Those free trolley rides are back on track after some local hoteliers and the Niagara Tourism and Convention Corp. reached an agreement on keeping the existing route.
The hotel owners had objected earlier when NTCC President John Percy said he wanted to see the trolley shuttle service extended to other places like Youngstown, Lockport and North Tonawanda.
With both sides apparently unable to agree on the matter, state Sen. George D. Maziarz, R-Newfane, said he would not support any bill in the Senate — the session was scheduled to end today — unless the hotel owners and Percy settled their differences.
The state Assembly had already approved a measure for Niagara Falls hoteliers to increase their 4 percent bed tax to 5 percent, with the additional revenue earmarked for the trolley service.
Frank Strangio, who operates the Quality Inn, Niagara Falls Boulevard, said the hoteliers were primarily interested in extending the service this year for a longer period of time and to include the downtown trolley as part of the same free trip. At present, the other trolley has offered a shuttle around the South End, charging passengers $1 each.
“The NTCC never had any intent to block this plan for the trolley,” Percy said. “We support the existing legislation and we’d like to take another look in early fall to see if we can possibly expand the service. To do it this season was never part of the plan.”
Percy added that, in his opinion, if the trolley service extends to Lockport and other county destinations, it could be a significant factor in extending a visitor’s stay.
“Percy and I are actually on the same page about this. And we believe the whole idea of the trolley is a great service for the Falls,” Strangio said, “There’s no question it would make sense to extend it. Our guests would certainly like the idea of getting a free ride to Old Fort Niagara and other attractions.”
Strangio, however, contends that the local tourist industry has to build on what it now has.
Tourism
June 21, 2006
Falls trolley service staying on track
Routes won’t be extended this summer
- Tourism
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Memorial Day weekend attendance up at Niagara Falls State Park
Despite the threat that many state parks would be shut down over the Memorial Day weekend, attendance at the Niagara Falls State Park exceeded the number of visitors for the same period a year ago.
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LEWISTON: Slight detour for bus
Plans for a planned free bus service for tourists set to run between Niagara Falls, Lewiston and Youngstown may be taking a slight detour because of a town attorney’s ties to a transportation company.
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GLYNN: Smooth sailing ahead for Jet Boat Tours?
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WEB SITE ACCLAIM: Physicist finds his labor of love listed among the top 10 museums for “geeks.”
“Geeks” around the world should know about the Niagara Science Museum. -
NIAGARA TOURISM:
New leader at retail center is hoping to revitalize one of the tourist district's largest attractions.
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LEWISTON: Historic caboose pulls into Silo
Operator plans on using train as new ice cream shop along waterfront.
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NTCC: City tourism board moving to cut agency’s annual funding
Niagara Falls Tourism Advisory Board members reiterated Monday they want to strip the Niagara Tourism and Convention Corp. of nearly half of its annual budget and spend the money on improving city streets.
“This is not a witch hunt and it’s not a game,” board chairman Jerry Genova said. “This is for real.” -
TOURISM: Locals urged to woo state with possibilities
The funding pie may be smaller, but there’s plenty of slices still up for grabs.
That was the main theme of Friday’s Niagara Falls Legislative Reception as state officials promised the over 150 in attendance they would continue lobbying for the local tourism industry, despite what’s expected to be one of the worst economic years in history. -
TRAVEL: Plenty of buzz in Eden
The name of the place says it all: The Original Kazoo Co. And, boy, do its owners mean original.
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LIFESTYLE: Guests get fed up as hotel fees pile up
It’s the little - and not so little - hotel fees that drive frequent traveler Michael Sommer up a wall.
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