Buffalo is not alone in its new vitality. Other cities are experiencing their own rebirth and that is heating up competition for tourist dollars.
Visit Buffalo Niagara President and CEO Patrick Kaler says with other cities rebuilding and competing for visitors it's critical to keep the momentum going here.
"Obviously hard dollars will always come into play. And we always are looking for opportunities to raise more funding for VBN and our efforts, whether it be through governmental agencies, through sponsorships, through grants," Kaler said.
"It really all comes down to everybody playing together and working in that sandbox to get the attention, to have the resources that we need, to effectively market the destination."
Kaler says tourism is one the 21st Century's greatest growth industries. Given the area's recent progress, he says now is no time to rest on our "New Buffalo" laurels.