Silda Wall Spitzer helped launch a revamped tourism web site for the state this afternoon at the Executive Mansion in Albany. The updated site lets visitors design a "perfect vacation" without leaving their computer. While the former site had preplanned itineraries, such as an Asian Style Garden Tour or the Underground Railroad, the new one is more interactive, enabling prospective tourists to accommodate any interests they may have.
The smiling Silda demonstrated the new version of the I Love New York Web site which allows users to access over 12,000 items through one tourism database. Silda found attractions and places to stay in the Finger Lakes town of Aurora, where she said she once served as parade marshal. To showcase the site’s "Getaway Packages" feature, she proposed planning an anniversary trip for her parents in the 1,000 Islands region, looking at what would be available in mid July.
Silda ended her presentation by confessing her favorite link from the site: live traffic camera feeds courtesy of the State Troopers, which drew many laughs.
Melissa Mansfield
She’s the first First Lady to have an office in the State Capitol, but has yet to formally announce her agenda in the new role.
Silda greeted about 175 tourism professionals from across the state before and after her presentation. Some brought bags of goodies from their areas, while others handed her bouquets of flowers. After mingling with her guests, she was officially introduced to the crowd by her former colleague at the law firm Skadden Arps, Pat Foye. Foye, the newly appointed downstate chair of the Empire State Development Corporation, joked that of Gov. Spitzer, Mrs. Spitzer and himself, Silda was the best lawyer. Though she told of his higher rank at the firm, she didn’t deny it.