WNY welcomes expected summer tourism boost
SILVER CREEK, N.Y. (WIVB) — Memorial Day traditionally marks the unofficial start of summer for many residents in Western New York, a time when the region typically experiences an influx of visitors.
Although the official start of summer isn't until June 20, recent dry and sunny evenings have brought a distinctly summer feel to the area, especially after days of rain.
WIVB News 4 spent Monday at Hideaway Bay, a luxury resort located on Lake Erie in Silver Creek. The resort is among several attractions that Patrick Kaler, CEO of Visit Buffalo Niagara, says will play a key role in drawing tourists to the region in the coming months.
'We are excited about all the possibilities that we have here in Western New York, especially Buffalo and Erie County,' Kaler said.
He acknowledges that recent tensions with Canada may have some impact on tourism, but efforts are underway to promote Buffalo in new markets such as Boston, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C.
'It has given us the opportunity to expand our overall megaphone, if you will, to tell the story of Buffalo and look at potential markets where we weren't placing advertising in the past. We are seeing some really strong numbers coming from those areas,' Kaler said.
This marketing strategy is also being embraced by Hideaway Bay owners Christian Edie and Kevin Cullen.
'We just started working with Step Out Buffalo, who is a great partner. Canadian neighbors are still coming down to see us. I think we have a unique experience that transcends borders and politics a little bit, so everyone can come down to the beach and have a wonderful, shared experience,' Cullen said.
Hideaway Bay offers visitors a variety of activities, including kiteboarding along the sea cliffs, fishing, saunas, and hot tubs paired with beachside food and entertainment. It's a vacation destination, especially appealing to neighbors who want to stay local this summer.
'We are here in Western New York, where there's been 10 feet of snow and lots of rain, but here we are today celebrating. It's a good time,' said beachgoer Vinny Paternostro.
'The most common thing we get daily is people saying, 'I don't feel like we're in Western New York.' I love Western New York, but it's nice to feel tropical sometimes,' said Cullen.
Just 35 minutes north of Buffalo, summer events such as the Allentown Art Festival, Fourth of July fireworks at Sahlen Field, Taste of Buffalo, and the National Buffalo Chicken Wing Festival are just a few of the happenings planned over the next several months.
'We are putting out a very strong welcoming message for Buffalo and Erie County to bring in as many visitors as we can throughout the summer months, also promoting all the fantastic small businesses, our attractions, waterfront, and the great restaurants we have,' Kaler said.
'It's really nice to be here for more than just a day. You can really get into the natural environment, relax, and just enjoy feeling like you're on vacation at a beach resort somewhere,' said Edie.
Dillon Morello is a reporter from Pittsburgh who has been part of the News 4 team since September of 2023. See more of his work here and follow him on Twitter.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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