CONTACT:
Michelle Santos, Marketing Coordinator & Social Media Strategist
Discover Albany
Phone: 518-434-1217 x 110
Email: msantos@albany.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 30, 2018
Historic Downtown Albany Food Tour Enhances Tourism Offerings for Visitors
Discover Albany’s Partner Taste of Troy Food Tours
Expands into Downtown Albany
Albany, NY – This May, Discover Albany’s partner Taste of Troy Food Tours is increasing downtown Albany’s tourism programs for visitors with the launch of the Historic Downtown Albany Food Tour.
Amy Koren-Roth founded Taste of Troy Food Tours in Troy in 2016 and decided to expand the company to Albany in 2017. Discover Albany has worked with Amy Koren-Roth to develop this new, weekly Albany-focused tour to increase tourism offerings for visitors. Aligning with Discover Albany’s “Tastes and Traditions” initiative, the new guided walking tour combines Albany’s rich history with the city’s recent exciting culinary accomplishments.
“It has been fun developing my Historic Downtown Albany Food Tour to highlight the great food scene that is emerging,” says Koren-Roth. “It has also been great to learn how both sides of the Hudson River played key roles in New York’s rich history and to include a few historical tidbits that even locals might not know about on my tour! I can’t wait to introduce my tour guests to Albany’s rich history, and to the city’s culinary entrepreneurs.
The Historic Downtown Albany Food Tour will launch May 4 and be offered every Friday from May to October. Visitors will experience Albany’s evolving culinary scene firsthand through six tastes from Albany restaurants including C. H. Evans Brewing Company at the Albany Pump Station, ama cocina, The Hollow Bar and Kitchen, Cider Belly Doughnuts, Stacks Espresso Bar and the Olde English Pub. The walking tour also features historic fun facts about the city and stops in important city landmarks such as the First Church in Albany.
“I believe the tour will get people involved with the downtown urban sprawl that is starting to happen and also get them involved in the businesses as well as the residential boost that is taking place,” says Jessica Evans, owner of ama cocina. “There’s beautiful history right in the heart of Albany city, but there’s also a great futuristic plan and approach of what’s to come as well."
The new tour is supported in part by the City of Albany Capital Resource Corporation and Capitalize Albany Corporation, a community launch event made possible by the Amplify Albany Grant Program is scheduled for May 3 at the Albany Heritage Area Visitors Center. The event will include light refreshments from stops along the tour route, a ribbon-cutting, poetry readings and classical music. The party is free and open to the public.
“This is a promising beginning to downtown Albany’s latest tourist attraction,” says Capitalize Albany Corporation president and City of Albany Capital Resource Corporation CEO Sarah Reginelli. “New investment in both downtown residential and tourism is strengthening the downtown Albany restaurant landscape. This tour’s series will serve as distinct programming that will support downtown’s newest restaurants and local history.”
ABOUT Discover Albany
The Albany County Convention & Visitors Bureau, Inc. was established in 1976 to promote the civic and commercial progress of the community through increased development of conventions and tourism. Today, the organization is known as Discover Albany. Discover Albany currently represents more than 300 member businesses and assists each year in hundreds of regional meetings. Discover Albany also operates the Albany Heritage Area Visitors Center, Henry Hudson Planetarium, and the Albany International Airport Information Center. The Albany County Convention and Visitors Bureau Foundation was established in 1993 to provide educational opportunities and work with other organizations to secure grants and funding to advance regional travel and tourism projects. For more information, call 518-434-1217 or 800-258-3582 or visit www.albany.org.
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