TORONTO — With nearly one million Canadians visiting New York City in 2024, Discover Long Island sees an opportunity to introduce Canadian travellers to another side of New York, one filled with beaches, wineries, historic mansions and the Hamptons.

And it’s hoping travel advisors will help spread the word.

At yesterday’s Discover Long Island lunch event at Riley’s Toronto, Alfredo Gonzalez, Travel Trade Specialist, Discover Long Island, made the case for adding Long Island to New York City itineraries, giving clients a chance to enjoy the energy of Manhattan before heading east for a change of pace.

Represented in Canada by Reach Global, Discover Long Island is looking to renew its connections with the Canadian travel trade, a market Gonzalez knows well from his decades in the tourism industry.

His message is simple: Long Island and New York City are better together.

“We don’t compete with New York,” said Gonzalez. “We actually want New York to be there.”

Discover Long Island works with both New York City and New York State to promote complementary travel experiences. The idea is to encourage international visitors to combine the city’s attractions with Long Island’s beaches, small towns, wine country and coastal scenery.

There’s also the matter of getting there.

As Gonzalez reminded attendees, anyone who has flown into JFK has technically already been to Long Island. It’s a geographical advantage that puts the destination within easy reach of travellers arriving in New York.

And while Long Island may be known internationally for the Hamptons, Gonzalez was quick to point out that there’s considerably more to discover.

FROM GOLD COAST MANSIONS TO WINE COUNTRY

Long Island’s North Shore is home to the Gold Coast, where some of New York’s wealthiest families built their country estates in the early 20th century.

Back then, as Gonzalez told event attendees, wealthy New Yorkers had just about everything they could want in the city. Everything, that is, except land.

Their solution was to build sprawling weekend homes along Long Island’s northern coastline.

Some of those properties survive today as hotels and visitor attractions, including Oheka Castle, which has 28 guest rooms, a restaurant and a bar.

The property remains connected to its original family, with Gonzalez noting that a fourth-generation family member still lives there.

Beyond the mansions, the North Shore is dotted with walkable villages, shops and waterfront communities. That’s part of the appeal.

Gonzalez said Long Island is a destination where travellers can simply slow down, without feeling the need to fill every hour with scheduled attractions.

Farther east, the North Fork offers another reason to linger: wine.

The region has more than 60 wineries, along with agricultural attractions, lavender fields and countryside scenery. The wine industry has connections with Canadian winemakers as well as producers from Europe and Australia.

For clients who enjoy wine tasting, he recommended renting a car and exploring at their own pace.

Shelter Island, reached by ferry from the North Fork, offers onward connections toward Sag Harbor. Gonzalez describes the island as one of Long Island’s “postcard destinations,” with smaller independently owned hotels, outdoor dining and quiet communities that are particularly appealing in spring, summer and fall.

THE HAMPTONS, WITHOUT THE MANSION PRICE TAG

Of course, no introduction to Long Island would be complete without the Hamptons.

East Hampton, Southampton and Montauk are synonymous with celebrity homes and high-priced real estate, but Gonzalez said visitors don’t need a multimillion-dollar property to enjoy the area. The villages themselves offer shopping, restaurants and sightseeing, while Montauk Lighthouse remains one of the South Fork’s best-known landmarks.

Gonzalez shared a favourite pastime when visiting the Hamptons: looking at the real estate listings displayed in local office windows. He remembered spotting one seven-bedroom, 10-bathroom home listed for $166 million.

While the Hamptons have a reputation for celebrity sightings, Gonzalez said residents tend to leave famous neighbours to enjoy their privacy.

The South Fork also offers accommodations and venues suited to special occasions, including weddings and incentive groups.

NEW YORK CITY’S BEACHES

If there’s one selling point Gonzalez wants Canadian advisors to remember, it’s that Long Island offers a beach holiday within reach of New York City.

From Long Beach through Fire Island and east toward Montauk, the South Shore features Atlantic Ocean beaches, boardwalks, coastal communities and seasonal activities.

Gonzalez described Long Island as New York City’s beach destination, particularly for families looking to add a few days of relaxation after sightseeing in Manhattan.

Long Beach, for example, offers a boardwalk, restaurants, vacation rentals and a hotel with a rooftop bar. Jones Beach is another popular option, with its annual air show drawing large crowds. Fire Island offers a different atmosphere altogether. Its visitor season is concentrated between Memorial Day and Labour Day, with seasonal businesses and communities that operate very differently from the mainland.

Cars are largely absent, with locals and visitors using bicycles and golf carts to get around.

For clients seeking vacation rentals, Gonzalez said options are available throughout Long Island, although regulations differ between communities. In parts of Montauk, for example, short-term rentals are restricted.

There’s plenty happening away from the sand. Long Island offers music festivals, parks, golf and major sporting events, while UBS Arena hosts large-scale concerts and entertainment.

“WE NEED YOU BACK”

For Gonzalez, the Toronto visit was something of a homecoming.

Before joining Discover Long Island, he spent years working with Fort Lauderdale, Brand USA and VISIT FLORIDA, with Canada remaining a key market throughout his career.

Favourite memories? Travelling across Canada and spending time at a Muskoka cottage. Now he’s looking to strengthen those relationships in his role with Discover Long Island.

Cross-border relations got the last word at the lunch event. Gonzalez acknowledged that rebuilding Canada-to-U.S. travel will take time. But he sees considerable potential, particularly among the Canadians who already visit New York City. “I want to make sure that you know that things are changing dramatically in the United States right now. There’s a world of opportunity,” he said.

For travel advisors, Long Island offers several ways to extend a New York holiday, from a few days exploring the North Fork’s wineries to a beach getaway or a visit to the Hamptons.

Gonzalez said his Toronto visit is intended to be the beginning of more regular engagement with the Canadian market.

“We want you to know first and foremost how much we appreciate the Canadian market. We appreciate you, and by the way, we need you back.”

More information is at DiscoverLongIsland.com.

Lead image caption: Montauk Point Lighthouse, Long Island, NY (event photos courtesy Michelle Zimmer)