Senator O'Mara helps celebrate official Grand Opening of Best Western Plus--The Hammondsport Hotel ~ Calls it a 'fantastic addition to the Keuka Lake and Hammondsport recreational and tourism economies'

Earlier this week, Senator O'Mara helped celebrate the official Grand Opening of Best Western Plus--The Hammondsport Hotel, a fantastic new addition to the local community.

Senator O'Mara said, "We continue to appreciate these ongoing state and local investments in foundations that will enhance and strengthen the future of the Southern Tier and Finger Lakes regional economies. The new Best Western Plus in Hammondsport, already the 'Coolest Small Town in America,' is a fantastic addition to the Keuka Lake and Hammondsport recreational and tourism economies. We appreciate the hard work and support of the Regional Economic Development Council, the Steuben County Industrial Development Agency, and other state and local leaders to support its completion." 

Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C,I-Corning) said, "The new Best Western Plus is a great investment in our local community.  Thank you to East Lake Investments for their confidence in our community.  Hammondsport will now have a greater capability to accommodate the huge number of tourists who travel to the Southern Tier and Finger Lakes regions every summer.  We appreciate the ongoing commitment of Governor Cuomo and his administration, and our Regional Economic Development Council for their financial assistance."

Read and watch more from WETM-TV, "'Best Western Plus' Opens in Hammondsport"

A recent report, "The Economic Impact of Tourism in New York," tells the story of the importance of the tourism economy regionally and statewide.  Consider the following facts and figures from the report:

> New York traveler spending grew 1.0% in 2014 to $63.1 billion;

> This spending generated $102 billion in total business sales including indirect and induced impacts:

> 764,000 jobs were sustained by tourism activity last year with total income of $33.1 billion;

> 8.3% (1-in-12) of all New York state employment is sustained by tourism, either directly or indirectly;

> New York State tourism generated $8.0 billion in state and local taxes in 2015, saving each NYS household an average of $1,100 in taxes.