Tourism in Westchester County is growing at an accelerated rate as hotels renovate, new attractions expand and businesses team up to bring more tax dollars to the county.
The county generated $1.7 billion in tourism last year, a $26 million increase from 2011, said County Executive Robert P. Astorino. Visitor spending last year produced $108 million in local taxes. Tourism supported 23,064 jobs in Westchester, Astorino announced at a recent press conference in the newly renovated Renaissance Westchester Hotel.
The key to expanding revenue in the tourism industry is to form business partnerships, said Natasha Caputo, director of Westchester County Tourism and Film, a division of the office of the county executive.
Businesses in Westchester have been engaging with one another with the help of the “Meet Me in Westchester” branding campaign, which kicked off last year to raise awareness of the food, accommodations and attractions that the county has to offer. A website was launched, listing local tourism sites.
Empire City Casino has committed to providing free shuttle services for 12 hotels in Westchester. The purpose is to draw visitors to the Yonkers casino and raceway and ensure safe travel when guests return to their hotels.
After a $50 million expansion, the casino has built a new entrance and 66,000 square feet of gaming space and has added a sports pub and cocktail lounge with bowling lanes. Empire City attracts 8.4 million visitors annually, and it plans to keep expanding its presence by drawing more tourists who are staying in the area.
“The strength in the tourism industry is that we all grow if we partner together,” said Taryn Duffy, director of public affairs at the casino. “For a larger organization like Empire Casino to partner with hotels in Westchester is really important because some of the hotels may not have a marketing budget.”
Renaissance Westchester Hotel General Manager Catherine Stevens said there will be three shuttles traveling to and from the hotels around the clock every Tuesday and Thursday. She said the shuttle service gives guests at the Renaissance an opportunity to check out the Yonkers casino and provides a convenient mode of transportation for large groups of overnight travelers receiving package deals.
“We don”™t expect our guests to dine with us every night,” Stevens said. “We can schedule to have shuttles pick up groups, which is a value add. The casino provides $20 worth of free gaming and $10 in food credit for those who want the option of adding personal shuttle services during their stay at the hotel. And when they go back home, we want them to tell their friends about it and come back.”
“I think we”™re beginning to see that big upswing in tourism, and people are coming to spend money,” Stevens said.
