- By Marcia E. Lynch
- News
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The award is given to recognize individuals, organizations, and associations who, through their actions or activities, have made an impact on the local economy by attracting conventioneers and visitors to Tompkins County. The award will be given to representatives of the fraternity, LeNorman Strong and Robert Harris Jr., at the March 20th Legislature meeting at the legislative chambers in the County Courthouse, 320 North Tioga Street, Ithaca.
Alpha Phi Alpha was the first African American fraternity in the country, and it started at Cornell University. When it came time to celebrate the fraternity’s 100-year anniversary, local volunteers did an outstanding job by hosting the event with courteous friendly delegates who possessed tremendous respect for Alpha Phi Alpha’s past history. This was an exceptional opportunity for Tompkins County to host the centennial event, only the second time in 100 years that Alpha Phi Alpha has hosted a national event, attracting over 400 room nights at local hotels.Why is that important? Attracting and hosting groups or conventions to Tompkins County has a positive impact on the entire economy impacting hotels, restaurants, retail sales, rental car agencies, airlines and the airport. Sales tax and room tax is positively affected by increasing the number of visitors to Tompkins County. The Legislature only awards this prestigious award to individuals who are not “convention planners” or sales people. In recognition to the fraternity’s achievement, a paver on the Cayuga Waterfront Trail will be engraved with the fraternity’s name on it featuring the award.
By creating awareness, the Tompkins Tourism Partner Award encourages the positive impact that tourism and conventions can have on the local economy. It is a “call to action” for all residents to invite the associations of which they are members to meet in Tompkins County -- examples would be national associations, state associations, hobby groups, social organizations, education associations, learned societies, fraternal organizations, and military groups.
Legislator Jim Dennis notes, “Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity set out to host an event, but the event sparked a boost to our local economy, and many businesses prospered due to the event. The fraternity is a fine example of what it means to be a Tourism Partner.”
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