Kristen Hanifin
Associate Commissioner for Special Events and Visitor Services
Kristen Hanifin joins OGS as the Associate Commissioner for Special Events & Visitor Services with more than two decades of experience in destination placemaking, strategic tourism development, and event production.
Most recently, she served as Warren County’s Tourism Development & Events Director, where she was instrumental in spearheading and revising the county’s tourism business development and investment strategies, identifying over $15M in potential new tourism business opportunities within her first year. Kristen also served as the National Sales Director for the Lake George Regional Convention & Visitors Bureau; Corporate Social Responsibility Director for MVP Heath Care; Senior Meeting Planner for Site Solutions Worldwide: and Director of Marketing for New York State Canal Corporation for almost 10 years, where she successfully curated the 175th-anniversary campaign for Erie Canal, produced the World Canals Conference 2000 for over 500 international delegates and created the first NYS-Parks Canada global marketing partnership, increasing NYS Canal visitations 20% from 2000-2001.
Kristen’s leadership has delivered a solid track record of successful domestic and international tourism growth in cultural travel, meetings, and group sales. She also has produced successful event and destination marketing campaigns that have delivered visibility, value, and new opportunities for sustainable tourism growth for multiple destinations and attractions across New York State.
Kristen holds a BA in International Relations.