BUILD BACK BETTER
Hochul touts good news from tourism industry
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. »
Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul is on a mission to let New Yorkers know there are plenty of places to visit nearby that are safe and enjoyable for the whole family.
That mission started Monday morning with a tourism roundtable at the Saratoga Automobile Museum on the Avenue of Pines in Saratoga State Park. Surrounded by classic automobiles Hochul met with nine representatives from the tourism industry for a 90-minute discussion that looked at how Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Build Back Better program is going.
“We’ve had a shutdown and a safe reopening and now we’re trying to let people know they can have that comfort level when they leave home,” she said. “There’s a lot happening here and we want people to know that. This is the time to explore and visit your own communities.”
Taking part in the roundtable were represen
tatives from New York State Parks, an area brewpub, several family destination points, a regional chamber of Commerce, the mayor of Saratoga Springs, and the president of Discover Saratoga.
From their remarks Hochul said she learned the governor’s reopening plan had been successful in overcoming the shutdown, safety for everyone had been a priority as they reopened, business was slowly coming back, and there was a concern as to how to proceed after the summer season.
Erik Kulleseid, commissioner of New York State Parks, Recreations and Historic Preservation, said the state’s parks’ trails and open spaces had been opened throughout the pandemic while businesses were closed and that the trails had seen quite a bit of use.
“I would say to the public that New York State’s parks are open but you are rewarded for good planning and if you can’t get to a place early then be prepared to head to another park if that one is full. We will get through this.”
Darryl Leggieri, President of Discover Saratoga said shortly after the area was allowed to reopen the city rallied as a destination and the number of visitors began to increase. To help promote the area as a destination point Leggieri said there was a lot of collaboration that went on among the city’s elected officials and other organizations, a point made several times by other roundtable speakers.
“Demand is getting better and better as the season goes on,” Leggieri said. “Weekends are solid; weekdays need a little help. It’s great to having racing here even without fans being allowed. People want to see the racing and we are providing that for them in a safe manner.”
Tom Wysocki, vice president of the Board of the Lake George Regional Chamber of Commerce seconded Leggieri’s comments, saying there had been a lot of collaboration in his area also. He added that safety had been a main concern for most of the businesses in Lake George.
“Once people started to come, and they’ve been coming in the thousands, we had to make sure we were following the guidelines with masks and social distancing. Some were complying and some were not and we (all) pledged that we would make that happen throughout the Lake George region so there are signs everywhere and we make it a point that we politely ask everyone to comply for everyone’s safety.”
Wysocki said the area had done so well that despite the influx of visitors there has been no rise in the number of novel coronavirus cases.
“They should take this area and do a study on it because there is no other place like it in the country right now,” he said. “The big question for us is what’ next? What we have right now is very good. It’s the future that’s very uncertain.”
Elizabeth Sobol, president and CEO of Saratoga Performing Arts Center, said the Center had been looking forward to opening a new $9.5 million facility but had to quickly transition with the shutdown and reopening.
“We had to pivot from our normal way of operation in terms of what we do in the amphitheater and rethink who are we when we can’t present great art on the amphitheater stage so we pivoted to a focus on art, artists and the community,” she said.
Sobol said the Center has also begun to use its lawn and the new facility as places for people to gather.
“Last week we launched a series of 30 screen nights. The new facility’s screens allow us to do this,” she said. “Where we once did 25,000 people we do 50 with socially distanced parking and a safe grid laid out on the lawn for two people from each household to sit and enjoy the outdoors and enjoy the arts in a virtual way and be together in a very safe environment.”
Afterwards Hochul said what she heard made her optimistic.
“I heard that it’s working, it’s giving people that sense of confidence, that people will have a wonderful experience, and that it’s safe,” she said. “That this is the year to explore your state. Open up your wallet, you’re not going to take that trip to another state this year.
“You’re not going on a cruise. You’re staying.”