Recognized for excellence in general tourism marketing
Tupper Lake, New York – The Wild Center has been announced as the winner of the 2022 New York State Tourism Excellence Award presented by the New York State Tourism Industry Association (NYSTIA). The Wild Center’s “Get Outside – Push Forward & Thrive Project” was named Excellence in General Tourism Marketing: Private Sector, one of the program’s highest awards.
“We are proud to receive NYSTIA’s Tourism Marketing Excellence Award,” said Nick Gunn, director of marketing for The Wild Center. “The last two years have been challenging, but the creativity, passion and commitment to the community displayed by our staff have been unwavering. We thank NYSTIA for this latest recognition of our work to not only showcase The Wild Center, but also to bring attention to the Adirondacks as a whole.”
“Project Get Outside – Push Forward & Thrive” was The Wild Center’s approach to fulfilling the mission digitally and reopening its campus following the pandemic-imposed closure. The Wild Center has positioned itself as a safe space for travelers, taking advantage of its 115-acre campus and highlighting the unique outdoor experiences it offers.
Within its marketing and promotion, The Wild Center showed its commitment to the community and flexed its creativity to promote safe tourism. One example included the introduction of Wild Lights, a winter evening event that celebrates the magical nature of the forest at night. Virtual tours and daily digital shows like Lunchtime Live created a whole new audience and brought Wild Center content to viewers at home.
In an interview about reopening procedures with Hillarie Logan-Dechene, Deputy Director of the Wild Center, she discussed how the pandemic has brought more personal experiences to The Wild Center. Logan-Dechene went on to say, “We saw the experience at attractions like The Wild Center become more personalized. We think of it as a curated experience: small groups of close family or friends visiting. And we were able to provide space and fresh air for people to enjoy our animals, exhibits, Wild Walk and other experiences.”
The annual NYSTIA Awards program recognizes the outstanding work of New York State’s destination marketing organizations, attractions and other tourism-related businesses in all forms of marketing, destination management and administration. As the tourism industry has been dealt a major blow by the pandemic, the New York State Tourism Excellence Awards recognize the work done to contribute to the recovery and resurgence of the New York State tourism industry and the communities it serves.
The New York State Tourism Excellence Awards are juried by an impartial panel of industry experts under the auspices of the New York State Tourism Industry Association.
The Wild Center will join other tourism partners and award winners for an awards ceremony on October 27, 2022 in conjunction with the 2022 NYSTIA Annual Meeting, to be held at the New Yorker Hotel in New York City.
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About the Wild Center
The Wild Center invites visitors to explore new ways that people and nature can thrive together. Located in Tupper Lake, New York, the Center uses science-based experiences, exhibits, and programs to open up new ways of looking at the relationship people have with nature. A 54,000-square-foot facility, The Wild Center features outdoor space, live animals, its popular Wild Walk, an elevated trail through the Adirondack treetops, and its newly opened “Climate Solutions” exhibit.
Media Contact:
Colleen Onuffer, Media Icebreaker
(585) 394-0787×2
Wild Center Contact:
Nick Gunn, The Wild Center
Phone: (518) 359-7800, ext. 121
Call: (315) 286-4045