“New York loves Canadians”, NY state says at Toronto event

If there’s one thing Ross Levi, executive director of the New York State Division of Tourism, wants Canadians to know, it’s that, “New York really values our relationships with Canadians, which have been long-lasting and strong through times of growth and success, and times of challenge and hardship. They have endured, and we are here to honour those relationships and make sure they continue.” 

At a March 12 networking event in Toronto, Levi emphasized that, “welcoming people is part of who we are,” citing the historic birth of the women’s rights and LGBTQ+ rights movements throughout the state. 

Also at the event were tourism partners eager to impart the affordability and diversity of offerings throughout the Empire State. Greg Marshall of Visit Rochester shared that “American citizens love Canada,” with Rochester welcoming over 60,000 Canadians per week for everything from girls’ weekends to educational group tours. Home to the International Museum of Photography and Film and the “100 Must See Miles” of the Erie Canal, Rochester is only 190 minutes away from Toronto. 

Discovering New York

Just southeast of Rochester at the base of the longest Finger Lake, travellers will find Ithaca’s four state parks, 150 waterfalls and world-class museums. Lisa Conarton, director of sales at Visit Ithaca, says the city is “a great hub and spoke destination for the rest of the state.” 

And while New York City is on any bucket list trip to the state, Barry Surman of Westchester County Tourism & Film invites Canadians to travel just 30-45 minutes by train from the heart of NYC to enjoy budget and family-friendly activities not usually experienced on an urban vacation. With “one foot in the Big Apple and one foot in the Hudson Valley,” Westchester County allows guests to glamp among wolves, visit alpaca farms and tour Sleepy Hollow village while enjoying a range of diverse restaurants and accommodations. Says Surman, “Being welcoming is in our DNA. America is not monolithic.” 

New York City is celebrating the reopening of the Waldorf Astoria, a new visitor center at Stonewall National Monument and its own 400th anniversary, which will bring parades and events throughout the year like free summer movies and free concerts by the New York Philharmonic.

For more updates, events and information on New York State, visit iloveny.com.