The Thousand Islands International Tourism Development Corporation (dba 1000 Islands International Tourism Council) is the direct successor of the Thousand Islands International Council. Together the two corporations have served the tourism promotion interests of the 1000 Islands international region since 1956. Since the beginning, the TIITC has been an international partnership.
The TITDC is a New York State 501(c3) nonprofit corporation, whose largest financial supporters are the Thousand Islands Bridge Authority (TIBA), Federal Bridge Corporation Limited of Canada, and Jefferson County, New York. The Corporation contracts as the official Tourism Promotion Agency for Jefferson County and receives bed tax funds from the county. The TIITC works closely with the Ontario-based 1000 Islands –St. Lawrence Seaway Marketing Partnership to coordinate international marketing efforts.
Through an agreement for staff and services with the TIBA, the Corporation has five full-time staff members, five full-time, seasonal staff members and one part-time year-round staff member. Its overall budget for 2006 is just over one million dollars USD.
The mission of the TIRTDC is development, promotion, enhancement and retention of the tourism industry and its associated employment base within the territory encompassing generally the County of Jefferson in the State of New York, an area of approximately the same size in the southern portion of eastern Ontario, Canada, abutting the St. Lawrence River and approximately opposite Jefferson County, but extending slightly farther both easterly and westerly for the overall economic benefit of the region.
Key program objectives are:
-Create unified marketing effort for the 1000 Islands bi-national region -Maintain core visitation in traditional tourism seasons -Attract new visitors to area -Lengthen average stay, increase average spending -Promote cross-visitation of communities and attractions within region -Develop traffic in shoulder and "off" seasons -Support health and growth of local tourism businesses -Support introduction new tourism products -Encourage investment in tourism in region
The 1000 Islands Regional Tourism Development Corporation (dba 1000 Islands International Tourism Council) is governed by a nine-member board of directors. The Corporation’s principal supporters appoint members to the board. Five members are appointed by the Thousand Islands Bridge Authority and four members are appointed by the Jefferson County Board of Legislators.
TIRTDC 2010 Board of Directors:
Chair: Jim Corbin Program Director WWNY/WNYF-TV Watertown, New York
Vice Chair: Jody Pettit General Manager Holiday Express Hotel & Suites Watertown, New York
Secretary/Treasurer: Roger Forgues Cornwall, Ontario
Members at large:
Kevin Kieff Regional Director 1000 Islands Region New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Alexandria Bay, New York
Robert Gamble Business Owner Henderson Harbor, New York
Robert Hagemann County Administrator Jefferson County Watertown, New York
Howard Kelly Director The Capital Corridor Alexandria Bay, New York
Jerry Huck Marine Consultant Rockport, Ontario
Ron Thomson Owner Uncle Sam Boat Tours Alexandria Bay, New York
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T.I. Council Staff Contacts
Use the form below to send a comment - or refer to the staff contacts for specific programs.
Gary DeYoung - Director of Tourism
Gary is responsible for overall administration of the 1000 Islands International Tourism Council. Contact him regarding the Council's general programming, budget, policies or planning. gary@visit1000islands.com
Judy Agar - Distribution Coordinator
Judy handles distribution services for the Council. She should be contacted regarding consumer mailings and access to the Council's customer databases. Contact her regarding bulk supplies of Council publications and off-site distribution services. judy@visit1000islands.com
Corey Fram - Marketing & Communication Coordinator
Coordinates the Council's consumer marketing projects and handles publicity projects and media relations. Contact regarding consumer publications such as the Travel Guide, Military Friends & Family Publication and Hunting & Fishing Guide. Inquiries regarding participation in cooperative advertising programs such as TV campaigns, internet advertising and print ads should be directed to the Marketing & Communication Coordinator. corey@visit1000islands.com
Janet Ainsworth - Office Manager
Janet manages the daily operations of the Council's office and its finances. Contact Janet regarding office operation matters; accounts receivable and payable; and for information regarding board meetings and council events. janet@visit1000islands.com
Tillie Youngs - Projects & Sales Coordinator
Tillie coordinates meeting and travel trade sales, and oversees special projects such as the Welcome Center and annual Hospitality Expo. Contact Tillie regarding marketing to the travel trade, including participation in the Group Planner and the Council's attendace at shows such as ABA, NTA, PBA. Contact Tillie regarding display of brochures and information the the Council's Welcome Center. tillie@visit1000islands.com