BETHEL –— “If there’s one thing we can lay claim to here in the Sullivan Catskills, it’s that tourism is going to be our way forward,” said Sullivan Catskills Visitors Association (SCVA) President/CEO Roberta Byron-Lockwood, to a packed house in the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts Event Gallery last Wednesday, at the organization’s annual meeting.

Byron-Lockwood noted that pre-pandemic tourism was on the upswing, with the County seeing the highest ever visitor spending in 2019. 

“Today our popularity is reaching new heights because of each and every one of you in this room,” she said, “your ability to be strategic, adapt to new trends, economic changes, always with an eye towards exciting, surprising and delighting our visitors at every turn.”

Byron-Lockwood noted that the collective effort has paid off with 2021 traveler spending reaching a new record high of $710 million (according to Empire State Development 2021 Tourism Economics), which she said was a 66 percent increase over 2020 and a 123 percent increase over the previous high of $578 million. 

At Wednesday’s event, a representative was on hand from NYS Governor Kathy Hochul’s office to present a proclamation to Byron-Lockwood and the SCVA for the “important work” they do promoting tourism in the Sullivan Catskills. 

Four awards were also given out, with Villa Roma Resort and Conference Center’s Paul Carlucci receiving the STAR Award for Individual Achievement, the Eldred Preserve winning the STAR Award for Business Achievement, Upstate D Tours Dara Manzi winning the Emerging Business Award and Jheneel Burkley of the Kartrite Resort and Indoor Waterpark winning the TOAST Award for Exceptional Service. 

Chief Operating Officer Scott Samuelson accepted the award on behalf of the Eldred Preserve, speaking of owners Dan and Joan Silna’s vision to build a place everyone in the community could be proud of and that was accessible to as many people as possible as a place of gathering and celebration. 

“We look forward to many more years offering quality lodging and fine dining, joyous celebrations, and soon to be spa facilities here in the Sullivan Catskills,” said Samuelson. “And we thank Roberta, Herb and their incredible staff and all of you for this very generous recognition.”

While Carlucci was given the award for individual achievement, he was quick to credit all of the employees he’s worked with over the years, as well as the “incredible vision” of longtime Villa Roma Owner Marty Passante.

Carlucci, who is an SCVA board member and past chair, said the board’s dedication and commitment is succeeding and fulfilling the SCVAs vision of “making Sullivan County a premier multi-seasonal travel destination in New York State.” 

Carlucci concluded by saying he wouldn’t trade his time at the Villa Roma and Sullivan Catskills for anything. “It’s been a wonderful and fun ride.”