It’s all thumbs up the second week of January at Empire City Casino – and they’re green. Hundreds of landscape architects, designers, horticulturists and arborists descended on Empire City Casino, a place where green is usually presented in the form of jackpots.
The regional casino, located at 810 Yonkers Ave. in Yonkers, NY, is fast becoming a favorite venue for expos, trade shows and corporate events. This marked the fifth year the New York State Turf & Landscape Association (NYSTLA) held its Professional Turf & Landscape Conference & Trade Show at Empire City, having formerly hosted the event at Westchester County Center for many of the past 49 years the conference has been in existence.
Industry vendors from throughout the northeast United States arrived in Yonkers to tout their wares, promote services and offer expert advice. In addition to continuing education sessions, conference participants engaged with dozens of manufacturers and suppliers on site showcasing the latest tools, equipment, trucks and supplies for the industry – offering all the chance to escape the wintry blues into an oasis of springtime green. Trucks and tractors were on display alongside the world famous Yonkers Raceway, which is part of Empire City Casino.
“We’re thrilled to host the New York State Turf & Landscape Association for this annual event,” said Taryn Duffy, director of public affairs at Empire City Casino. “We can provide the Vegas conference feel, without the travel and expense.”
During the full-day conference, green industry professionals flooded the 20,000 square feet of display area on the third and fourth floors and participated in certification courses taught by a variety of participating organizations such as the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Westchester County, National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP), New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), and the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA). Conference goers were exposed to the latest in springtime trends, gardening culture, innovative landscaping techniques and other climate-related solutions.
“Our unique and customizable spaces, paired with a full service events staff, allows us to provide companies and trade organizations with the events they want without the cost of travel for their team or attendees,” said Tatiana Diaz, group sales manager at Empire City. “We’re really enjoying the diversity of companies and organizations choosing Empire City for their events, and we expect many more in 2017.”
Between continuing education courses, participants were invited to test their luck on a casino floor larger than most found in Vegas or Atlantic City, and to relax and dine at any of the restaurants, eateries, bars and lounges. Live music entertainment filled the atmosphere, and the many nearby hotels made overnight accommodations easily accessible for attendees from outside the tristate area. The diverse property has hosted a wide array of events such as the Fairway Market Food Trade Show, Michelob product launches, announcement parties for Greenwich & Yonkers Film Festivals, corporate team building events, a wide array of corporate events, and will host a tourism expo later this spring.
For more information on Empire City Casino, conferences and other events, please visit www.empirecitycasino.com.
