Latest news with #VisitErie
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Presque Isle beaches named among most underrated in the US
Just in time for summer fun, an article on travel website listed Presque Isle among the 24 more underrated beaches in the country. Landing the number 12 spot on the list, Presque Isle is given props for providing a pristine place to unwind. Lineup, scheduled announced for Sounds Around Town concert series The article also notes that it boasts 11 miles of coastline, is home to 300 bird species and provides endless water sport activities. The director of communications for VisitErie said she couldn't agree more. Fraudsters immitating PA court system in new texting scam 'Because we're a hidden gem, and I think we take pride in that. We want more people to come and discover it, and I think articles like this really help,' said Chris Temple, director of communications for VisitErie. Presque Isle State Park opened a number of guarded beaches last weekend, kicking off the busy summer season. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
VisitErie unveils new brand celebrating life by the lake
VisitErie has introduced a new brand to attract visitors and highlight the region's lifestyle. Last year, tourism in the Erie area generated over $1.2 billion in visitor spending and supported more than 15,000 jobs. VisitErie's rebranding effort is designed to maintain this momentum by appealing to both visitors and residents. 'Visitors and what they are looking for and what they want has changed,' said John Oliver, President & CEO of VisitErie. 'Visitors in the past it was often a static vacation. Now, they want to be active.' The new brand, 'Good Life. Great Lake.', is intended to reflect Erie as a year-round destination, offering experiences from sandy summer beaches to snow-covered slopes. State officials emphasize National Safe Boating Week ahead of Memorial Day John Oliver emphasized that the region provides a wide range of activities to keep visitors engaged and stress-free. Emily Biddle, Director of Marketing & Research at VisitErie, highlighted the significance of living on a Great Lake, noting that it is a major draw for both residents and visitors. 'We sort of take for granted the fact that we live on a great lake, that's huge,' she said. The rebranding process took 18 months and involved developing not just a new logo and tagline, but a comprehensive look, feel, and tone. Emily Biddle explained that the process was about understanding what resonates with people and creating a brand that embodies the local community. The rebranding is built on five key pillars: the great outdoors, a foodie favorite, markers and culture, family-friendly for all ages, and heritage woven in. These pillars aim to promote Erie as a diverse and attractive destination for various interests. With this new branding strategy, VisitErie hopes to continue attracting both new and returning visitors, potentially leading to further growth in tourism and economic benefits for the region. 'It's going to encourage visitors, those that haven't been here, to say 'hey we should give this a try',' John Oliver stated. All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by WJET/WFXP. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat from a broadcast script into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by WJET/WFXP staff before being published. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Erie's John Oliver responds to Last Week Tonight's John Oliver
(WJET/WFXP) — It's a battle of the John Olivers. After Erie got some attention from Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, the president and CEO of VisitErie, John Oliver, posted a response to the TV host, inviting him to visit. On the most recent episode of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, the host mentioned the canceled plans for a $300 million recycling plant for Erie, along with a historic anecdote about Mad Anthony Wayne and how his corpse was boiled in oil to have his skeleton shipped back to his home town, stating 'and thanks to the foiled recycling plant, remains the only thing I will ever know about Erie, Pennsylvania.' In response, VisitErie posted a video to their social media featuring their own John Oliver standing in front of the kettle used to boil the general's corpse, which is on display at the Hagen History Center, inviting the TV host to come visit the site any time while also calling attention to the great things about Erie. 'But from John Oliver to another, we wanted to share some other things that you should know about Erie,' the Erieite said. Oliver also pointed out Erie's renowned beaches on Presque Isle State Park, along with some notable figures who've called Erie home, including Train's Pat Monahan, Former Head of Homeland Security Tom Ridge and how Tom Hanks wrote and directed the movie That Thing You Do about a band from Erie. Oliver also called attention to Erie's fishing scene, Waldameer and its massive grape growing industry for notable companies like Welch's, punctuating the video with an invitation for the two to have dinner. 'Consider this your official invitation to learn more about Erie, Pennsylvania and even join me for dinner here in Erie because what's better than one John Oliver, but two John Olivers,' he said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Looking back: One year ago, Erie was at the center of the solar eclipse's path of totality
One year ago, on April 8, 2024, Erie was a prime location with some of the best seats in North America to view the first total solar eclipse visible from the continent since 2017. People came from near and far to witness a celestial phenomenon that won't occur again until Aug. 22, 2044. And that total solar eclipse won't be visible in Erie. Roughly 100,000 visitors found spots throughout the Erie region to catch the eclipse, which lasted nearly 2½ hours from beginning of partial phases to totality and finish. The total eclipse started at 3:16 p.m. in the city and lasted approximately 3 minutes, 39 seconds. Revisit coverage from and the Times-News of that historic day: Reporters from and the Pennsylvania's USA TODAY Network were among the sky watchers in crowds at several viewing events in Erie County and beyond. People from around the globe visited Erie for eclipse. There was an eclipse wedding at Frontier Park, vendors all around Erie, a Gov. Josh Shapiro visit to Perry Square and UPMC Park, and events in locations throughout the county. Roughly 100,000 people from Nepal, Germany and across the country came to Erie, according to VisitErie. But the gray skies and light rains might have kept some at home while others headed west in search of better weather on April 8, 2024. "It wasn't just Erie," said John Oliver, CEO of VisitErie. "We noted that, along with others along the path of totality, that attendance still wasn't as high as we thought it might have gone. The weather was a factor." That didn't get to watch it, but there were even a few babies born in Erie on eclipse day. From the beaches of Presque Isle State Park to vineyards of North East, crowds cheered as the moon obscured the sun and made Erie a hot destination from visitors from across the country. From the smallest of backyards to the biggest of venues — including Frontier Park, Lake Erie Speedway, UPMC Park, Perry Square, Presque Isle State Park and the remote Erie National Wildlife Refuge in Crawford County — viewers wore their ISO-certified glasses and looked to the heavens. No one can accuse the community of failing to plan. For more than a year, leaders from tourism, law enforcement, the business community, education and local government worked to ensure that Erie seized the cosmic moment. The Times-News provided everything residents and visitors needed to know, from the weather and traffic, to details on more than 40 different watch events during the eclipse. This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Solar eclipse a year later: Erie thrived during moment of totality
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Erie Canadian tourism numbers expected to dip amid political turmoil
Canadian tourists were responsible for $20 billion in spending last year, a portion of that right here in Erie. But those numbers are expected to decline this year. Political tension and economic upheaval are having an impact on tourism between Canada and the United States and Erie businesses are already feeling the sting. Local businesses feeling effects of Rt. 20 bridge collapse six months later It's not uncommon to see a Canadian flag flying alongside old glory in Erie. But our neighbors to the north are making fewer trips here as of late. 'In February the three bridges up in Western NY for Canadians to come across was down about 15 percent in cross border traffic that's coming from Canada to the US,' said John Oliver, president and CEO of VisitErie. The president of VisitErie said a promotional campaign they ran in January provided a foreshadowing of what was to come or rather who was not to come. 'The comments we were getting back were not good. You know we're not coming,' Oliver said. 'It's a crisis' Erie County refugees in crisis due to federal funding freeze Scott Enterprises confirmed that travel from Canada was down 21% during the Canadian Spring Break at both Splash Lagoon and Peak'n Peek. The executive director of hotel operations said overall since the start of the year, their Canadian guests are down 5-8%. 'We got a few surveys back from Splash Lagoon when they traveled here stating that whenever things change with the current economic situation they would be back more often,' said Lance Rihn, executive director of hotel operations for Scott Enterprises. 'When they're only get 60 cents on their dollar that certainly makes vacationing cross border in the US far more expensive,' Oliver explained. Rescued pup Bernard finds loving home after recovering from abuse But there's more. 'It's fueled too by the political situation as well. We're hearing that too from our guests. They flat out say once that changes, we'll be back in full force,' Rihn went on to say. According to VisitErie, the Millcreek Mall has not seen a decline in tour buses from Canada. The hope is tax-free shopping will lure Canadians back in spite of political tensions. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
