Central New York hosts international tourists

CNY Business Journal (1996+), May 09, 2003 by Yunich, Rob

ROME - In Italy, the saying goes "When in Rome, do as the Romans do." In Central New York, the phrase could be adapted into, "When in Rome, stay for a while and tour the area."

That was the mantra for a recent familiarization tour (known as a fam tour) for international tour operators who were whisked around the area.

"For years, people have been flying to New York City and then [traveling] to Niagara Falls... and they've been going right by us," says Chris Destito, one of the tour's planners. "However, that has all changed. We have Turning Stone [Casino Resort] ... and [the proposed] DestiNY USA [project] to draw people to this area."

Destito, president of the Oneida County Visitors and Convention Bureau and coowner of The Savoy and The Beeches, came up with the idea about five years ago. Destito, along with his two brothers and a cousin, create tour packages and sell them domestically. The group wanted to expand overseas and saw this as a good opportunity to show off Central New York.

Through his involvement with the Receptive Operators Association - a New York City-based organization that coordinates tours around the United States and sells them internationally - Destito was able to partner with several local destinations and create the tour. About 18 months ago, Destito attended an event and spoke to members of the DestiNY management team where they started a partnership. Destito subsequently struck a deal with Turning Stone, and the itinerary began to take shape. The partnering organizations for the tour were DestiNY USA, Turning Stone, Beeches, Inc., and the Oneida County Visitors and Convention Bureau.

"The fam tour is a means of bringing people that you want to do business with to our area," Destito says. "It gives them firsthand knowledge of what we have to offer in terms of attractions, restaurants, and hotels. They get to experience what we believe would draw customers to our area."

Stops included Cooperstown, Turning Stone, the Oneida Nation cultural center (which Destito says was specifically requested by the German contingent), Carousel Center (where the group spoke to DestiNY executives), the Canal Museum, Erie Canal Village, Fort Stanwyx, The Beeches, The Savoy, the Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute in Utica, and F.X. Matt Brewery, maker of Saranac beers.

"Any one of those attractions could not market itself individually to the international market, but as a package [they can]," Destito says. "That's why all of us working together makes us so much more successful."

Thirteen visitors hailed from several European countries, including Germany, Austria, and Italy. Destito says the tour was successful, but the project may still be more than a year from fruition. Destito says his group is now going to talk to the tour operators and start planning the tour packages that will be offered to consumers.

"International tour operators are a close-knit group, and talking about Upstate New York and Central New York in a very positive way will give us muchneeded publicity," Destito says. "Even once we're able to package this, and put it in front of the consumer, it will still be six months to a year until it happens."

Destito has been packaging domestic tours for 26 years. His grandparents, Frank and Michelina Destito, founded The Savoy in 1908. In 1949, their children Rosie and Pat purchased a 55-acre estate that currently houses The Beeches restaurant and a 1,000-seat conference center. Chris Destito, his brothers Frank and Orrie, and cousin Dominick, currently run the third-generation family business which also includes a catering service.

"I'm very proud of the fact that [the tour] brought many people working together for our total good," Destito says. "I hope it's just the start of other endeavors of the group and this continues to bring people to our region."