Otsego and Schoharie counties will now be promoted through a unified media contract, “marking a bold new chapter for regional tourism marketing in Central New York,” according to a news release from Destination Marketing Corporation, the designated tourism promotion agency for the two counties.
Following an RFP process that gained 30 proposals and saw seven agencies interviewed, Sparkloft Media was chosen, the release stated. It will have a two-year contract, beginning in 2026.
Sparkloft Media, founded in 2006, is a social-first creative agency with teams in Portland, Miami, Atlanta and Chicago, the release stated. Its portfolio includes campaigns for brands including Brand USA, Los Cabos Tourism Board, South African Tourism, Atlanta CVB, Travel Oregon, Visit Santa Barbara, Visit Peru, Delta Air Lines and Crystal Cruises.
Cass Harrington, CEO of DMC, said, “Sparkloft didn’t just deliver ideas, they showed us how to spark — oh yea pun intended — real creative connections between visitors and our communities. Their creativity was undeniable, but it was their strategic clarity that sealed the deal.”
Sparkloft will work with all three DMC brands: This is Cooperstown, We Go Otsego and Visit Schoharie County, including the creation of a new visitor guide for Schoharie County, scheduled for release ahead of summer 2026.
“We’re thrilled to be named the agency partner for Otsego and Schoharie County at such an exciting moment, said Martin Stoll, CEO of Sparkloft Media. “We see endless opportunities, and together we’ll build on the region’s momentum to tell its stories as original, inviting and memorable as the places themselves.”
By combining two county contracts, DMC “is investing in more than just marketing; it’s investing in coherence, creativity, and long-term impact,” the release stated.
DMC was established in 2014 as a not-for-profit organization. By contract with Otsego and Schoharie counties, it has been the designated tourism promotion agency under the state Tourism Matching Funds Program. DMC is funded by a portion of the occupancy tax revenues collected in contract with Otsego and Schoharie counties; cooperative marketing investments with tourism partners in Otsego County; and annual grants from the state Division of Tourism Matching Funds Program, according to the release.