Visit Buffalo Niagara debuts architectural highlight video, with never-seen-before aerial views, for National Travel and Tourism Week

Buffalo, N.Y.– Visit Buffalo Niagara has unveiled “Flight 716: Buffalo Architecture from Above,” a striking aerial film that celebrates the Queen City’s architectural landmarks from an entirely new perspective: the sky.

The production debuted Tuesday, May 6 at the North Park Theatre to coincide with National Travel and Tourism Week. This annual commemoration highlights how travel goes beyond a simple journey to play an essential role in driving economic growth, creating jobs and enhancing quality of life. As part of this recognition, Visit Buffalo Niagara is thrilled to share “Flight 716.” The short, seven-minute film reintroduces the region’s iconic architectural legacy in cinematic detail – featuring 18 highlights from Louis Sullivan’s Guaranty Building and Frank Lloyd Wright’s Martin House and Graycliff to the Richardson Olmsted Campus.

“Buffalo is a city that was built to be admired—from the ground and from the sky,” said Patrick Kaler, president and CEO of Visit Buffalo Niagara. “With ‘Flight 716,’ we wanted to create a visual love letter to Buffalo, celebrating the structures and skyline that make this city so unforgettable.”

This project, two years in the making, celebrates a local effort that has been 25 years in the making. In the last quarter century, Buffalo and Erie County has restored and reimagined an extraordinary collection of architecture. 

 Landmarks in the region that once faced uncertain futures have been transformed into beloved attractions: Frank Lloyd Wright’s Martin House and Graycliff estate, Shea’s Performing Arts Center, Kleinhans Music Hall, the Richardson Olmsted Campus, Silo City and the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens are among them.

Today, great architecture surrounds visitors during every part of their stay—from the places they explore to the hotels they sleep in. Buffalo has arrived as an architectural destination. “Flight 716” is intended to inspire visitors to come see the renowned architecture and show residents vantage points they’ve never seen before.

The film, Flight 716 - Youtube, uses cutting-edge drone technology to capture sweeping views of the city’s skyline, waterfront and built environment. Co-producers Karen Fashana, vice president of marketing, and Ed Healy, retired vice president of marketing, developed the project with footage shot by drone cinematographer Tom Warner and direction by filmmaker John Paget of Paget Films. Paget’s 2013 video, “Buffalo: America’s Best Designed City,” has about 1. 2 million views on YouTube.

Visit Buffalo Niagara’s distribution plans include social media promotion and sharing with local partners and prospective visitors. Footage in file "flight716-final-1080" is approved for use in on-air broadcast ONLY. Download link: Flight 716 - 1080p. Please use this video as is and do not edit. For social media use, please share via official Visit Buffalo Niagara accounts only.

Visit Buffalo Niagara is the official destination marketing organization for Buffalo and Erie County, promoting the region as a premier destination for tourism, meetings, and sporting events. By showcasing the area’s culture, attractions, and hospitality, VBN drives visitor spending and supports economic growth throughout the community.