Who’s Powering Our Local Economy? Meet the Tourism Pros Making It Happen

Otsego & Schoharie Counties, N.Y. — If you’ve ever wondered who’s behind the scenes convincing people to visit our charming small towns and city, spend money at local businesses, and fall in love with the region, we’d like to introduce you to the unsung heroes: the destination professionals at Destination Marketing Corporation (DMC).

This team doesn’t just design pretty brochures and hope for the best. They are the driving force behind This Is Cooperstown, WeGoOtsego.com and Visit Schoharie County, working to attract visitors, support local businesses, and ultimately create places that people want to visit, live, work, and invest in.

And the results? Well, they speak for themselves.

More Visitors, More Dollars, More Community Impact

Let’s talk numbers—because while, yes, tourism is about experiences, it’s also about economic impact. In Schoharie County, since DMC was awarded the tourism marketing contract in November 2019, occupancy tax collections have skyrocketed by 138%. In Otsego County, occupancy tax collections jumped from $1.24 million in 2009 to over $4 million today—a nearly 200% increase in visitor-generated revenue. Initially in 2009, 40% of bed tax revenue was set aside for marketing, in 2025 it’s down to just 18%.

Tourism = Jobs. A Lot of Them.

Tourism isn’t just about weekend getaways and brewery crawls—it’s a serious economic driver for our communities. According to the most recent Tourism Economics Impact report commissioned by Empire STate Development’s Division of Tourism, otherwise known as I LOVE NEW YORK, Otsego County tourism generates $135 million in labor income, making up 10.8% of all wages in the county. Meanwhile, Schoharie County tourism supports $39 million in local labor income. The average income for tourism employees in Schoharie County is $32,700 and $40,000 in Otsego County - real paychecks for real people.

What Else Does DMC Do? (Besides Everything)

3,000+ Events Listed for Free
DMC manages the region’s most comprehensive, inclusive, and totally free events calendars on their This Is Cooperstown, We Go Otsego and Visit Schoharie County websites. If something’s happening, chances are, they’ve got it listed.

New Website, More Bookings
The integration of Book > Direct on ThisIsCooperstown.com allowed potential visitors to book hotels directly from the site, resulting in 21,000 referrals and over $220,000 in attributed booking revenue.

Supporting Major Employers
DMC partners with Bassett Healthcare and other employers to provide recruitment, relocation and retention materials—because attracting top talent means making sure people know why they should want to live here, not just visit.

Community Collaboration
The team worked with 15 regional businesses and organizations to launch https://whatsupstateny.com/live-upstate/otsego-county, a resource for prospective residents and students with information on local towns, education, housing, and more.

Influencer & Content Creator Collaborations
DMC brought in nine content creators, writers, and influencers to explore the region—highlighting everything from Cooperstown’s arts scene to Schoharie County’s outdoor adventures. Their work reaches thousands of potential visitors and is expected to keep rolling out this spring.

The Bottom Line: Tourism Pays Off

For every $1 invested in tourism marketing, the return is undeniable:

  • $10 in visitor spending

  • $4 in local employment income

  • $1.20 in tax revenue

And yet, despite this clear economic boost, destination marketing efforts often fly under the radar.

So on February 19, Destination Professionals Day, take a moment to appreciate the behind-the-scenes work of the DMC team. They’re not just promoting tourism; they’re building a stronger, more vibrant community for everyone.

If you see one of them out and about, maybe buy them a coffee (or better yet, a beer). They’ve more than earned it.

To stay updated on their activities and initiatives, visit their websites at ThisIsCooperstown.com, WeGoOtsego.com, and UpstateVacations.com or follow them on Facebook or Instagram at @ThisIsCooperstown, @We.Go.Otsego and @VisitSchoharieCounty.

About the Destination Marketing Corporation:

The Destination Marketing Corporation for Otsego and Schoharie Counties (DMC) was established in 2014 as a not-for-profit 501c6. By contract with Otsego and Schoharie Counties, the DMC has been designated the Tourism Promotion Agency (TPA) under the New York State Tourism Matching Funds Program.  The DMC is funded by a portion of the occupancy tax revenues collected in contract with Otsego County; Cooperative marketing investments with tourism Partners; and annual grants from the NYS Division of Tourism/Matching Funds Program.