Discover Long Island honors Tourism Award winners

Discover Long Island honored the recipients of its 2023 Tourism Awards at the marketing organization’s annual gala earlier this month.

The event, which recognizes the local leaders, organizations and business owners who continue to shape and further Long Island’s $6.6 billion tourism industry, was held at the Fox Hollow in Woodbury.

Among those honored were WildPlay at Jones Beach, which won the Partner of the Year Award; Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame, which won the Tourism Trailblazer Award; and Long Island Wine Country’s 50th anniversary, which earned the Industry Advancement Award.

The Tourism Legacy Award went to Bryan DeLuca, who has managed and grown the multiple businesses of the Atlantis Marine World Resort Destination Property including the Hyatt Place East End, the Atlantis Banquet & Events and the Treasure Cove Resort Marina.

“It’s an honor to be recognized with this award by Discover Long Island,” DeLuca said in a written statement. “The growth and success of this thriving industry would not be possible without the tremendous contributions of each honoree recognized at this year’s tourism awards.  The work we do for our industry will be felt for generations to come on Long Island ensuring this destination is the best it can be, and I am excited to continue being a part of it.”

Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone was given the Tourism Champion Award. The new honor recognized Bellone as a visionary leader who “consistently recognized the transformative potential of tourism and its profound impact on the region’s prosperity and vitality.”

More than 175 people attended the event, which featured entertainment by America’s Got Talent star and Long Island native Sal “The Voice” Valentinetti.

“I’m honored to bring together Long Island’s hard-working and dedicated tourism and business community to shine the light on the individuals and organizations that play an integral role in our visitor economy,” Discover Long Island President and CEO, Kristen Reynolds said in the statement. “It is thanks to these local leaders that tourism remains a powerful economic driver for our region and that Long Island is positioned as one of the most desirable places to live, work and visit in the nation.”