AUBURN - Pennsylvania tour operator Mitzi Marricco brings Canadians to the Northeast, and sends residents from the Keystone State north of the border all of the time.
"We thought about the Finger Lakes, but we've never been here before, and we wanted to tour it ourselves before we put a trip together," Marricco said.
Marricco, owner of Canadian Connection Tours of Butler, Pa., is one of 41 bus tour operators participating in a two-day familiarization tour of Cayuga and Skaneateles. The trip, called the Big Grape tour, is sponsored by the Cayuga County Office of Tourism, the Skaneateles Chamber of Commerce and the Syracuse Convention and Visitors Bureau.
It is targeted at tour operators like Marricco, who have never been to the Finger Lakes before and who could potentially bring more motorcoach visitors to the area. Operators willing to organize overnight group excursions to Skaneateles and Cayuga County were particularly sought. Overnight visitors spend three times as much as people who just come for the day, said Meg Vanek, executive director of the Cayuga County Office of Tourism.
The tourism office found the operators through database searches. Although the local tourism bureau has sponsored visits for the tourist industry before, this is the first time that so many tour operators from such a wide range of locations have come here, Vanek said.
Other operators came from New Jersey, Ohio, West Virginia and other states, Vanek said.
"We thought we'd get a couple, and we got 41," Vanek said. "We also have a representative from the state Division of Tourism coming, which is important because they promote us."
Wednesday night, the tour operators boarded a bus for Skaneateles, where they were to take a scenic cruise with Mid-Lakes Navigation and then have dinner at the Sherwood Inn.
Today, the tour itinerary includes breakfast at the Ward O'Hara Agricultural Museum in Owasco, a tour of MacKenzie-Childs Ltd. in Aurora, a tasting at King Ferry Winery, lunch at the Aurora Inn and tours of Seward House and Willard Memorial Chapel in Auburn.
Dinner is set for the Springside Inn in Fleming, followed by a performance of "Brigadoon" at the Merry-Go-Round Playhouse in Emerson Park. The night is scheduled to end with drinks at the newly renamed Inn at the Finger Lakes.
The operators stayed at the Holiday Inn in Auburn. Vanek said all of the participating venues contributed to covering the cost of the tour.
Marricco described Auburn as having a nice, cozy feel. She said it might be a good trip for senior citizens, because of the region's low crime rate.
"A lot places will tell you about all the wonderful things to do and see during the day," she said. "But then they say, 'But don't walk around at night.'"
Vanek said some of those on the tour came specifically for it, while others will hook up with another group on a familiarization tour of Cooperstown Friday.
Staff writer Louise Hoffman Broach can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 238 or louise.hoffman@lee.net
Marricco, owner of Canadian Connection Tours of Butler, Pa., is one of 41 bus tour operators participating in a two-day familiarization tour of Cayuga and Skaneateles. The trip, called the Big Grape tour, is sponsored by the Cayuga County Office of Tourism, the Skaneateles Chamber of Commerce and the Syracuse Convention and Visitors Bureau.
It is targeted at tour operators like Marricco, who have never been to the Finger Lakes before and who could potentially bring more motorcoach visitors to the area. Operators willing to organize overnight group excursions to Skaneateles and Cayuga County were particularly sought. Overnight visitors spend three times as much as people who just come for the day, said Meg Vanek, executive director of the Cayuga County Office of Tourism.
The tourism office found the operators through database searches. Although the local tourism bureau has sponsored visits for the tourist industry before, this is the first time that so many tour operators from such a wide range of locations have come here, Vanek said.
Other operators came from New Jersey, Ohio, West Virginia and other states, Vanek said.
"We thought we'd get a couple, and we got 41," Vanek said. "We also have a representative from the state Division of Tourism coming, which is important because they promote us."
Wednesday night, the tour operators boarded a bus for Skaneateles, where they were to take a scenic cruise with Mid-Lakes Navigation and then have dinner at the Sherwood Inn.
Today, the tour itinerary includes breakfast at the Ward O'Hara Agricultural Museum in Owasco, a tour of MacKenzie-Childs Ltd. in Aurora, a tasting at King Ferry Winery, lunch at the Aurora Inn and tours of Seward House and Willard Memorial Chapel in Auburn.
Dinner is set for the Springside Inn in Fleming, followed by a performance of "Brigadoon" at the Merry-Go-Round Playhouse in Emerson Park. The night is scheduled to end with drinks at the newly renamed Inn at the Finger Lakes.
The operators stayed at the Holiday Inn in Auburn. Vanek said all of the participating venues contributed to covering the cost of the tour.
Marricco described Auburn as having a nice, cozy feel. She said it might be a good trip for senior citizens, because of the region's low crime rate.
"A lot places will tell you about all the wonderful things to do and see during the day," she said. "But then they say, 'But don't walk around at night.'"
Vanek said some of those on the tour came specifically for it, while others will hook up with another group on a familiarization tour of Cooperstown Friday.
Staff writer Louise Hoffman Broach can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 238 or louise.hoffman@lee.net
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