Polished grit. Refreshingly spicy. Casually iconic.
That's Buffalo for you.
In this episode, I sit down with Patrick Kaler, President & CEO of Visit Buffalo, to explore the story behind Buffalo's evolution and why the city continues to earn recognition as one of America's most reimagined cities.
While many people know Visit Buffalo for helping attract visitors to the region, this conversation reveals a much bigger story. Tourism is a powerful economic driver for Western...
Polished grit. Refreshingly spicy. Casually iconic.
That's Buffalo for you.
In this episode, I sit down with Patrick Kaler, President & CEO of Visit Buffalo, to explore the story behind Buffalo's evolution and why the city continues to earn recognition as one of America's most reimagined cities.
While many people know Visit Buffalo for helping attract visitors to the region, this conversation reveals a much bigger story. Tourism is a powerful economic driver for Western New York, supporting thousands of jobs, fueling local businesses, and creating opportunities for continued growth across our community. As Patrick shares, every visitor who chooses Buffalo contributes to the momentum shaping the region's future.
We also discuss the thinking behind Visit Buffalo's recent rebrand and the story behind the "That's Buffalo for You" campaign—one that captures the resilience, pride, and character that make this city unlike any other. From welcoming Great Lakes cruises and major sporting events to championing Buffalo's growing reputation on a national stage, Patrick shares how Visit Buffalo is helping tell the story of a city that continues to surprise, inspire, and attract visitors from around the world.
From economic growth and tourism to architecture, waterfront development, and the spirit of the City of Good Neighbors, this conversation is a celebration of a city that continues to honor its roots while building an exciting future.
Because while Buffalo continues to grow and evolve, its greatest strength remains unchanged: the people who proudly call it home.
That's Buffalo for you.
Thank you, Patrick, for such a great conversation. Truly value your time and breadth of discussion on all aspects of Buffalo!!
Links to Patrick and Visit Buffalo:
Patrick Kaler, CTA | LinkedIn
That's Buffalo for You - Visit Buffalo
Great Lakes & Thousand Islands Cruise | Lakes Ontario and Erie
2026 NHL Draft: Round 1 - 06/26/26 | KeyBank Center - keybankcenter.com
About Patrick:
Patrick Kaler brings nearly three decades of travel and tourism experience to his role as President and CEO of Visit Buffalo Niagara, which he joined in January 2014. In that role, he oversees the destination marketing organization, the Buffalo Convention Center, and the Buffalo Sports Commission.
Before coming to Buffalo, Patrick served as President and CEO of Visit Loudoun and held a senior leadership role at the Los Angeles Tourism and Convention Board, where he oversaw international offices in Australia, China, Europe, Japan, South Korea, and Latin America. His work there spanned major travel trade, airline sales, and marketing initiatives on both domestic and international fronts.
Earlier in his career, Patrick served as President & CEO of the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority, Tahoe Douglas Visitors Authority, and Lake Tahoe Gaming Alliance, as well as Executive Director of the Great Lakes of North America and the Galena/Jo Daviess County Convention and Visitors Bureau. He also served as General Manager at Keeshin Destination Chicago and as Director of Sales and Marketing at the Champaign-Urbana Convention and Visitors Bureau. Beyond his DMO work, he has served as an adjunct faculty member, lecturer, and speaker at the University of Illinois, UCLA, and Lake Tahoe Community College, and has presented at tourism industry conferences nationwide.
Patrick holds a Master of Science in Tourism from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign and a Bachelor of Science in Recreation, Parks and Tourism Administration from Western Illinois University. He currently serves on the U.S. Travel Association's Board of Advisors and previously served as Chairman of both the U.S. Travel Association Destinations Council Advisory Board and the New York State Destination Marketing Organizations. He also serves on the New York State Hospitality and Tourism Association's board and was named Tourism Executive of the Year in 2018.
In the community, Patrick is involved with the Buffalo Niagara Partnership, Frank Lloyd Wright's Darwin Martin House, Explore Buffalo, Buffalo Civic Auto Ramps, Buffalo State University's School of Hospitality Advisory Council, and the City of Buffalo Arts Commission. He is a proud 2014 graduate of Leadership Buffalo.
