New kiosks at the Equal Rights Heritage Center (ERHC) will make it easier for tourists to plan their trips throughout the Empire State.
Replacing their old kiosks, the two new touchscreen devices will be connected to the I Love New York website, integrating the Auburn location with the 11 New York State Welcome Centers located throughout the state.
Courtney Kasper is the Visitor Experience Manager at the ERHC. She told Finger Lakes News Radio that the kiosks will allow tourists to see what there is to do throughout the entire state not just in the area each site covers as well as promote statewide campaigns such as the upcoming total solar eclipse or Black History Month.
“It will have a whole listing of all the content you can find on I Love NY’s website,” Kasper said. “For instance, right now they’re promoting black history month so they’re promoting destinations across the state where you can learn more about black history and the black experience throughout New York State.”
City Clerk Chuck Mason echoed Kasper’s sentiments. He told Finger Lakes News Radio that these integrated kiosks will benefit Auburn, especially as the state seeks to increase African American tourism through its black travel initiative.
“The City of Auburn is excited to be a part of this I Love NY initiative as they install these new digital travel kiosks into all of the State Welcome Center facilities,” Mason said. Governor Kathy Hochul has announced plans for an I LOVE NY Black travel initiative to grow New York State tourism and encourage Black traveler visitation, and a visit to Auburn’s Harriet Tubman National Historical Park and the NYS Equal Rights Heritage Center will be top of mind for visitors to the Finger Lakes thanks to her initiative. We thank the Governor for her support with including the NYS Equal Rights Heritage Center with all of her initiatives including the new travel kiosk rollout.”
Kasper added that each kiosk will have additional features, including weather updates, trivia games, and a selfie station allowing visitors to send themselves virtual postcards. According to her, the selfie station has been the most popular feature at the welcome centers which already have the new kiosks.
Auburn is the final location to receive these kiosks, and the center expects to have them up and running by Friday.
While the ERHC is not an official NYS Visitor’s Center, that could change due to a bill introduced by State Senator Rachel May that would designate the Auburn center as the CNY Welcome Center, taking the title from the center located at Destiny USA in Syracuse.
