What could be simpler than the message “Bring It Home”. This is Visit Buffalo Niagara’s (VBN) new initiative that is asking all Buffalonians to do their part to enhance the steadily growing local hospitality economy.
If we pool our resources, then there are countless ways to help the VBN effort – to grow an industry that we are all a part of in one way or another. Are you a sports buff? Do you run? Are you a brewer? A chef? A glass blower? A car girl/guy? These are all industries that host shows, markets, conferences, meetings, seminars, etc. Every time a group or organization hosts a get-together for whatever reason in Buffalo, the local economy benefits.
According to VBN, “Meetings and events brought to Buffalo with the assistance of Visit Buffalo Niagara staff generated tens of millions of dollars for the local economy in 2014 and over 170,000 hotel room night bookings.”
Now VBN is stepping up its game even further by helping those who have connections in various passion realms, such as sporting events or medical seminars. Just think of the possibilities – from fashion conventions to culinary fairs, we have the collective ability to reach out to all sorts of trades and industries. VBN is ready to make the pitch, host site visits, and work with groups to identify hotel accommodations. They will also offer complimentary promotional assistance to make the event or gathering as effective as possible.
“As Erie County residents, we all have a role to play in the region’s resurgence,” County Executive Mark Poloncarz said. “I challenge all county residents to work with Visit Buffalo Niagara to bring an annual event, meeting or conference they are involved with home to Buffalo. This will generate business for our hotels and restaurants throughout the year and spread the word about our resurgence across the country.”
“Civic energy is at an all-time high in Buffalo and Erie County, with residents truly energized by our waterfront redevelopment, revitalized neighborhoods and boom in new hotels, restaurants and craft breweries and distilleries,” VBN President and CEO Patrick Kaler said. “We want to harness that civic energy and further add to our economic renaissance by encouraging Buffalonians to ‘Bring it Home.’”
Today’s Bring It Home launch happened to take place on the same day that a MedTech conference was being hosted at the new Marriott HarborCenter downtown. ““It’s the reputational difference that excites me,” said Patrick J. Whalen, chief operating officer of the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus. “If everybody did that in their own little industry, little by little you start to change the discussion about this place.”
In order to learn more about the initiative, click here to see how you can get involved with shaping the future of Buffalo through channels that you are already familiar with.