Hundreds of tour operators will return to Buffalo in February 2006 as a result of a decision made last week by the board of the Ohio Travel Association. Buffalo has been selected for a return visit by the Heartland Travel Showcase, one of the nation�s top travel industry tradeshows.

�The announcement marks the second time that Buffalo has been selected to host the Heartland Travel Showcase,� said Richard Geiger, President Buffalo Niagara Convention & Visitors Bureau. �We�re thrilled that this event is returning to Buffalo, because it brings travel buyers to Buffalo Niagara and provides them with a great opportunity to see all the region has to offer so that they return with motorcoaches full of tourists.�

�Buffalo Niagara is currently reaping the benefits of relationships initiated and built as a result of Buffalo�s hosting the 2002 Heartland Travel Showcase,� said David Lacki, Buffalo Niagara Convention & Visitors Bureau Director of Tourism. �We continue to receive calls and see bookings from tour operators who first met us and learned about Buffalo Niagara at the 2002 Heartland Travel Showcase.�

A thousand people and more than 1,500 hotel room nights will be used for Heartland Travel Showcase 2006, which will have an initial economic impact of $800,000 with additional impact from future group tour bookings. Attendees will visit Buffalo Niagara from Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Maryland and Southern Ontario.

�New York State�s enthusiastic and expanding participation in Heartland Travel Showcase demonstrated to us that Buffalo Niagara is integral to the success of the showcase,� said Marc McQuaid, Ohio Travel Association Executive Director.

�Tours of Buffalo Niagara will be established during and following the Heartland Travel Showcase giving us another opportunity to showcase the region�s cultural, historical, architectural and family attractions,� added Lacki.

The American Bus Association estimates that a motorcoach full of approximately 40 tourists has an $8,000 per night economic impact on the destination it visits. Group tour operators bring more than 2,000 motorcoaches to Buffalo Niagara annually.

Following participation in shows such as the Heartland Travel Showcase, the CVB�s Tourism Department regularly designs and hosts familiarization tours throughout the year that showcase a variety of Buffalo Niagara�s numerous attractions and cultural amenities. Group tour leaders then create and sell tours that bring thousands of visitors to our region annually.

The Buffalo Niagara Convention & Visitors Bureau, as the marketing leader of the Buffalo Niagara hospitality industry, promotes our region worldwide as a convention, amateur athletics, tourism, leisure, cultural tourism and business destination for the economic benefit of the community.

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Media Contact: Nancy Vargo +1 716-852-0511 nvargo@buffalocvb.org