Press release
BATAVIA, NY – The Genesee County Chamber of Commerce has released several key documents from the ongoing Brand Genesee initiative, including the Destination Assessment Report, the summary of findings from the September Public Visioning Workshop, and visitor spending, lodging, and mobile data provided through Rove. These materials, along with a general project overview, are now available on the project website at BrandGenesee.com.
The documents reflect nine months of research and community engagement with residents, local leaders, and visitors. Together, they mark an important point in the effort to understand Genesee County’s identity and guide the future direction of its tourism program.
“Over the past year, we’ve worked closely with our consultants and Steering Committee to gather insights from across every corner of the county,” said Kelly Rapone, Tourism Director for Genesee County at the Chamber. “The findings are helping inform the direction of the initiative, from how we look to further develop our communities to strengthening partnerships and shaping the future of the county’s tourism program. We appreciate the community’s participation throughout these many months, and you can now see how that feedback and research have been organized for our use.”
Next Steps In the coming months the consulting team and Steering Committee will focus on two major deliverables: developing the public-facing brand and creating a new five-year strategic tourism plan guided by the research findings and countywide priorities. Once finalized, the new brand identity will be integrated into digital platforms and marketing materials, supported by a strategic plan aimed at strengthening Genesee County’s visitor economy and sense of place. A public brand launch is planned for 2026 and will be announced as the project moves forward.
About Brand Genesee Brand Genesee is a countywide initiative to develop a unified brand identity and a five-year strategic tourism plan that supports economic growth, community pride, and quality of life. The project is led by the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce and a Steering Committee and is being conducted by BLKDOG Design and Think Place Agency. The project will be complete by summer 2026. For current or previous project updates, visit BrandGenesee.com . Questions may be directed to Kelly Rapone at the Chamber office.