December 24, 2017 Malone, N.Y. — The Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism (ROOST) invites all interested Malone area municipal leaders, businesses, organizations, and individuals to attend a brief regional destination marketing review, followed by a reception. The review will take place Thursday, Jan. 11 from 5-6:30 p.m. at Donovan's Steak & Ale, 3853 State Route 11. The agenda will include a brief presentation by ROOST staff and time for Q&A, followed by a networking opportunity with light refreshments and a cash bar. “I encourage our marketing partners to attend this informative, casual gathering,” said Tim Lamay, Malone regional marketing manager for ROOST. “It is a great opportunity to continue our ongoing dialogue about ROOST’s marketing strategies on behalf of this region." All those interested in attending are asked to RSVP to Tim Lamay at tim@roostadk.com. The regional destination marketing review is one in a series ROOST has been hosting throughout its destination regions, including upcoming events in the Whiteface Region on Jan. 25 at Pourman’s Tap House and dates to be announced in Hamilton County and Schroon Lake Region. ROOST is the accredited destination marketing organization (DMO) responsible for promoting Essex, Hamilton and Franklin counties in the Adirondacks of New York. For more information about ROOST and its team, visit roostadk.com. ###

Saranac Lake just wrapped up it's annual First Night celebration. Hundreds of visitors braved the cold temps to bring in the New Year in style, and for the second year in a row, they were able to secure their tickets in advance thanks to First Night's use of ROOSTS new booking system. This year saw a 35% increase in online sales, with 81 First Night Buttons being sold online. This made up for 13% of total adult button sales for this event. Buttons were sold to visitors as far away as Texas. "Booking online through ROOSTS system has been a perfect fit for us," says Sue Patterson, First Night Chairperson, "We didn't really have an avenue for online sales before this. It's been very successful, particularly for people coming from out of town." ROOSTS launched their new booking platform in May of 2016 and it is now available on lakeplacid.com, saranaclake.com, and whitefaceregion.com; with tupperlake.com, adirondackexperience.com, and visitmalone.com coming soon. You can read our first year booking report here. It is available to any business or event across the Adirondacks. It provides the opportunity to sell nearly any type of product and package multiple products together to maximize the guest experience. You can find out more by clicking here and/or contacting Glenn Pareira at glenn@roostadk.com.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Governor Cuomo to support the World University Games in the Adirondacks January 3, 2o18 Lake Placid, NY - New York Governor Andrew Cuomo gave his support in hosting the 2023 World University Games in the Adirondacks. The news was released today in the annual State of the State booklet. It reads that “in conjunction with the Governor’s ongoing commitment to modernizing winter sports infrastructure across the state, the Governor will work together with local government and the private sector to help Lake Placid put forth the best possible bid. Bringing the Games back to Lake Placid will further strengthen the city’s legacy as a global center for winter sports, attract new tourists to Lake Placid and neighboring communities, and fuel a critical engine of the North Country’s economy.” Since last November, officials from throughout the North Country have been investigating the possibility of hosting the World University Games, organized by FISU (International Sports University Federation.) The Adirondack North Country Global Sports Committee was formed to spearhead the effort and and evaluate the Games’ positive economic and social impacts to Adirondack communities. The committee has been working with consultants on a formal candidature process as well as a cost benefit analysis, sponsorship potential and economic sustainability. “The World University Games would be a catalyst for renewed spirit and international sport legacy in the region,” said Lake Placid Mayor Craig Randall. “If selected as host, the Games would also spur regional development and investment that will address community challenges, such as the shortage of workforce housing, parking and public transportation.” The World University Games brings together more than 3,000 participants, delegations and officials from 60 countries. It is an 11-day, worldwide competition of student-athletes that are among the best in the world in various disciplines: alpine, freestyle, and cross-country skiing, biathlon, speed skating, curling, figure skating, hockey, short track speed skating and snowboarding. Optional sports and for further discussion include ski jumping, nordic combined, ski orienteering, long track speed skating and the sliding sports. Hosting an international competition of this magnitude and scale would require regional involvement, from using the Plattsburgh International Airport as a port of entry, to partnering with SUNY and private colleges and universities for sports venues and volunteers, and regional hospitality facilities and venues in Saranac Lake, Wilmington, and beyond. More information on the Games and the potential benefits to the region can be found in the TSE Consulting report. If awarded, it would mark the second time the Adirondacks will have hosted the World University Games, with the first event in 1972 in Lake Placid. The original logo was designed by Lake Placid native, Robert Whitney, who also designed the1980 Lake Placid Winter Olympics logo. This legacy is carried forward with the Winter Universiade 2023 Bidding City logo. It is a modern take on the 1972 logo, updated within the FISU brand guidelines, connecting Lake Placid’s past to its future. Whiteface Mountain, a key venue of the Games, and a snowflake, symbolizing winter and winter sports are incorporated into the new logo. Read more about the logo. The Adirondack North Country Global Sports Committee is hosting a second meeting for the public to continue the conversation of possibly hosting the Games in 2023. The meeting will take place on Wednesday, January 17, at 5:30 p.m. in the Conference Center at Lake Placid, second floor, 2608 Main Street. Committee members will share progress on the bidding process and answer questions from the audience. For more information on the World University Games 2023, go to LakePlacid2023.com. Press coverage can be found here. ###

January 4, 2017 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PUBLIC INVITED TO FOLLOW-UP DISCUSSION ON THE WORLD UNIVERSITY GAMES WHO: Members of the Adirondack North Country Global Sports Committee WHAT: The public is welcome to attend the second meeting and Q&A session regarding the possibility of bringing the World University Games to the Adirondacks in 2023. The committee will provide an update on the bid process. WHERE: Conference Center at Lake Placid, second floor, 2608 Main St. WHEN: Wednesday, January 17, 5:30 p.m. WHY: The ADKNC Global Sports Committee, comprised of regional communities, elected officials, ORDA and ROOST, completed a bid dossier to host the 2023 World University Games. The meeting will include an overview of the Games, and what hosting the event would mean for the communities in our region. The meeting will include pertinent updates to the bidding process. The World University Games brings together more than 3,000 participants, delegations and officials from 60 countries. It is an 11-day, worldwide competition of student-athletes that are among the best in the world in various disciplines: alpine, freestyle, and cross-country skiing, biathlon, speed skating, curling, figure skating, hockey, short track speed skating and snowboarding. Optional sports and for further discussion include ski jumping, nordic combined, ski orienteering, long track speed skating and the sliding sports. ###

For Immediate Release ROOST TO HOST WHITEFACE REGION DESTINATION MARKETING REVIEW Wilmington, N.Y. — The Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism (ROOST) invites all Whiteface region municipal leaders, businesses, organizations and individuals to attend a brief regional destination marketing review, followed by a reception at Pourman’s Tap House, on Thursday, Jan. 25 from 5:30-7 p.m. The agenda will include a brief presentation by ROOST staff and time for Q&A, followed by a networking opportunity with light refreshments and a cash bar. The purpose is to acquaint or reacquaint community members with their respective regional marketing manager and to give an update on ROOST’s progress on the scope of work related to tourism marketing initiatives. “I encourage our marketing partners to attend this informative, casual gathering,” said Catherine Ericson, Lake Placid and Whiteface regional marketing manager for ROOST. “It will be a great networking opportunity, and a chance to continue our ongoing dialogue about ROOST’s destination marketing strategies on behalf of the region." All those interested in attending the Lake Placid event are asked to RSVP to Catherine Ericson at catherine@roostadk.com. ROOST is the accredited destination marketing organization (DMO) responsible for promoting Essex, Hamilton and Franklin counties in the Adirondacks of New York. For more information about ROOST and its team, visit roostadk.com. ###