For Immediate Release December 19, 2018 Reasons to visit the Adirondacks this winter Adirondacks, USA - Winter in the Adirondacks is one of the most festive and beautiful times of the year. This 6.1 million acre region in upstate New York is comprised of 5,000- foot mountains, glacial lakes, towering pine forests, seemingly endless system of recreation trails, and quaint towns and villages. And when the snow falls, a foundation is created for outdoor recreation and winter-inspired events. From November through March, revelers find ways to celebrate and play in the snow with traditional pursuits like downhill and cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, pond hockey and ice fishing. Somewhat more unconventional activities include riding a toboggan down a 30-foot high slide, competing in a cardboard sledding race, and watching fireworks set above a colorfully-lit palace made from two-ton bricks of ice. A day can be skiing at one of our five downhill ski centers or riding on a dogsled on Mirror Lake while soaking up the views of the nearby High Peaks. Enjoy a locally-brewed beer and heart meal at one of our brew pubs, and end the day in front of a fire in your cabin in the woods, or room at a full-service resort. Why now? Because we have a winter packed with events, from world cup competitions to winter carnivals. There are also some new activities, events, and lodging options. What’s New? The ski areas of Whiteface Mountain, Gore Mountain, Oak Mountain and Titus Ski Center have all received attention and upgrades to enhance the skiing and riding experience. Whiteface is renovating and expanding its lodges and learn to ski area. Gore Mountain is also upgrading and adding new lodges, increasing their snowmaking, and Oak Mountain added a Sunkid lift, a conveyor belt type lift at its bunny hill. Titus Mountain Family Ski Center built four new ski-in, ski-out cabins. The iconic Hotel Saranac, built in the gilded age, is getting a makeover and will re-open at the beginning of January of this year. Originally opened in 1927 and visited by New York City magnates, the hotel will retain much of its original architecture and offer upscale and full-service amenities. February 24-25: Inaugural Adirondack Snowshoe Fest - a weekend of snowshoe competitions, guided tours, strolls along trails with stops at bonfires with hot chocolate, live music inside the lodge, and more. Winter Events: November 9-10 World Cup Bobsled and Skeleton November 24-26 Skate America December 1-2 World Cup Para Bobsled December 8-10 Lake Placid Holiday Stroll weekend December 30: Stars on Ice Legends December 15-16 World Cup Luge January 19-20 World Cup Freestyle February 1-4 Empire State Winter Games February 2-11 Saranac Lake Winter Carnival February 3 Northern Challenge Fishing Derby February 24 USOC PyeongChang Olympic Winter Fest March 4-10 USCSA Ski & Snowboard Championships March 18 Lake Placid Nordic Festival and Loppet March 16-17 ECAC Hockey Men’s D1 Championships March 25-26 Miracle on Ice Fantasy Camp ###

December 22, 2017 ROOST SEEKING VOLUNTEERS FOR 2018 EMPIRE STATE WINTER GAMES For Immediate Release Lake Placid, NY - The 2018 Empire State Winter Games multi-sport winter festival, scheduled for Feb. 1-4, will include ambitious expansion plans that will make this year's Games the largest annual multi-sport destination festival in the Northeast. They are projected to draw a record breaking 2,500 athletes and new events such as a torch relay from New York City, a central village that will host athlete and spectator sports, family activities, an athlete lounge, food, and live music and media coverage. ROOST is looking for volunteers who are interested in being an integral part of this exciting event and to help ensure this sports festival is a success. Volunteers are needed in the following areas: Athlete Check-in – Conference Center at Lake Placid - Assisting with checking in the Empire State Winter Games Athletes. Wednesday, Jan. 31: 4-6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 1: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and 2-6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 2: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and 2-6 p.m. Empire State Winter Games headquarters/ Athlete Village - Main Municipal Lot, Lake Placid - Giving out free s’mores, hot cocoa and information. - Assisting with athlete games/activities and Tastes of the Games. Friday, Feb. 2: 3-8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 3: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. and 3-8 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 4: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Marathon Skate – Mid’s Park, Main Street, Lake Placid - Assist in the marathon skate course set-up. Saturday, Feb. 4: 10 a.m.-noon Please contact Bethany Valenze at bethany@roostadk.com or by phone at (518) 621-3662. CLICK HERE to see a complete schedule of ESWG events. ###

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. ###