Nowhere to Stay? What About Geneva?

Somebody representing the City and Town of Geneva in tourism or economic development ought to call the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle (D and C) first thing in the morning. Let them know there are lots of overnight accommodations in the area.

Sunday, July 20, 2008, the D and C ran a front page story declaring “Limited lodging [in Canandaigua] leaves summer visitors nowhere to stay.” The article says tourist accommodations are tight in Canandaigua in the month of July, thanks to the Hill Cumorah Pageant in Palmyra, two arts festivals, concerts at the Sands Performing Arts Center, and weddings and swimming. According to the D and C, lots of Canadians come down to spend in the U.S., where their dollars go further, adding to the crunch.

The D and C noted the 56-room Canandaigua Econo-Lodge closed last year, and quoted Canandaigua Chamber president, Alison Grems, who says, “We could use two more hotels in the summer.”

What the D and C did not mention is that less than 20 miles from Canandaigua in the City and the Town of Geneva, there are lots of places to stay. Whether they're all booked, too, they still deserved a mention as Finger Lakes area accommodations.

While we have been champions of shared services and coordinated efforts in local government administration, our previous posts on the successes of communities like our own have shown that when it comes to promoting tourism, promoting the arts, promoting recreation, promoting the community as a whole: Redundancy is key! Many voices singing the praises of Geneva, each with their own pitch, is what will get the job done. So, when it comes to tourism development, less is not more!