The Business of TOURISM

by Kate Haggerty Glens Falls TODAY

There are many reasons why folks choose to visit an area. Recreation, cultural attractions, historical buildings and monuments, and great restaurants are just some of the attractions that lure “cash carrying” visitors to a particular place. Here in Glens Falls we have Corvette Shows, The Fire & Ice event, Great Food Fests, The Special Olympics, Art Shows and The Santa Claus Parade. There are many more events that make up the year round events calendar that helps make the City of Glens Falls such a special place.

Showcasing tourism brings us into the world of Amy Collins, Director of Tourism for the City of Glens Falls, a position that she has held for the last 11 years. Amy feels that her career path of 15 years of experience in Washington, D.C. and later in Albany was good preparation for her role in Glens Falls City Government.

Amy says that her job is made easier by the assistance of Mayor Bill Collins (no relation). She sees him as a “wonderful representative of the city. He’s young and has a lot of energy. He’s an events guy. He likes the city to host events that bring in tourists.” Glens Falls has built itself into a tourism destination.

Glens Falls is the Southern ‘Gateway to the Adirondacks’ and because of the location, tourism and recreation are intertwined. People whose travel destination may be Lake George stop in Glens Falls and find that they can enjoy a variety of experiences. “We have the Cool Insuring Arena which is a 4,794 seat multi-purpose area that supports tourism all year round and it’s also the home of the Adirondack Thunder. We have the Wood Theater and The Shirt Factory, and activities and venues all throughout the city.”

Glens Falls also has youth sports facilities that can support tournaments. “Youth sports bring families to stay in our hotels and the teams and the families eat at restaurants. That’s all part of tourism. And, the local venues are for residents and tourists alike. Tourism helps improve the quality of life for the local residents. It’s important to invest in recreation. That’s part of the challenge of tourism. How do you keep track of the people who are coming into town to play pickleball?

Or go to Haviland Cove? We have riverfront recreational property!” Collins said.

“We also have what could be called ‘educational tourism.’ We have the SUNY Culinary Center right downtown. Seasoned, which is the culinary school restaurant, brings students and restaurant goers into the city... Attracting people into the city is the key right? We have a wonderful Memorial Day parade. For that, we partner with Queensbury. It takes place on Glen Street, and every year I’m just amazed at how many people line the streets.”

Amy has seen the growth and evolution of tourism in Glens Falls during her tenure. “We now have more hotel and restaurant options than we had even five or six years ago. The streetscape has changed and improved. We want a strong retail presence, arts presence and hospitality presence. We have a lot of local talent and we want to showcase that.”

It can be difficult to quantify tourism dollars. “Tourism in Glens Falls is like the spokes of a wheel. A tourist may be someone who is coming into town to visit Glens Falls Hospital or the Cemetery. It’s really ‘what door you come in.’ What we would like

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Amy and the Mayor are not alone in their efforts to bolster the City of Glens Falls. They have support from the Glens Falls Collaborative and the Business Improvement District. The Glens Falls Collaborative is a membership organization whose mission is to band together and promote Glens Falls. The Collaborative puts on several events throughout the year, including Wing Fest, Restaurant Week, Take a Bit, and Hometown Holidays, just to name a few.

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The Glens Falls Business Improvement District’s mission is to improve the economic environment and opportunities in downtown Glens Falls. Its goal is to enhance the value of property within the district and promote the quality of life.

People who are coming to the area are often visiting Saratoga Springs and Lake George as well. “We find that people who come to the area to visit different locations find that Glens Falls adds value to their experiences. We are halfway between Saratoga and Lake George. You can stay in Glens Falls and easily travel to both locations. This adds flexibility and sometimes affordability to people’s travel plans.” Amy reminds us that, “tourism helps improve the lives of local residents and visitors alike,” and is crucial for keeping Glens Falls vibrant and exciting.

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Kate Haggerty

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