Music Therapy Association $479,410 April 1 415

9

VISITBU

FFALO

NIA

GA

RA

.CO

M20

14 A

NN

UA

L BU

SINE

SS RE

VIE

WBe Social, Buffalo

VBN’s social media efforts reached new heights in 2014. In

May, Visit Buffalo Niagara launched its “Summer of Buffalove”

contest, asking its followers to submit photos of the best of

Buffalo to the hashtag #Buffalove14, and awarding weekly

prizes. Over the course of the summer, the contest yielded

2,700 photo entries, which showed off summer in Buffalo

to tens of thousands of prospective visitors. VBN then took

those photos and turned them into the “Drink it In” video that

gained local media coverage and garnered over 6,700 views on

YouTube. Social media is empowering VBN’s Twitter, Instagram

and Facebook followers to help tell the story of Buffalo’s

renaissance through their photos!

THE SUMMER OF BUFFALOVE

70,876 likes

THE 716 FACEBOOK

62,238 likes

VISIT BUFFALO NIAGARA FACEBOOK

14,090 likes

TWITTER

3,355 likes

INSTAGRAM

@buffalony ON INSTAGRAM

10

New Virtual HomeWith Buffalo undergoing a dramatic transformation, it was time for

big changes to VisitBuffaloNiagara.com, too. VBN selected Portland,

Oregon web developers Substance, whose previous work included

Traveloregon.com, to design a state-of-the-art site. The new website,

which the VBN marketing staff spent much of 2014 working on, tells

the story of Buffalo’s renaissance through an emphasis on compelling

pictures and video and totally refreshed copy.

New DigsAfter 15 years in the Market Arcade building,

Visit Buffalo Niagara moved to a new visitor

center and corporate offices last fall in

downtown Buffalo’s Brisbane Building.

The new visitor center’s visibility at a busy

downtown intersection – Clinton and

Washington Streets – and its proximity to the

Buffalo Niagara Convention Center, Canalside

and several hotels makes it more visible and

accessible to visitors and locals alike.

113,419 Total Visitor Center

Inquiries in 2014

MARKET ARCADE, BRISBANE BUILDING & AIRPORT

MONITORING THE PULSE OF BUFFALO TOURISMIn order to better monitor and measure

Buffalo Niagara tourism, Visit Buffalo

Niagara created a new monthly

publication, Buffalo Niagara Travel Pulse.

This statistical update and analysis tracks

information obtained from Smith Travel,

such as hotel occupancy, average daily

rate, Canadian currency exchange and

cross border as well as Buffalo Niagara

International Airport traffic. To date,

there are 1,072 subscribers to Buffalo

Niagara Travel Pulse.

We also implemented a new volunteer

orientation program and of the 234

volunteers we work with, 65 percent

have gone through the program. In

addition, our Tourism Insider monthly

newsletter is up to 3,376 subscribers,

a nine percent increase from 2013.

11

VISITBU

FFALO

NIA

GA

RA

.CO

M20

14 A

NN

UA

L BU

SINE

SS RE

VIE

W

OUTSTANDING LODGING EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR

Kyle Johnson Hyatt Regency Buffalo

OUTSTANDING LODGING MANAGER OF THE YEAR

Lauren Solak Hyatt Regency Buffalo

OUTSTANDING LODGING G.M. OF THE YEAR

Peter Florczak Buffalo Niagara Marriott

OUTSTANDING TOURISM EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR

Michael Powers Buffalo Zoo

OUTSTANDING TOURISM VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR

Ed Dore PLANT WNY

OUTSTANDING TOURISM EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR

Martin Biniasz Dyngus Day USA and Forgotten Buffalo Tours

OUTSTANDING TOURISM INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR

Robert Lennartz Western New York Southtowns Scenic Byway

BUFFALO AMBASSADOR OF THE YEAR

Carol Speser

2014 BINATIONAL BEACON AWARD

Niagara 1812 Bicentennial Legacy Council

2014 Beacon Award winners, top row: Kyle Johnson, Michael Powers, Lauren Solak, Brian Merritt (representing Niagara 1812 Bicentennial Legacy Council), Thomas Schofield, Peter Florczak; bottom row: Martin Biniasz, Carol Speser, Ed Dore, Robert Lennartz

Visit Buffalo Niagara’s Beacon Awards, which recognize

excellence in Buffalo’s tourism and hospitality industry, attracted

nearly 500 attendees to the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center

last May. Here are the 2014 honorees:

CEO Patrick Kaler and Outstanding Tourism Volunteer of the Year Ed Dore

A BEACON OF EXCELLENCE

TRAVEL

& TOURISM

P R E S E N T E D B Y

12

International ExposureDid you know that Buffalo

Niagara is one of the

top 25 U.S. Regions for

inbound visitation from

overseas international

visitors? In 2014, Visit

Buffalo Niagara made

an unprecedented push

into overseas markets,

including the United

Kingdom, Germany

and China, to drive that visitation even higher. VBN attended a sales

mission in collaboration with I Love NY in the U.K. and Ireland

that prompted a group of European tour operators to visit

Buffalo last fall on a familiarization tour.

Attendance at the International Pow Wow (I.P.W.) last spring

resulted in Buffalo’s inclusion in several tour operator catalogs and

online product offerings. VBN also hosted two separate groups

of tour operators and public relations specialists from China in

2014 and worked in collaboration with Brand USA to premiere

three Buffalo videos geared toward British, German and Chinese

tourists. All three videos can be found at visitbuffaloniagara.com,

discoveramerica.com and the VBN YouTube channel. Visit Buffalo

Niagara also offers its website in seven different languages!

Visit Buffalo Niagara debuted a new corporate identity late in

2014 to coincide with its move to a new visitor center and offices.

The playful, confident, seamless integration of Buffalo and Niagara

Falls received accolades since debuting last fall, including a silver

ADDY from the Advertising Club of Buffalo. In addition, VBN published

a refreshed touring guide and shopping guide in 2014 that included a

greater emphasis on compelling imagery,

shorter copy, better organized sections

and higher quality of paper.

Shopping BUFFALO

GuideNIAGARA

VISITBUFFALONIAGARA.COM

2014/2015TOURING GUIDE

THE WING DYNASTY5 0 Y E A R S O F A B U F F A L O C L A S S I C

Designing an Identity

OVER ONE MILLION STRONGVisit Buffalo Niagara’s YouTube channel

views topped 1 million in 2014 thanks

to several new videos produced in

collaboration with Paget Films. VBN

dedicated Let It Snow: A Buffalo

Frozen Parody to Buffalo’s resilient

citizens following the November 2014

snowstorm. Yahoo, AOL News and

dozens of other media outlets featured

the video, which went viral, attracting

more than 185,000 views.

The Buffalo. For Real TV YouTube series

continued to chronicle the Queen City’s

renaissance, including features on the

Hotel @ the Lafayette, Horsefeathers

Market and the wide variety of foodie

finds in the Elmwood Village. VBN

added a new host to the series: Sara

Kow-Falcone, who joins Nelson Starr in

showing viewers the best of Buffalo. The

BFRTV series also made its television

debut in 2014; a compilation of the

Buffalo. For Real TV videos aired on

WUTV Fox 29 last summer.

Last year also featured the premiere

of VBN’s first video made entirely of

photos submitted by its followers.

Drink it In: The Summer of #Buffalove14

highlighted some of the best of the 2,700

submissions VBN received from its best

of Buffalo social media photo contest.

13

VISITBU

FFALO

NIA

GA

RA

.CO

M20

14 A

NN

UA

L BU

SINE

SS RE

VIE

W

Cindy Abbott-Letro Law Offices of Francis A. LetroDonald K. Boswell WNY Public Broadcasting AssociationSteve Boyd, Esq. Steve Boyd, P.C.Jonathan A. Dandes Rich Baseball OperationsDottie Gallagher-Cohen Buffalo Niagara PartnershipC. Douglas Hartmayer NFTALesley Haynes County of Erie AppointmentPatrick J. Kaler Visit Buffalo NiagaraRandall Kramer MusicalFare TheatreKerry C. Mitchell County of Erie Appointment

Dennis P. Murphy InnVest Lodging Services, Inc.Minesh Patel Adam’s Mark HotelGary D. Praetzel, Ph.D. Niagara UniversityEdward A. Rath, III Erie County LegislatureMary F. Roberts Martin House Restoration CorporationJames T. Sandoro The Buffalo Transportation Pierce Arrow Museum Paul Snyder, III, CEO Snyder CorporationToni L. Vazquez County of Erie AppointmentMaria Whyte County of ErieLeslie H. Zemsky Larkin Square

2014 VISIT BUFFALO NIAGARA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

2014 COMMITTEES

CHAIR: Dennis P. Murphy InnVest Lodging Services, Inc.

COMMITTEE MEMBERSCHAIR-ELECT: Jonathan A. Dandes Rich Baseball OperationsVICE CHAIR: Donald K. Boswell WNEDPRESIDENT: Patrick Kaler Visit Buffalo Niagara

SECRETARY: Dottie Gallagher-Cohen Buffalo Niagara PartnershipTREASURER : Mary F. Roberts Martin House Restoration Corp.COUNTY REPRESENTATIVE: Maria Whyte County of ErieIMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR: Gary D. Praetzel Niagara University

Executive Committee

} The New York State Board of Law Examiners will conduct exams for approximately 2,800 participants in February and 3,500 participants in July. Participants will travel from around the world for the opportunity to take the NYS Bar exam. Together these events will have an economic impact of more than $6 million.

} New York State United Teachers will be in Buffalo in April at the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center and a number of downtown hotels during their conference. Approximately 3,000 conventioneers are expected at the event, which will have an economic impact of over $2.5 million.

} In addition, the American Legion will host their convention in July with 2,000 attendees expected to stay in Erie County hotels, eat in area restaurants and experience the many attractions available here. The convention is expected to have an economic impact of more than $2.5 million.

} In October, the Civil Service Employees Association will welcome 1,600 attendees to the Queen City. Estimated economic impact is $2.4 million.

WHAT’S AHEAD IN 2015

CHAIR: Mary F. Roberts Martin House Restoration CorpSTAFF: David Marzo Chief Financial Officer

COMMITTEE MEMBERSSteve Boyd, Esq. Steve Boyd, P.C.Toni Vazquez County of Erie Appointment

Budget/Finance/Audit Committee

14

CHAIR: Drew Cerza Just Wing It Productions STAFF: Ed Healy VP of MarketingCOMMITTEE MEMBERSJustin Azzarella Evergreen Association of WNYSteve Boyd Steve Boyd, P.C.Anthony Conte Shea’s Performing Arts CenterC. Douglas Hartmayer NFTA

Nick Magnini WUTVAndy Major Buffalo BillsRudi Rainer Super 8 HotelJames T. Sandoro Buffalo Transportation/

Pierce-Arrow MuseumMargie Stehlik Martin House Restoration Corporation

Marketing Committee

Rick Aronberg STAR SwimmingChris Aronica Aronica & AssociatesRuss Brandon Buffalo BillsMike Buczkowski Buffalo BisonsStephen Butler Niagara UniversityBrian Cavanaugh D’Youville CollegeDrew Cerza Just Wing It ProductionsRyan Coate Global SpectrumJonathan A. Dandes Rich Baseball OperationsTherese Forton-Barnes Events to a TeeSean Green RiverworksKathleen Gregoire Skating Club of WNYEric Guzdek Northtown Center at AmherstC. Douglas Hartmayer NFTAPerry Jenkins University at Buffalo

Peter Jerebko Erie Community CollegeLeo Kaminsky NYSPHSAATom Koller Buffalo State CollegeJohn Maddock Canisius CollegeBill Maher Canisius CollegeLynn Marinelli Empire State Development Corp.Ron Raccuia AdPro Team SportsEdward Rath, Jr. Erie County LegislatureDonald Reed University at BuffaloBob Schell Amherst Youth HockeyLisa Scherer Scherer Event ManagementTimm Slade Section VICharles C. Swanekamp, Esq. Jaeckle, Fleischmann & MugelChris Todorov NFTA

2014 BUFFALO NIAGARA SPORTS COMMISSION ADVISORY COUNCIL

STAFF: Mike Even VP of Sales

COMMITTEE MEMBERSPhil Alterio Buffalo Niagara Marriott Mark Bibb Adam’s Mark Mark Brown Buffalo LodgingMelissa Burke Buffalo Niagara Convention CenterDave Carroll Hart HotelsWendy Clubine Buffalo LodgingJay Dellavecchia Hyatt Regency BuffaloBryan Drew Embassy Suites BuffaloMark Dickerson Embassy Suites Buffalo

John Dubreville Hale Northeastern Peter Florczak Buffalo Niagara Marriott Barbara Hughes AAA Bob Karamazyn Courtyard by Marriott Thomas Keane Hart HotelsBryan Messer Hyatt Regency BuffaloPaul Murphy Buffalo Niagara Convention CenterRuss Papia Millennium HotelMatt Spencer Comfort Suites Edwin Shelp Adam’s MarkTimothy Stone Hampton Inn & Suites Buffalo Downtown

Sales Committee

15

VISITBU

FFALO

NIA

GA

RA

.CO

M20

14 A

NN

UA

L BU

SINE

SS RE

VIE

W2014 BUFFALO NIAGARA CONVENTION CENTER STAFFMelissa Bean Convention & Event

Service ManagerTom Beiter ControllerMelissa Burke Senior Director of

Sales and MarketingAngelo Canna, Jr. Food & Beverage Manager Lorna Cullen Executive AssistantMichelle Helles Convention Sales ManagerHeather Keller Sales & Service CoordinatorSusan Kimmins Sales & Catering ManagerCraig Landseadel Sous ChefMaryAnn Martin Accounting & Benefits Manager

Samuel Mendez Assistant Operations ManagerLeslie Millender Lobby ReceptionistPaul Murphy Facility DirectorTerry O’Brien Operations ManagerKeith Pitman ElectricianKenneth Sandford Chief EngineerRaymond Thom Executive ChefAmy Trautman Convention Sales ManagerRaymond Williams Timekeeper/Security Danielle Winiarski Convention & Event

Service Manager

Kathy Benzel Information Technology/ Online Content ManagerMichele Butlak Accounting and Benefits ManagerGiovanni Centurione Information SpecialistLindsay Carucci Sport Services ManagerKaren Cox Convention Services ManagerLinda D’Agostino Director of Sales & Government RelationsDenise Drews Visitor Center ManagerMichael Even Vice President of Sales & ServicesKaren Fashana Marketing & Co-op Advertising ManagerCharles Giglia Director of Sports SalesPete Harvey Director of Sports Development

Brian Hayden Communications ManagerEd Healy Vice President of MarketingPatrick Kaler President & CEOCindy Kincaide Director, Industry Relations &

Destination DevelopmentTracy Martell Convention Services ManagerDavid Marzo Chief Financial OfficerLeah Mueller Tourism Sales DirectorDanielle Pastor Administrative AssistantMary Jane Poleto Information SpecialistJudy Smith Director of AdministrationMatt Steinberg Director of Creative ServicesLori White National Sales DirectorDionne Williamson Sales Director; SMERF & Corporate

2014 VISIT BUFFALO NIAGARA STAFF

Tourism Sales Director Leah Mueller led a FAM tour of international tour operators last spring, including a ride on the Maid of the Mist

BUFFALO IS RIPE FOR A NEW RENAISSANCE

and for me as a Torontonian, I am very excited because this gives us so many

options as visitors that doesn’t spell shopping. There’s art, culture, food,

drink and charming neighborhoods. It’s the perfect weekend getaway!

GOINGAWESOMEPLACES.COM

403 Main Street » Suite 630 » Buffalo, New York 14203 » 716.852.0511

VisitBuffaloNiagara.com

What They’re Saying About Buffalo

Buffalo was a complete surprise – I had no idea the city was filled with groundbreaking architecture, world class art, historic sites, quirky neighborhoods and good food!DANI HEINRICH, GLOBETROTTER GIRLS

With rehabbed architectural gems, stylish hotels, and innovative new restaurants, the upstate city now has far more to recommend outside of chicken wings.NEW YORK MAGAZINE

Whole neighborhoods and waterfronts have been revitalized, and there’s a

growing cultural and culinary scene that goes far beyond the chicken wings

that bear the city’s name (and were invented here). An industrial center at the terminus of the Erie Canal, Buffalo

was never a tourist destination. But it is now growing into one.

HUFFINGTON POST

A SOUTH BEACH-INSPIRED GATHERING PLACE. BIKE LANES AND KAYAK TOURS. FREE OUTDOOR YOGA CLASSES. ALFRESCO DANCING AND DINING.READY FOR THIS ONE?

IT’S ALL IN BUFFALO.THE WASHINGTON POST

Visitors who take some time and get off the highway will now sense a buzz

in downtown Buffalo. Hundreds of millions of dollars have been poured

into revitalization, particularly around the harbor, the river and the historic canal area. Buffalonians are energized by it all, and they’re convinced visitors

will like what they see.THE TORONTO STAR