VisitErie Works to Attract New Visitors to Erie: Giving You the Business

Photo: VisitErie

No matter the season, there’s a job to do. And for the agency known as VisitErie, it’s to promote Erie. From across Pennsylvania to New York, Ohio, and even into Canada, reaching new visitors is an important tourism focus.

Cheering on a championship team in downtown Erie to watching action next door on convention center ice or making a splash at an indoor water park, a trip to ski slopes, or enjoying so many places to eat it is all under what VisitErie does.

"Visitors pay no attention to political boundaries," said John Oliver, CEO. "If they’re in Erie or Chautauqua County, they’re going for activities."

Buffalo native John Oliver has made Erie his home, and VisitErie his mission for more than 23 years. He and the 10 total member staff inside the Intermodal Center along the Bayfront work with regional partners to bring in and boost tourism to this area.

Like across Lake Erie Wine Country or through conventions and tournaments to visit Erie.

The now nonprofit organization launched in 2001 after it was a division of the Chamber of Commerce for decades. And now the Erie Sports Commission is a division of Visit Erie.

John says no local taxpayer dollars are used for promotion.

Instead, it comes from hotel occupancy tax.

And the tracking is done through data—of where people are going and how much time they are spending here. While summer is the primary season for visitors here, with Presque Isle beaches being the top destination spot, tax-free shopping also entices out-of-towners and keeps VisitErie working to promote Erie County as a four-season destination.

The next big promotion VisitErie is working on is Restaurant Week in January, where dozens of local restaurants will be serving up deals and showcasing uniqueness in what can tempt your taste buds.