14 LONGISLANDPRESS.COM • MAY 2020
HOLD FAST
SUPPORTING HOSPITALITY WORKERS
BY KRISTEN JARNAGIN
President and CEO, Discover Long Island
Following a year of record-breaking
highs, Long Island’s $6.1 billion
tourism industry has been crippled
by the effects of the coronavirus
pandemic.
More than 100,000 jobs that rely on
visitors are at stake, and the loss of
tourism sales tax revenues that fund
our counties will be immediately felt
by residents. In 2018, more than $740
million was generated in local and
state tourism tax revenues, and the
counties rely heavily on those dollars
to fund our critical services.
To date, hotel occupancy in the region
is down 68.4 percent year over year.
More than 80 percent of tourism
industry businesses on Long Island
are small businesses and many are
struggling to access federal financial
assistance.
Discover Long Island, the region’s official
destination marketing and management
organization, has responded
to today’s ever-changing crisis by
serving as a resource to hospitality
workers and most importantly acting
as a voice of hope and courage for the
community during this disheartening
time.
Right now, there’s nothing more important
than taking care of each other
and coming together as an industry
and a community. Our team is striving
to serve as an information portal, a resource
for our struggling businesses
and tourism industry employees, and
a beacon of light for our residents and
business community.
The organization has launched a free
Community Partner Program and
nationally recognized inspirational
Hold Fast message designed to support
and inspire residents, the business
community, and the nation to believe
that this storm too will pass. The new
program allows all tourism-related
businesses to stay connected during
this critical time and to leverage
Discover Long Island’s voice and
influence.
Charity T-shirts with the #HoldFast
message are available for purchase
at shop.discoverlongisland.com with
proceeds directly benefiting the region’s
tourism employees through the
Above and Beyond Foundation.
As discussions of reopening start
to take place, Discover Long Island
reminds residents that it will be with
renewed gratitude that we open our
hearts, as well as our doors, and once
again prepare to welcome back both
visitors and locals to our shores.
POINT OF VIEW
“There’s nothing more important than taking care
of each other and coming together
as an industry and a community.”
“How Being Apart Can Bring Us Closer Together”
RONALD FATOULLAH, ESQ. CAROL WALDMAN, MS STEVEN LORING
INFORMATIVE PANEL DISCUSSION WITH:
• RONALD FATOULLAH, ESQ. – AWARD WINNING ELDER LAW ATTORNEY
• CAROL WALDMAN, MS, GERONTOLOGIST, CURRENT ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER, NASSAU COUNTY
OFFICE FOR THE AGING AND NASSAU COUNTY LIAISON FOR NYS AGE FRIENDLY INITIATIVE
• STEVEN LORING, WRITER AND DIRECTOR OF THE MOVIE “THE AGE OF LOVE”
In many cases this pandemic has left us feeling out of control, isolated, frightened and lonely. Yet, it has been
an opportunity to learn many positive lessons about relationships, family and even ageism. Join us to discuss
what this time has meant to you and how you may have grown as an individual and part of your community.
Learn how you can gain more control in the future with sound legal and financial planning.
Thursday, May 14th/ Zoom Webinar/ 1:00PM Register at:
https://fatoullahzoomwebinarapril20.eventbrite.com
/shop.discoverlongisland.com
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