- By Bruce Stoff
- Business & Technology
Print 
Ithaca, N.Y. (Jan. 5, 2009)—Judging by web traffic and advance hotel bookings, Ithaca’s Winter Recess teachers festival, Feb. 13-22, remains on target to double in size this year. The forecast comes despite adverse economic conditions that are curtailing tourism nationwide.Traffic to the event website, IthacaLovesTeachers.com, skyrocketed in December, with total page views climbing 98 percent over the prior year. In addition, teachers have already started reserving rooms, a positive indicator for a winter event that typically draws last-minute bookings.
“We’re right on target,” said Fred Bonn, director of the Ithaca/Tompkins County Convention and Visitors Bureau, the event coordinator. “We were a little unsure with the economy, but it appears people are reassessing more extravagant trips and finding real value in Winter Recess.”
Winter Recess, the nation’s first and only festival for public school teachers, will open for Valentine's Day 2009 and bring an estimated 4,000 educators and family members into the Finger Lakes community. The weeklong event offers pre-K-12 teachers and their guests a discounted week of recreation, relaxation and entertainment in a community built on education.
Launched in 2007 to thank educators for their contribution to the community, Winter Recess draws from an audience of 1.2 million Northeastern teachers who have Presidents Week school breaks. In 2008, the festival attracted educators from 10 states and as far away as France.
"We’d hoped Winter Recess would be well-positioned for this economy and it looks like that’s turning out to be the case," Bonn said. "People still want a break in February and we’ve got an affordable option that’s really attracting interest.”
Winter Recess takes Ithaca’s assets—its attractions, college events, theaters, spas, shops, restaurants, clubs and inns—and puts them on sale for visiting educators. Many of the events are free and most are open to the general public, making the week a fabulous time for non educators to visit as well.
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