Syracuse, N.Y. - In an effort to encourage tourists to visit Central New York, Destiny USA and the Syracuse Convention and Visitors Bureau are teaming up throughout 2013 to represent the Greater Syracuse area at travel showcases across the country and in Canada. The duo has been to more than eight shows representing the area since January 2013. Over the next month, the duo will be "selling" Syracuse as a must-visit destination to audiences in Philadelphia, Ottawa and Florida. In total, Syracuse will be represented in more than 30 trade shows this year. A Florida Sales Mission is currently underway for Destiny USA, with representatives from Central New York traveling throughout Orlando and Miami to promote Upstate New York as a tourism destination. "It's amazing to visit these shows and see how much people already know about the area and Destiny USA," Rose Hapanowich, Destiny USA's Marketing Director stated. "We are receiving  positive feedback from people who already know about us and teaching people more about what's available at Destiny USA  and in the Syracuse area so that new visitors will know what to check out when they arrive." As Destiny USA attracts increased visitation from around the globe, the facility has introduced translated versions of its website and Central New York tourism brochure. Key sections of Destiny USA's website are available in German, Mandarin, French Canadian and Spanish. Guests can access these sites at http://www.destinyusa.com/ and then click the flag on the upper right-hand corner of the site.  Targeted marketing at the Active-America China Summit in Philadelphia, PA the week of March 25 will help to raise international awareness of Destiny USA and Syracuse as a brand.  A copy of the material being distributed at the Active America China Summit is attached. Canada remains an extremely dominant source of tourists who visit the Syracuse area. Approximately 25% of sales at Destiny USA in 2012 were from Canada and attractions and hotels throughout the region are reporting increased stays and visits from Canadians. The Syracuse Convention and Visitors Bureau and Destiny USA will visit the Ottawa Women's Show in April and the Toronto Women's Show later this year to promote the region to potential travelers. 2012 proved to be a great year for the Syracuse area with a recent Syracuse Convention & Visitor's Bureau stating an increase in room stays 6.4% since 2008.* "We're thrilled to partner with Destiny USA at the Ottawa Women's Show and have the opportunity to meet face-to-face with hundreds of Syracuse's biggest ambassadors - and of course, create new Syracuse fans," said SCVB President David Holder.  "We have a great story to share with our neighbors to the north and as new attractions, restaurants and retailers continue to open at Destiny, our story keeps getting better and better." Additionally, the Greater Syracuse area will be represented at Canadian Automobile Association seminars in Quebec and Ontario throughout May and June, as well as CT's World of Travel Show (Toronto),  Discover America Day  (Toronto), and  the Quebec Travel Show (Quebec City), all of which take place in October 2013. For more information contact David Aitken, Destiny USA at 315.422.7000 or Danica Kaltaler, SCVB at 315.470.1903.

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*Statistics provided by the Syracuse Convention and Visitor's Bureau 2012 Annual Report Destiny USA is a 2.4 million square foot tourist destination in Syracuse, NY that includes a strong mix of luxury outlet tenants, restaurants and entertainment.  New brands are continuing to open to create a unique and dynamic consumer shopping experience.  A stunning three-story glass atrium provides perfect weather year round.  Oxford Economics has projected an annual visitation rate of over 29 million visitors from throughout the U.S. and Canada.  Destiny USA is expected to be the second most visited shopping center in the country, according to Travel and Leisure magazine.  It is the largest LEED® Gold certified retail commercial building in the world. About the Syracuse Convention & Visitors Bureau The Syracuse Convention & Visitors Bureau (SCVB) in Syracuse, N.Y. is Onondaga County's accredited marketing organization for tourism related economic development leading the production of nearly $765 million in direct visitor spending annually. The SCVB is a division of CenterState Corporation for Economic Opportunity. For more information, go to http://www.visitsyracuse.org/. Media Contacts:  David Aitken, Destiny USA, 315.422.7000                                       Danica Kaltaler, SCVB, 315.470.1903