Discover Long Island, the region’s only accredited destination marketing organization, was proud to unveil the recipients of the 2024 Tourism Awards at the organization’s 6th annual gala, held Tuesday December 3th, at Bourne Mansion in Oakdale. The annual event is designed to recognize the diverse group of local leaders, organizations, and business owners who continue to shape and further Long Island’s $7.5 billion tourism industry. This year’s award categories and the recipients included:
- Partner of the Year Award – Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum & Reichert Planetarium
- Tourism Trailblazer Award – Long Island MacArthur Airport
- Industry Advancement Award – New York State Hospitality & Tourism Association
- Tourism Legacy Award – Adventureland
“I’m honored to bring together Long Island’s hard-working and dedicated tourism and business community to shine the light on the individuals and organizations that play an integral role in our back-to-back record-breaking visitor economy,” said Discover Long Island President and CEO, Kristen Reynolds, CDME. “It is thanks to these local leaders that tourism remains a powerful economic driver for our region and that Long Island continues to be positioned as one of the most desirable places to live, work and visit in not only the nation but the world. Together, we are building a dynamic, year-round destination that thrives on innovation, community partnerships, and sustainable growth."”
186 guests attended the celebration which kicked off with an elegant champagne reception hour, followed by the main gala with dinner, and ended with the highly anticipated annual awards ceremony. The gala honored F. Scott Fitzgerald’s iconic novel The Great Gatsby which celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2025. Through glitz, glamour, a Gatsby-themed suggested dress code, and live entertainment from both CM Performing Arts Center and the cast of The Great Gatsby on Broadway, guests were taken back in time to the roaring twenties to celebrate the night’s honorees.
The evening began with remarks from Discover Long Island's Chairman of the Board and Chair of the Long Island MacArthur Airport Advisory Committee, Mitch Pally, followed by a presentation from Discover Long Island President and CEO, Kristen Reynolds which highlighted the organization’s work and achievements over the past year. Serving as the Master of Ceremonies for the awards portion of the program, Discover Long Island Board Member and last year’s Tourism Legacy Award Winner, Bryan DeLuca, announced the finalist and winners of each category.
About the 2024 Tourism Award Finalists and Winners
The Partner of the Year Award honors a Discover Long Island partner that has exhibited strong engagement throughout the year and continued activation in the tourism industry. Finalists in this category included Oheka Castle and Curry Club at SaGhar.
As a Tier Three partner of DLI that is eager to always support both the community and the DLI organization overall helping promote the Long Island region as a world class destination, Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum & Reichert Planetarium was named the winner of this award. From the mansion’s grounds to the natural history museum, state-of-the-art planetarium and park, the potential for both education and enjoyment at this property is unmatched.
The Tourism Trailblazer Award is given to a new or renovated attraction or promotional campaign that enhances tourism by creating opportunities for destination development, visitor retention, or promotion that lends to tourism growth or enhanced visitor experiences. The finalists in this category were Station Yards and Guild Hall of East Hampton.
Winner of this category, Long Island MacArthur Airport (ISP), is a vital staple to the region’s tourism. Named in October as the third best small airport in USA Today’s annual ranking of America’s Small Airports – ISP continues to serve as the best and most convenient way for fly-in visitors to come to Long Island. Recent expanded flight access at ISP with JetBlue has opened up the region to new, key markets in Florida, such as Orlando, West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale.
“It is exciting to see such powerful tourism assets like Long Island MacArthur Airport and Discover Long Island work together to continue fostering economic development and drive tourism to the region,” said DLI Chairman of the Board and Chair of the Long Island MacArthur Airport Advisory Committee, Mitch Pally. “By enhancing accessibility through ISP and creating seamless travel experiences, we attract more visitors who contribute to our local economy - supporting businesses, creating jobs, and showcasing the unique culture and attractions of Long Island.”
The Industry Advancement Award honors an educational institution, initiative, or effort that fosters a significant understanding of the value of tourism, promotes the industry as an economic driver and works to develop future talent for the industry. The 2024 finalists for this category included News 12 Long Island and New York State Parks, Celebrating 100 years.
The winner of this category was the New York State Hospitality & Tourism Association. The mission of NYSHTA is to lead and protect the New York State hospitality and tourism industry by providing advocacy, education, and resources to its members which fall in several categories such as hotels, conference centers, attractions, museums, historical sites, colleges & universities, and more. Recently the Association passed historic Airbnb legislation – the first of its kind in the nation – which helps regulate Airbnb hosts.
The esteemed Tourism Legacy Award is a lifetime achievement award dedicated to a Long Island icon whose efforts have helped shape Long Island’s tourism economy and whose impact on our industry cannot be truly measured. This summer marked 62-years that the Gentile family has brought happiness, memories, and excitement to Long Island through Adventureland. Over those 62-years, while much of Long Island has changed around it, the Adventureland amusement park has stuck true to its roots and mission, focusing on generations of family traditions and fun for those who visit. Over the years, upgrades to the park have been made by the Gentile family, bringing a slate of new, state-of-the-art attractions and amenities, pushing Long Island’s beloved amusement park to new and exciting levels year after year. With those efforts, Adventureland has constantly supported Discover Long Island’s mission, to draw in visitors to Long Island and overall help boost the economy. The family’s continued investment in Adventureland, one of our region’s most iconic family attractions, is an investment in Long Island’s future.
ABOUT DISCOVER LONG ISLAND:
Discover Long Island is the region’s official destination marketing and leadership organization charged with furthering the destination’s thriving visitor economy, which saw recent record-breaking highs of $7.5 billion in visitor spending. The organization ensures Long Island’s coveted quality of life, thriving industries, and dynamic destination offerings are promoted on a global level, furthering economic development, and benefiting residents and businesses throughout the region. Awarded “Best Social Media” in the nation by the US Travel Association, the organization produces engaging content featuring local businesses and attractions for their 11 social media channels which garner upwards of 10 million views. Additionally, the organization hosts a popular YouTube series, Long Island TV, as well as the Long Island Tea podcast. To learn more, please call 631-951-3900 or visit www.DiscoverLongIsland.com.