Next Up? Let's make the Finger Lakes Wine Festival 'America's Best' ~ O'Mara and Palmesano urge regional voters to keep Finger Lakes region on top in latest USA Today readers' poll

Watkins Glen, N.Y., August 8—Next up?  That’s right, there’s another USA Today “Best in America” contest underway and another prominent Finger Lakes attraction is in the running.  Consequently, State Senator Tom O’Mara (R,C,I-Big Flats) and Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C,I-Corning) today encouraged Finger Lakes and Southern Tier voters to turn their attention to this next opportunity to put the Finger Lakes region on the national map: the Finger Lakes Wine Festival is currently in the lead in USA Today’s online competition to choose “America’s Best Wine Festival.”

Last Friday, following a month-long contest, the Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel was named “America’s Best Waterfront Hotel” in a similar USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice contest.

In a joint statement, O’Mara and Palmesano said, “Next up for the Finger Lakes?  On the heels of a great victory for the Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel, Finger Lakes and Southern Tier regional voters now have another chance to keep putting the region on top!  The Finger Lakes Wine Festival at The Glen is currently in the lead in a competition against many of America’s most well-known wine and food festivals.  There’s a week to go to keep showing our pride in all that the Finger Lakes region offers to national and worldwide tourists!”

The contest closes next Monday, August 15, at 12:00 noon.  According to USA Today, voters are allowed to vote once every 24 hours from every Internet-capable device they have.  To vote in the “America’s Best Waterfront Hotel” contest, visit the USA Today contest page directly at: http://www.10best.com/awards/travel/best-wine-festival/finger-lakes-wine-festival-watkins-glen-n-y/

O’Mara and Palmesano said that the “America’s Best Wine Festival” designation would be yet another effective marketing tool for local leaders to help boost tourism throughout the Finger Lakes and Southern Tier regions.

According to USA Today, the nation’s 20 finalists in the wine festival contest were selected by a panel of wine and travel experts together with USA Today’s 10Best editors.

Finger Lakes attractions have fared well over the past year in USA Today’s Readers’ Choice competitions.  In addition to last week’s victory for the Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel, last March Watkins Glen State Park was selected as the 3rd Best State Park in America.  And last June, Watkins Glen International (WGI) was chosen as “America’s Best NASCAR Track.”