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Business coalition promoting downtown events | Long Island Business News

Business coalition promoting downtown events | Long Island Business News

A coalition of business and community groups will hold kickoff events in four Long Island downtowns Thursday to help promote their festivals and attractions ahead of the Fourth of July weekend. 

Representatives from more than a dozen chambers of commerce, Vision Long Island, Long Island Main Street Alliance, small business owners and civic leaders will join a caravan that will stop in the downtowns of Baldwin, Farmingdale, Kings Park and Riverhead throughout the day. 

The group will be urging people to participate in events that will be held throughout the summer and into the fall in more than 70 Long Island downtowns and communities. Those events include festivals, live music nights, outdoor arts exhibits, cultural attractions, and other family activities. 

The aim of the effort is to remind Long Islanders that they don’t have to travel, and they can stay closer to home to support local businesses in their communities. The group will also be asking for funding from the state to promote Long Island downtowns, according to a written statement. 

Frank Camarano, president of the Nassau Council of Chambers, said Long Island communities have so much to offer and the kick-off marks the beginning of chambers of commerce working together to bring event information to the people. 

“Hyper-hyper-local sharing of events on our websites, social media and local publications, both in print and online, will evolve over time into something great,” Camarano said in the statement. “Let’s all support our communities, while having a lot of fun in the process. Shop and play local.”

Joseph Garcia, president of the Farmingdale Chamber of Commerce, said Long Island communities are made up of a network and connection of small business, attractions and events.  

“Locally the offerings in our downtowns and communities rival those located a plane, train, and automobile away,” Garcia said in the statement. “By attending local events you support our small businesses and communities. We also call on the state to help in promoting local events and activities to keep the economic engine of Long Island cruising along.”

Connie Lassandro, president of the Riverhead Chamber of Commerce, said the past couple of years of the pandemic were some of the area’s darkest days, but now her downtown is coming alive again.

“Celebrate and have fun at any or all of our summer events including Alive on 25, The Cardboard Race, Reflextions, Paddle Battle, the 46th Annual Country Fair and Octoberfest,” Lassandro said in the statement. “Visit and stay at one of our many hotels and patronize our restaurants, breweries, Suffolk Theater, Long Island Aquarium or just enjoy the beautiful riverfront. Welcome to our downtown, come explore and have fun.” 

The kick-off starts at 10 a.m. in the parking lot behind Kitty O’Hara’s at 845 Merrick Ave. in Baldwin. The caravan moves to Farmingdale’s Main Street Village Green at 11:30 a.m.; then stops at the clock tower on Main Street in Kings Park at 1 p.m.; winding up at Grangebel Park on Peconic Avenue in Riverhead at 2:30 p.m. 

The coalition is also planning another round of multiple downtown visits next week. 

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Tourism council promoting Pride events in region

Tourism council promoting Pride events in region

WATERTOWN, New York (WWNY) – Tourism in the north country is set to come alive.

Attractions along the St. Lawrence River will open up this weekend, like the Clayton Antique Boat Museum and Boldt Castle.

New this year, the Thousand Islands Tourism Council is investing in promoting LGBTQ Pride events in the north country and in southern Ontario, including Watertown’s flag-raising and color run events.

“That’s an opportunity to talk to new audiences and bring folks in who maybe haven’t been introduced to our destination before because we know that once we get them here, they become a fan and they help us spread the word on why this is such a great place. So in a month like June, we have got some beds to fill. It’s always a great time to reach out to new audiences,” said Corey Fram, Thousand Islands International Tourism director.

Watertown’s Pride weekend is June 17, 18, and 19. Go to watertownnypride.org to learn more.

Copyright 2022 WWNY. All rights reserved.

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Promoting NI as a world class business events destination to the UK market

Promoting NI as a world class business events destination to the UK market
Pictured at the Larchfield Estate are Diane Thompson, Delegate Wranglers, Michael Dalton, MICDROP founder, Neil Thompson, founder and director of Delegate Wranglers, Lisa Stewart, Visit Belfast and Hannah Watson, Larchfield Estate

The highlight of the week included the filming of eight local industry partners as part of the destination showcase, including Galgorm Spa and Golf Resort, Hillsborough Castle and Gardens, Larchfield Estate, Crowne Plaza Belfast, ICC Belfast, Titanic Belfast, The Merchant Hotel Belfast, and The Culloden Estate and Spa.

The final video will be showcased to their audience of over 21,000 global event professionals to help generate more awareness for Northern Ireland as a business events location for the UK Market.

On the final day (25 February), over 20 local industry joined together for an information session at the Grand Central Hotel Belfast to find out how they can grow a presence through Delegate Wranglers and generate successful business from it. A live broadcast also took place from the event, to the Delegate Wranglers audience, through their social channels.

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Pictured at the Grand Central Hotel in Belfast are Bridgene Keeley, McKeever Hotel Group, Naomi Wilson, Clayton Hotel Belfast, Eimear Callaghan, Tourism NI’s business solutions manager, Caroline Wilson, Taste and Tour NI, Neil Thompson, founder and director of Delegate Wranglers, Judy Hutton, Game of Thrones Studio Tour, Rachael McGuickin, director of business development at Visit Belfast and Alan Greer, Historic Royal Palaces Hillsborough Castle

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Pictured at the Grand Central Hotel in Belfast are Eimear Callaghan, Tourism NI’s business solutions manager, Neil Thompson, founder and director of Delegate Wranglers and Rachael McGuickin, director of business development at Visit Belfast

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