New York State Hospitality & Tourism Association

New York State Hospitality & Tourism Association
Name	New York State Hospitality & Tourism Association
Abbreviation	NYSH&TA
Formation	1913
Type	Trade association
Headquarters	Albany, New York
Region served	New York State
Leader title	President & CEO

New York State Hospitality & Tourism Association The New York State Hospitality & Tourism Association is a statewide trade association representing hotels, restaurants, travel destinations, attractions, and related service providers in New York. It engages in industry advocacy, workforce development, marketing, and research to support members across urban, suburban, and rural regions of the state. The association interacts with public officials, private enterprises, and academic institutions to promote visitor services and hospitality standards.

History

Founded in the early 20th century, the association traces roots to statewide coalitions active during the Progressive Era alongside organizations such as the Hotel Association of New York City, New York State Chamber of Commerce, Albany County Historical Association, New York State Fair, and Pan-American Exposition. During the interwar period it coordinated with entities like the New York State Department of Commerce, American Hotel and Lodging Association, National Restaurant Association, and the New York World's Fair committees. Post-World War II collaborations included partnerships with Saratoga Race Course, Niagara Falls State Park, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Statue of Liberty National Monument, and the Buffalo Convention Center. In the late 20th century the association worked alongside Empire State Development, New York State Senate, New York State Assembly, Tourism Industry Association of Canada, and industry groups at events such as the New York International Auto Show and the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center exhibitions. Recent decades saw interaction with Federal Emergency Management Agency, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, United States Travel Association, VisitBritain, European Travel Commission, and regional bodies like Visit Rochester, Visit Syracuse, I Love NY initiatives, and the Adirondack Regional Tourism Council.

Organization and Governance

The association is governed by a board of directors drawn from hotel companies, restaurant groups, convention bureaus, and attraction operators, including representatives from firms such as Hilton Hotels & Resorts, Marriott International, Hyatt Hotels Corporation, InterContinental Hotels Group, and MGM Resorts International properties in New York. Corporate members often include regional brands like Delaware North, Madison Square Garden Company, Berkshire Hathaway subsidiaries, and independent operators from Hudson Valley, Finger Lakes, and Long Island. Governance intersects with policy organizations including New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, Office of the Governor of New York, New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, and municipal offices in New York City, Buffalo, Rochester, New York, Albany, New York, and Syracuse, New York.

Membership and Chapters

Membership spans major metropolitan firms and small proprietors from boroughs like Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx, and Staten Island to towns such as Ticonderoga, Cooperstown, Ithaca, New York, Kingston, New York, and Beacon, New York. Chapters and regional councils align with tourism regions including Niagara Falls, Catskills, Catskill Park, Lake Placid, Watkins Glen, Chautauqua, Corning Museum of Glass stakeholders, and vineyard associations near Seneca Lake and Hudson River Valley. Affiliates include convention and visitors bureaus like NYC & Company, Visit Buffalo Niagara, Discover Long Island, Explore Tompkins County, and cultural institutions such as The Cloisters, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, Brooklyn Museum, Albright–Knox Art Gallery, and performing arts organizations like Metropolitan Opera, Broadway League, and Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.

Programs and Services

The association provides workforce training, certification, and professional development programs in partnership with institutions including SUNY, Cornell University School of Hotel Administration, Columbia University School of Professional Studies, Hospitality Training Center, and community colleges such as Monroe Community College and SUNY Oneonta. It offers marketing support with collaborations involving I Love NY, Brand USA, Tourism Economics, and private firms like STR, Inc. and Destination Analysts. Member services include labor relations assistance, procurement programs, insurance plans tied to carriers like AIG and The Hartford, and sustainability resources aligned with New York State Energy Research and Development Authority and LEED certifications promoted by the U.S. Green Building Council.

Advocacy and Public Policy

The association lobbies on legislation and regulatory matters before bodies such as the New York State Legislature, United States Congress, New York City Council, New York State Liquor Authority, and federal agencies including the Department of Labor (United States), Department of Transportation (United States), and Environmental Protection Agency. Advocacy campaigns have addressed taxation, minimum wage, paid sick leave, zoning for short-term rentals involving platforms like Airbnb, health and safety mandates tied to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance, and funding for tourism promotion through Empire State Development. The association coordinates with labor unions such as UNITE HERE, Service Employees International Union, and legal organizations including the New York State Bar Association on employment and regulatory compliance issues.

Events and Conferences

The association organizes annual conferences, trade shows, and award events in venues like the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, Albany Capital Center, Buffalo Convention Center, and resort properties in Lake George and Montauk. It participates in national events including International Hospitality Investment Forum, New York Times Travel Show, Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference, and regional symposia hosted by Northeast Governor's Conference, New York State Conference of Mayors, and New York Festivals. Signature programs have featured keynote speakers from corporations and institutions such as Google, Amazon, Facebook, Apple Inc., Visa Inc., Mastercard, American Express, and university research partners like Cornell University.

Economic Impact and Research

The association commissions economic impact studies with partners like Tourism Economics, Oxford Economics, IHS Markit, and academic centers at Cornell University and Columbia University to quantify visitor spending, employment, tax revenue, and regional multiplier effects across sectors including transportation providers like Amtrak, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and airlines such as Delta Air Lines, JetBlue Airways, and American Airlines. Research topics have included the effects of events at Yankee Stadium, Madison Square Garden, MetLife Stadium, and cultural draws such as The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Broadway on local lodging, dining, and attraction revenues. The association publishes reports comparing New York with peer destinations such as California, Florida, Texas, Massachusetts, and international competitors like London, Paris, and Rome.

Category:Trade associations based in New York (state)