Greater Port Washington BID & Ayhan Restaurant Group To Host Group Travel Planners Regional Meeting

The Greater Port Washington Business Improvement District (BID) and Ayhan’s Restaurant Group (Fish Kebab & Shish Kebab Restaurants, Mediterranean Marketplace) are co-hosting the Long Island Chapter of the Group Leaders of America (GLAMER) on Thursday, May 10, 2012, at both the Shish Kebab and Fish Kebab Restaurants, 283 & 286 Main Street, Port Washington.

GLAMER, headquartered in Salem, Ohio, leads the travel industry as the nation's largest organization for senior group travel. It helps 20,000 Travel Planners make travel plans for 4.5 million group travelers.  They are predominately seniors and boomers who belong to AARP Chapters, Bank Travel Clubs, Church Groups, Retirement Villages and Senior Organizations.

According to the New York State Department of Labor, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, in 2010, Tourism in New York generated 356,570 jobs and $13,578.8 billion in revenue of which 185,150 (52%), $6,403.3 billion was within the Culture, Recreation, Amusements and Food sector.  According to the same report, on Long Island (Nassau & Suffolk), which are ranked 4th and 3rd in the State, Tourism generated 37,080 jobs, $1,186.9 billion in revenue of which 23,250 jobs (62.7%), $583,100 million was within the Culture, Recreation, Amusements and Food sectors.

It is the desired hope and intention of the BID’s Board of Directors to make Port Washington a preferred destination within this lucrative market. The group travel planners are in a unique position to set the agendas for their bus tours based on their familiarity of an area.  The Port Washington BID is using this event to show case Port Washington’s downtown and local tourist assets such as the Landmark on Main Street, Polish American Museum, Sands-Willet House, Falaise and Hempstead House as well as picturesque Manhasset Bay and its environs to the meeting’s attendees. Arrangements have been made by the BID for a 2-hour guided bus tour of our area as part of the Meeting’s itinerary.

“We are quite excited about hosting this event.” said BID Board President, Paul Oleksiw. “It gives us another avenue to show off all Port has to offer…fine restaurants, great local shops and magnificent attractions.”

“Port is truly a gem of a place to shop, live and work which is why so many in the Entertainment Industry have already discovered Port Washington as a great place to shoot movie, TV dramas and sitcoms as well as commercials on location here in town”, added BID Board Vice-President, Christina Cheng,  “We want the Tourism Industry to identify and bring tourists to our area as well. Their dollars will strengthen our local economy.”

“We want to especially thank Ayhan Hassan for opening the doors of two of his restaurants and his generosity in offering the menu that he has planned for the day’s event. We are so fortunate to have Ayhan as one of Port’s own”, said BID Executive Director, Roy Smitheimer.

As part of the local host agreement, the BID will have complimentary display table at the Travel Marketplace/Exhibitors Room and a 15 minute presentation during the luncheon program part of the meeting.  The BID will also be able to display at 2 additional regional GLAMER meetings. In addition, sales leads will be provided by GLAMER to the BID following the meeting. Any business and tourist site interested in providing material such as coupons, restaurant menus, catalogs, product and business services, please contact the BID’s office at 516.883.8890 or gpwbid@optonline.net.

Please note this meeting is closed to the general public.