Tourism, the revived lifeline for economics and livelihood in the Sullivan Catskills, celebrated its success once again at the Sullivan Catskills Visitors Association’s (SCVA) annual dinner held at Bethel Woods Center for the Arts last Thursday. Last year alone saw tourism revenue surpass $969 million.

Reflecting on the widespread success in the industry, the dozens of community members and leaders lended their thoughts and well wishes in light of the announcement of the retirement of SCVA’s President and CEO Roberta Byron-Lockwood. 

In their expressions of gratitude, industry members noted Thursday night that when Roberta took over heading the local industry’s now-biggest support group in a moment of a lethargic depression in 2000, she believed in the area’s legacy and potential – enshrining and uniting the surrounding areas under the umbrella term “the Sullivan Catskills”.

The success of her work since then is in the numbers, with the Visitor’s Association being as small as only a few dozen members with a budget of $500,000 when she first began, to 750 plus members with over $3 million to work with. Roberta received a standing ovation following her address to the crowd.

“When I arrived in 2000, many thought it impossible for a once thriving tourist destination to emerge from the ashes of a collapsed resort industry,” Byron-Lockwood said. “Here we are, twenty-four years later, stronger than ever through the resort industry collapse, the 2008 recession and the 2020 Covid epidemic.”

“As I prepare to retire, I take great pride that I leave this post knowing that travel spending here has reached an unprecedented $969 million... just short of one billion dollars; what an amazing feat we have accomplished together,” she said.

The SCVA also bestowed six entities with awards for their work in the industry in the past year. Those individuals and business honored included:

Sullivan Catskills Emerging Business Award: Erika Malmgreen, Kent Findley, Mike Bruestle and Shana Bruestle at Two Farms Brewing 

TOAST Award for Exceptional Service: Katie McMyne and Irvin Sorto from the Eldred Preserve 

Sullivan Catskills Ambassador Award: Paul Nanni and Marla Puccetti at The Heron 

STAR Award for Individual Achievement: Bill Hess, Director of Orchards and Facilities at Seminary Hill.  

STAR Award for Business Achievement: Mike Taylor owner, Holiday Mountain

President’s Award: Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther