Erie, PA: VisitErie, Erie County's official destination marketing organization, earned gold and silver honors at the 2024 Public Relations Society of Northwestern Pennsylvania (PRSA/NWPA) Niagara Awards. The organization received a gold Niagara Award in "Community Relations" for its Total Solar Eclipse initiative and a silver award in "Integrated Communications" for the S.H.I.N.E. Eclipse Community Campaign. The awards were presented during the ceremony on Thursday, Nov. 21, at The Brewerie at Union Station. VisitErie President and CEO John Oliver accepted the awards alongside Marketing Manager Mary Morgan.

Erie, PA: Beginning June 20, VisitErie launches its latest mobile app challenge, "Unlock Erie." This new initiative will encourage visitors to download VisitErie's free 'Hello Erie' mobile app and explore the region for a chance to win prizes. Unlike previous VisitErie challenges which focused on one tourism aspect such as wineries, "Unlock Erie" is a multi-tiered challenge featuring more than 75 Erie County tourism-related businesses including attractions, restaurants, and retailers.

Erie, PA: In recognition of National Travel and Tourism Week, City of Erie Mayor Joseph Schember is issuing a special proclamation during his weekly press conference on Thursday, May 16 at City Hall. The proclamation emphasizes the pivotal role of the travel and tourism industry in fostering economic growth and enhancing community vitality within the City of Erie. National Travel and Tourism Week, observed this year from May 19 to May 25, annually celebrates the profound impact of travel on the nation's economy and society. National Travel and Tourism Week serves as a reminder of the invaluable contributions of the travel industry to Erie's economy and quality of life.

Erie, PA: Erie's tourism figures, as reported by VisitErie, the official destination marketing organization for Erie County, demonstrated growth from January through March compared to 2023. January marked VisitErie's highest month for guide requests, while its winter promotional campaign achieved notable success.

Erie, PA: With less than one week remaining until the total solar eclipse, Erie is poised to welcome the anticipated influx of visitors and media attention with open arms. As the only major city in Pennsylvania to be in the path of totality, Erie has captured significant interest from major media outlets. VisitErie has been working for more than a year to cultivate. external media coverage through online features, printed articles, and broadcast mentions. These spotlights, focusing on Erie and the upcoming eclipse have heightened the region's visibility considerably, and will undoubtedly help bolster the expected visitation numbers for April 8.

Erie, PA: A new report from the Pennsylvania Tourism Office shows the tourism industry in the Commonwealth generated $76.7 billion in economic impact, supported 486,871 jobs, contributed $4.7 billion in state and local taxes, and welcomed 192.4 million visitors in 2022. The results of this report were highlighted by DCED Deputy Secretary of Tourism Carrie Lepore during VisitErie's State of the Industry meeting on Tuesday, March 12 at the Bayfront Convention Center. The 2022 Economic Impact of Travel and Tourism report provides state, regional, and county level estimates that demonstrate the vital importance of the travel industry to Pennsylvania's economy. Governor Josh Shapiro is calling for a $15 million increase in tourism funding in his 2024-25 budget proposal, which would support the nearly 500,000 Pennsylvanians who work in the travel and tourism industry. This major investment will drive economic growth, leading to new businesses and jobs and a stronger economy for all Pennsylvanians.

ERIE, PA: With one month left to go before the Total Solar Eclipse on Monday, April 8, 2024, VisitErie unveiled its S.H.I.N.E. campaign, asking residents to do five simple things to ensure the community is at its best. The eclipse is poised to significantly impact the region, with estimates anticipating 56,000 to 200,000 visitors making their way to Pennsylvania, the majority of whom will head north to Erie. If Erie sees even the low number of projected visitors, it will become the third-largest city in the Commonwealth for that day, almost doubling in population, and will be Erie County's largest tourism-related event in recent memory.

Erie, PA: Erie Restaurant Week returns for its fourth year, January 19-28, 2024, and is the largest ever, with more than 45 participating restaurants. The annual 10-day event is coordinated by VisitErie, Erie County's official destination marketing organization, to highlight and support Erie's diverse restaurants which are important components of Erie's tourism industry. Each contributing restaurant has crafted special menu items and pricing specifically for the event.

Erie, PA: VisitErie, Erie County's official destination marketing organization, reports its insights on fall 2023 visitor trends spanning September 1 to November 30.

Erie, PA: Produced by VisitErie, Erie County's official destination marketing organization, the annual Erie Visitor Guide is a complete planning resource for traveling to Erie, Pennsylvania, featuring things to do, festivals and events, and content to inspire travel to Pennsylvania's only Great Lakes Port City. The 2024 guide is a vibrant 72-page publication with a stylish magazine design and includes a variety of feature articles, a comprehensive directory of places to play, eat, shop, and stay, and maps of the Erie region. It is VisitErie's primary promotional piece used to market Erie County's tourism industry. In addition to a print version the free guide is also available online and on the 'Hello Erie' mobile app.

Erie, PA: This holiday season, VisitErie is promoting Experiences from Erie, a holiday gift initiative that encourages shoppers to make short work of their long gift lists and give the gift of a memorable experience. Featuring a variety of unique gift experience ideas, discounts, and special packages designed exclusively for this promotion by Erie-based businesses, Experiences from Erie includes tastes of local flavors, hands-on experiences, and enjoyable family outings. The promotion runs November 14 through December 31, 2023.

Erie, PA: The summer of 2023 brought about promising results in Erie's visitation numbers, as reflected in the latest statistics provided by VisitErie, Erie County's official destination marketing organization. In studying visitor traffic numbers from Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day Weekend, increases were seen in visitor guide requests, overnight visitation, hotel occupancy, and average daily rate (ADR) when compared to the same period in 2022. VisitErie's summer campaign targeted designated market areas in Pittsburgh, Johnstown/Altoona, Harrisburg, Cleveland, Akron, and Youngstown.

Erie, PA: Five groups selected Erie as their host city for their upcoming conventions this September beginning with State Farm Mutual Auto Insurance. In total, the groups will have an estimated economic impact of close to $1 million on the Erie area*.

Erie PA: VisitErie, in partnership with Lake Erie Wine Country, is inviting wine aficionados to raise a glass in support of the region's wineries and earn prizes by taking the Vintage Erie Wine Challenge. From cabs to chardonnays, to signature blends, participants will uncork the region's finest vintages by using VisitErie's 'Hello Erie' Trip Planner app to check in at any six of the twenty participating wineries in Lake Erie Wine Country. Once the challenge is complete, participants will receive a completion badge to be turned in for a four-pack of bamboo appetizer plates and a Lake Erie Wine Country wooden grill flipper. VisitErie's mobile app challenges offer unique opportunities to promote the region's wineries and incentivize people to visit and explore the Erie area. Past challenges include a Lake Erie Ale Trail challenge and the "Erie on the Rocks" distillery challenge. The Vintage Erie Wine Challenge runs from September 15 through October 31.

Erie is in line for the path of totality for the April 8, 2024 solar eclipse. As a way to get local residents excited and spread the word about this extraordinary day, VisitErie, Erie County's official destination marketing organization, is hosting an Erie Eclipse Happy Hour at Pier 6 Rooftop Bar & Restaurant, Thursday August 17 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Erie is in line for the path of totality for the April 8, 2024 solar eclipse. As a way to get local residents excited and spread the word about this extraordinary day, VisitErie, Erie County's official destination marketing organization, is hosting an Erie Eclipse Happy Hour at Altered State Distillery, Thursday August 24 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Erie, PA: Erie's visitation numbers continue to trend upward, as evidenced by the latest visitor traffic statistics provided by VisitErie, Erie County's official destination marketing organization. Second-quarter statistics show increased hotel occupancy, average daily rate (ADR), and overnight visitation through the months of April, May, and June. These figures trended higher than those compared to the same period in 2022.

Erie, Pa.: Erie's tourism industry bounced back from the pandemic years in a big way in 2022. VisitErie, Erie County's official destination marketing organization, is reporting record numbers for Erie County visitor traffic and trends. The 2022 figures have surpassed 2021 and pre-pandemic 2019 numbers, showing significant increases in hotel occupancy and percentage of overnight visitors.

Erie, PA: Featuring a new dynamic design, larger photos, and a comprehensive easy-to-navigate directory of places to play, eat, shop, and stay, the 2023 Erie Visitor Guide is available and ready for distribution. The 72-page, full color annual visitor guide is a collaborative effort between VisitErie, Erie County's official destination marketing organization, and the Erie Times-News. It is VisitErie's primary promotional brochure used to market Erie County's tourism industry.

Erie, PA: Erie Restaurant Week returns for its third year, January 20-29, 2023, and features a record number 39 participating restaurants. The annual 10 day event was created by VisitErie, Erie County's official destination marketing organization, to highlight and support Erie's diverse restaurants which are important components of Erie's tourism industry. Each contributing restaurant has created a special menu and pricing designed for the event.

VisitErie has produced a YouTube video promoting Erie as an LGBTQ-friendly desitination. It is performing so well in their targeted markets that they have decided to buy TV air time in the Buffalo/Niagara Falls area. The video during RuPaul's Drag Race, Keeping up with the Kardashians, Pretty Little Liars and a few other shows from June 16-July 16.  Not only will VisitErie reach the LGBT market digitally, they will also reach them on TV! Several area LGBT community members were featured in the video.

VisitErie has added an LGBT section to our Hello Erie mobile app (available on Android and iTune)! It has the same content as the LGBT web page on VisitErie.com. VisitErie has over 21,000 downloads of this app and they promote it heavily throughout the year.

VisitErie now has a page at http://www.visiterie.com/explore/lgbt/ targeting LGBT visitors to our region that includes a listing of friendly resources, as well as major events. This is part of a long term collaboration effort between VisitErie and area LGBT organizations.