This is such a huge honor to be on the cover of Dutchess Tourism Inc's "Discover Dutchess: Official Inspiration Guide." 

Okay, so it's not like I am front and center or anything, but TECHNICALLY, I am on the cover! Last summer, President and CEO of Dutchess Tourism Inc Melaine Rottkamp, who I know from In Touch, invited me to perform music on The Hudson River Sloop Clearwater. It was such an honor to get to play some music for everyone on the Sloop, which was created by legendary music icon and environmental activist Pete Seeger. Not just that, but the crew showed us how to hoist the sails and other awesome stuff on deck! It's good to be a FOM, as Melaine calls it (Friend of Melaine)!

Read More: Dutchess County Prepares for National Travel & Tourism Week

Dutchess Tourism, the official destination marketing organization for Dutchess County, hosted its annual brochure exchange on May 9, 2024, at the Mid-Hudson Discovery Museum, Poughkeepsie, N.Y. where they released the new 2024 Discover Dutchess Destination Guide to inspire travelers to visit the Mid-Hudson Valley. Dutchess County Executive Sue Serino and Dutchess Tourism President & CEO Melaine Rottkamp recognized individuals certified as Dutchess Tourism Ambassadors and shared the outlook for the upcoming travel season in Dutchess. The event saw a gathering of forty tourism-related businesses coming together to network and collaborate in anticipation of the upcoming summer travel season. This annual gathering leads up to National Travel and Tourism Week (NTTW) from May 19-25, 2024.   

Dutchess Tourism’s commitment to excellence extends beyond promotion to workforce development initiatives. These curated programs ensure that hospitality professionals are equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to deliver outstanding service, enhancing the overall visitor experience to the Hudson Valley. Launched in August 2022, DTI’s Certified Tourism Ambassador™ (CTA) course, an industry-recognized certified accreditation through the Tourism Ambassador Institute®, has graduated over 425 CTAs from 165 businesses and organizations. The Guest Service Gold Tourism® (GSGT) program, an online course available in English and Spanish, is focused on delivering superior customer service. GSGT is available for free through July, thanks to funds from Dutchess County government through an American Rescue Plan (ARP) grant. Individuals wanting to participate can visit www.dutchesstourism.com/workforce or contact Lauren Beale, consumer services and tourism programs manager, at training@dutchesstourism.com for details.