First Niagara Bank is lead sponsor; Five million passengers, many of whom are Canadian, will discover all that the region has to offer Buffalo, N.Y. - Leading up to the busiest travel weekend of the year, officials from Visit Buffalo Niagara (VBN) have unveiled its new Buffalo Niagara Visitor Center, located on the secure side of the Buffalo Niagara International Airport. The center, which will introduce millions of people to Buffalo Niagara's incredible art, architecture, culture, sports, nature, food, lodging, events and entertainment, was made possible through a generous grant from First Niagara. It also fits squarely into VBN's Canadian marketing strategy, providing the tourism promotion agency with access and exposure to the vast number of Canadian travelers who use the airport. The center features an information desk, where knowledgeable VBN associates provide free visitor assistance; video screens depicting landmarks, attractions and events around Buffalo Niagara; and brochure racks with visitor materials. The center also sells unique Buffalo-related items that make great holiday gifts, from apparel to DVDs to handmade artisan goods, like pottery and jewelry. Many of these items are also available on VBN's new web store, http://www.buffaloniagarashop.com/. All proceeds go back into promoting the region. "This new visitor center positions Visit Buffalo Niagara to share the story of our region's world-class attractions, dining and accommodations to the five million passengers who fly in and out of the Buffalo Niagara International Airport each year," said Visit Buffalo Niagara President and CEO Dottie Gallagher-Cohen. "This is a tremendous opportunity to strengthen our brand, especially among the large number of Canadians who use the airport." The center is open Sunday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturdays from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. First Niagara Bank provided a generous $100,000 donation to defray the costs of the center, the Wendt Foundation provided a grant for technology and BHNT Architects and LP Ciminelli contributed their services for the build-out.

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Visit Buffalo Niagara sells and markets our assets and attractions to visitors outside of the Buffalo Niagara region as a convention, tourism and leisure destination for the economic benefit of the community.