Jul 10, 2024
The Genesee County Chamber of Commerce first learned about this year’s solar eclipse in spring 2022.
What developed was the “GeneSEE the Eclipse” campaign that prepped the area for the once-in-a-lifetime occurrence. And it’s now receiving statewide recognition.
The “GeneSEEtheEclipse Project” has been honored with a New York State Tourism Excellence Award by the New York State Tourism Industry Association.
“We started working on the GeneSEE program in January 2023,” said Tourism Marketing Director Kelly Rapone. “Going into 2023, we didn’t necessarily realize the scope of our role in the project. We thought we were going to be just an arm of it but ultimately we became the leader.”
The April 8 solar eclipse was a nationwide event that started nationally in Texas and made its way through Western New York. Much of Genesee County was directly in its zone of totality.
The lead-up involved months of preparations for an influx of visitors, along with lead-ups emphasizing the once-in-a-lifetime experience and sheer fun involved.
With the exception of public safety and similar preparations, the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce was at the center of those efforts within the county.
“We started our creative in early January (2023) and had our concept completed by into design of the glasses and getting the glasses ordered,” Rapone said. “In March 2023 we started hitting the streets and trying to inform our communities.”
Then came the process of marketing the eclipse and bringing area communities on-board — and keeping tabs on multiple small details along the way.
The campaign also included the chamber’s eclipse website with updates and activities, and the “Genny Sees the Eclipse” children’s book as the big day approached.
Those factors all played a role in the award.
“The campaigns, initiatives, and projects submitted for the 2024 New York State Tourism Excellence Awards illustrate the world-class work being done by New York’s tourism professionals,” said President Bob Provost of the New York State Tourism Industry Association in a statement announcing this year’s honors. “The caliber of the work nominated this year challenged the judges who reviewed and scored this year’s entries.”
The eclipse itself was somewhat imperfect when the moment arrived, with clouds and overcast blocking the view for much of the region. Much of the expected tourist influx drove an hour east or west for an unobstructed view.
But area residents still got to see the surroundings darken and feel the temperature drop as the celestial event occurred. Exact numbers weren’t immediately available Tuesday but Rapone said area businesses received a boost.
Initial statistics show a 210 percent increase in short-term lodging rental this past April compared to the same time in 2023. Chamber officials said a full report is expected in August.
And ultimately, clouds aside — was it fun?
“It really was fun,” Rapone said. “It was something incredibly unique. We had so much fun with Genny, our eclipse mascot, and everybody just really resonated with her. And then to be able to use that book as an opportunity to serve animal rescues in our community was a highlight for me.”
The efforts also gained lots of good feedback from tourist promotion agencies statewide.
“... We really knocked it out of the park as far as commemorating it for our community, and creating something we feel really proud of,” Rapone said.
“For more than a year, the Chamber staff worked collectively to ensure our community was prepared to experience a once-in-a-lifetime event,” said Chamber President Brian Cousins in a separate statement issued Tuesday. “Only through incredible collaboration with numerous organizations and stakeholders were we able to produce a campaign that demonstrated our unique position in the path of totality of the solar eclipse.
“Genny toured throughout our county for a year, was featured in her own children’s book, and posed for numerous family photos,” he continued. “We are proud of the legacy that she leaves behind. NYSTIA, as the dedicated an d committed staff here truly put their passion into promoting the event. We are hopeful that she may just be around for the next one, in 2144.”
By Matt Surtel- The Batavia Daily News
