Please listen to this articleLong Island has won record-breaking tourist dollars, and this trend is expected to rise as the region attracts new visitors.
That’s according to Discover Long Island (DLI), which sells the region. During DLI’s legislative breakfast at Melville-based Hilton Long Island, the leader promoted the high-profile events ahead. They highlighted the marketing campaigns and efforts to highlight small local businesses. There was also talk about the rebranding of SUNY (State University of New York) which went into one of the major athletic conferences and helped attract tourist dollars.
“We’re committed to providing a range of services to our customers,” said Kristen Reynolds, president and CEO of Discover Long Island. “Tourism promotes revenue and drives revenue for residents.”
Tourism spending on Long Island reached $7.5 billion, bringing in $900 million local and state tax revenues, as reported in October 2024. Visitors increased by 12.7% year-on-year, with tourism creating 76,227 jobs.
Now, “2025 has already proven to be a monumental year, and there are plenty on the horizon,” said Mitch Parry, chairing the DLI board of directors.
The key focus of this year is coming to Beth Page Black, the 2025 Ryder Cup and golf tournament.
The event is expected to bring 250,000 visitors to Long Island, bringing “at least $150 million in overall economic impact.” “The scale of this event is unprecedented on Long Island, but DLI is struggling to make each visitor’s experience in the area unforgettable.” DLI has launched microsites, apps, golf commercials and marketing strategies around the Rider Cup.
Additionally, the 100th anniversary of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s iconic novel The Great Gatsby brings the historic Gold Coast region to its natural international spotlight. He was creating stories because it was the author’s home and inspiration for the setting of the novel,” Parry said.
High-profile events coming up include the NHL All-Star Game, the US Open at Cinecock and the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution on Long Island.
“Each of these events further cement Long Island’s reputation as a major destination for visitors from all over the world,” Parry said.
Parry said DLI’s legislative breakfast focuses primarily on Suffolk County, with the organization no longer being contracted by Nassau County.
In 2024, Nassau retained the Glenhead-based RRDA as the official tourism marketing organization. Since then, RRDA has promoted events like the Cricket World Cup last summer, attracting domestic and international attention. Now, RRDA is preparing for the National BBQ Festival at Eisenhower Park, featuring a $100,000 wallet. The event will attract more than 20,000 attendees, pitmasters, celebrity judges and more from around the region and across the country.
Parry said this year, DLI challenges, including “contractual and fundraising issues,” have “slowed marketing efforts.” Still, he said the organization is “full of hope” that Suffolk County will “continue to include much-needed convention centers” in Ronkonkoma’s new plans.
The county says, “We continue to lose a lot of customs and the ability to host meetings due to the lack of facilities to host, and we know that the county will significantly increase the tax revenue it collects as visitors and conventions outside the county spend four times as much money as residents.”
At that point, Reynolds said 12,000 rooms have been booked for the Ryder Cup. But she said, “250,000 people are here. Do you know where they are staying? They don’t have a hotel, so they’re in New York City. We’re losing all of that revenue. Visitor, she said, “We’re coming, but they’re staying elsewhere and spending money on other places.”
At the meeting, Smithtown State Assemblyman Michael Fitzpatrick spoke about meetings with state officials about the rebranding of the state university system.
He spoke about “dropping the old Suny acronym.” It says it’s “old” and changed to “New York University” or UNY – similar to UVA (University of Virginia) or UNC (University of North Carolina).
“We have a great state university, but we are not a national brand,” he said. In conversations with academic, business, labor and alumni leaders, he is trying to grow support by “not just rebranding” and “creating that national brand to attract the best students to Long Island.”
Fitzpatrick said that rebranding UNY could set goals within 10 years “to establish the New York University Sports Program as a major player and enter one of the major athletic conferences.”
It may require a new or expanded stadium, but Fitzpatrick has assembled an improved sports program as a “major revenue driver.” He thinks of opportunities for “sightseeing and hospitality.”
New campaigns about the region included marketing at the Florida airport, where JetBlue offers non-stop flights to Long Island MacArthur Airport, and at the spring training stadium where the New York Yankees and New York Mets play. DLI also had its first Super Bowl commercial this year.
To promote local organizations and individuals, DLI has introduced six new videos to its You Belng series. The series features Adventureland, Arbor View House Bed and Breakfast, Fire Island Ferry, artists John Melilo, Huntington Lighthouse and Little Ramkaki.
