Cruising to the Top: Syracuse Boat Tours Celebrated for Local Impact and Growth

We are thrilled to honor Syracuse Boat Tours as the recipient of the 2025 Onondaga County Small Business of the Year Award! This well-deserved recognition celebrates the dedication, passion, and incredible service provided by Annette Peters, who have built their business from the ground up.

​During the Summer of 2024, a new boat tour company made its way onto the waters of the Seneca River and Onondaga Lake. Syracuse Boat Tours provides locals and visitors the opportunity to gain an appreciation for the Syracuse area and the beauty it has to offer. Annette Peters, the company's owner, lived on the Seneca River for years and enjoyed taking her friends out to boat on both the river and Onondaga Lake. She took notice how much they appreciated the beauty of the water, especially the lake. After spending most of her career in human resources and marketing, she was ready for a big change. Annette started working on her idea a few years ago and opened her company in July of 2024.

Syracuse Boat Tours holds regular themed cruises on her boat and offers many experiences for different audiences. All tours are captained by U.S. Coast Guard Master Captains. Rides include sunset cruises, beer and popcorn tours, wine tasting and cocktail cruises. She has Tiki Bar Tuesdays, Historical Lake cruises, and even a "Swiftie" cruise where guests can sing along to their favorite Taylor Swift songs. There are also family tours that appeal to all ages.

Most tours last 90 minutes with some lasting an hour. Customers get to build the experience that they want on their tour. They can pick the music and the overall environment. The company is open to letting the customers set the tone and schedule. It's really the experience that people want and enjoy. The boat is used for special events in which groups can rent out the entire boat for whatever kind of ride they are looking for. Annette has hosted corporate charters, birthday parties, baby showers, anniversary parties and church groups. She believes it a perfect little intimate party venue. People come from all over to experience the tour. It's a great place to bring guests from out of town or for locals to gain a new appreciation for the beauty and fun that is in their backyard.


Annette has been involved in all aspects of the tours, from being the company's owner to being the bartender during the rides. She says she's having as much fun as the passengers are. She says the business has been an excellent fit for her because she has been able to use strengths from her past experiences in management and marketing.


This is what Annette had to say about working with the SBDC:

"Starting a small business can be overwhelming, but having an objective, experienced business advisor made all the difference for me. Mark Pitonzo expertly guided me through the financial process - asking all the right questions - to help me craft accurate financial projections. He escorted me through the entire loan application process and beyond and was always ready to answer my calls - even the last-minute ones! Having a business professional to consult and strategize with has been an invaluable tool for me. He was also very helpful with forming my business plan. Without his help, we wouldn't have been able to secure the funding for the boat through M&T Bank."