ADIRONDACKS, NY – After careful consultation with our sponsors, sport coordinators, and local/state officials regarding the health and safety of everyone in our industry – our athletes, coaches, volunteers, spectators, and our longtime partners – we have made the difficult decision to postpone the 41st Annual Empire State Winter Games in the North Country. Empire State Winter Games events originally scheduled for January 28 - 31, 2021 will not take place. The challenges and uncertainty that COVID-19 has presented prevent the organization from appropriately planning, organizing, and producing events safely in 30+ different sports. “Although the decision to cancel the Games in the traditional sense is a hard one, it is of the utmost importance to keep everyone safe during these unprecedented times,” says Molly Mayer, Executive Director of the Empire State Winter Games. “We are dedicated to producing a high quality event and ensuring all parties involved, including our local communities, remain safe.” Empire State Winter Games remains hopeful to host a virtual or social media event for 2021 participants. Founded in 1980, the Empire State Winter Games are a multi-day winter athletic competition headquartered in Lake Placid, N.Y. Amateur athletes of all ages and from all over the Northeast and Canada compete in more than 30 winter sports competitions over three days every February. The Empire State Winter Games are a community-driven event, courtesy of a partnership between the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism (ROOST); the towns of North Elba, Wilmington, Tupper Lake, Harrietstown, Malone, and Brighton; the villages of Lake Placid, Tupper Lake, Paul Smiths, Malone, Wilmington, and Saranac Lake; the counties of Essex and Franklin; the New York State Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA); and New York State Senator Betty Little. Connect with the Games on www.EmpireStateWinterGames.com, Facebook.com/ESWGames, and Instagram.com/ESWGames. For more information, please visit www.EmpireStateWinterGames.com. Please direct all questions and inquiries to info@empirestatewintergames.com. ### Media Contact: Molly Mayermolly@eswgames.com 520-982-6667 Download Press Release

Lake Placid, NY - The Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism (ROOST) is proud to announce the organization will be participating in a diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) pilot program with Travel Unity. Travel Unity, a nonprofit focused on diversity in travel, recently launched DEI Standards for Travel & Tourism. This was developed with the input from more than 100 professionals across a variety of industries. The DEI Standards aim to assist travel companies and organizations in benchmarking their commitment to enhancing DEI in three primary categories - management and workforce, visitorship, and community impact - and serve as a roadmap for future efforts. “We began working with ROOST in 2018 when we hosted the Travel Unity Summit in the Adirondacks and we look forward to continuing a partnership with them as they begin this next chapter,” stated Roni Weiss, Executive Director of Travel Unity. “Our standards and our approach to certification are rooted in the need for a commitment to a journey of change, active community involvement, and regular check-ins on how new developments are doing.” In August 2020, Travel Unity invited tourism organizations that were “serious about change” to apply for the pilot of a DEI Certification Program. ROOST was selected to be one of five travel-based organizations from across the globe to participate in the inaugural program. “We feel that the opportunity to participate in the pilot certification program will provide us with the tools to truly move the dial with regard to topics relating to diversity,” said Mary Jane Lawrence, Chief Operating Officer at ROOST. “Partnering with Travel Unity will allow us to take a holistic approach to being more inclusive as an organization, and in the work we do within the Adirondack Region.” “Having the Travel Unity team's wealth of knowledge and network of contacts available to us as we move through this process will be invaluable,” added Savannah Doviak, who will be coordinating the program on behalf of ROOST as Special Projects Manager. “It’s more than a one time training program, but rather a resource and an accountability check as we move forward.” Additionally, ROOST has begun conversations with area Chamber of Commerce partners and other community organizations to build a network within the region to help advance these initiatives. “This is a great opportunity,” said Patrick Murphy, Director of the Saranac Lake Chamber of Commerce. “Having the ability to learn and grow as an organization and as a region will help make our communities more welcoming. We look forward to working with ROOST and Travel Unity.” The Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism is the destination marketing and management organization for Hamilton and Essex counties, along with the communities of Tupper Lake and Saranac Lake, all located within the Adirondacks in New York State. ### Download Press Release

Adirondacks, U.S.A. - With changes to Halloween schedules this year, Tri-Lakes communities will deliver drive-in movies for families, children, ghosts, and goblins of all ages. In Saranac Lake, Hotel Transylvania will be shown on Friday, October 30 at 6:30 p.m. "The Chamber is excited to support this free, family event. With limited family offerings for Halloween this season, we are pleased to see this fun event come together for the entire family to enjoy," said Patrick Murphy, Director of the Saranac Lake Area Chamber of Commerce. The screen will be at the Lake Flower Plaza (former Tops Shopping Center next to Coakley). The movie is presented by the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism (ROOST) with support from the Saranac Lake Area Chamber of Commerce. Admission is free. In Lake Placid, Hocus Pocus will be showing at the Lake Placid Horse Show Grounds on Saturday, October 31 at 7:00 p.m. The show is co-sponsored by the Lake Placid Police Department and ROOST. Admission is free. “We are thrilled to be able to support this event, especially this year,” said Mary Jane Lawrence, Chief Operating Officer with ROOST. “Kids, kids at heart, and horror movie enthusiasts will find something they enjoy on the big screen at one of the communities in the Tri-Lakes. While a traditional party and door-to-door Halloween may be limited, this is a fantastic way for everyone to get out and do something fun.” In Tupper Lake, The Wild Center will be hosting three evenings of movies aimed at a variety of audiences. On Saturday, October 24, the featured film will be the family-friendly movie, Casper. On Friday, October 30, the featured film will be Friday the 13th (1980). On Saturday, October 31, The Blair Witch Project will take on the big screen. "We're excited to present our first ever Haunted Drive-in,” said Nick Gunn, Marketing Manager at The Wild Center. “This isn't a normal drive-in movie. The real life scares that surround you while you're in your car will add an immersive feel to the experience. For a friendlier experience, we recommend our family-friendly night on October 24." The cost at the Wild Center for non-members is $25; and members will pay $20 per car. Parking will begin at 6:00 p.m. with the movie starting at 7:00 p.m. ### Download Printer-Friendly Press Release

Lake Placid, NY - Lake Placid invites you to keep holiday spirits high this December by continuing a holiday tradition. The 11th annual Lake Placid Holiday Village Stroll is scheduled for December 11-13, 2020. The Holiday Village Stroll will take a different shape this year, with virtual events, a scavenger hunt, and lots of shopping. All plans will follow the recommended health guidelines including social distancing and wearing face masks, while still making sure to offer plenty of festive cheer. “Traditionally, Holiday Village Stroll has packed Main Street with visitors and locals alike decorating cookies, visiting with Santa, and watching holiday movies. This year is a little different,” said Lori Fitzgerald, President of the Lake Placid Business Association. “Despite some changes, we are excited to see this event happening and look forward to sharing new experiences with everyone this holiday season.” The schedule is subject to change, but events and activities in 2020 will likely include: Virtual Jingle Bell RunMain Street scavenger huntTo-go holiday craft kits (available at the Lake Placid Visitors’ Bureau)Main Street shopping2020 commemorative ornaments will be available. Location TBD.Santa “parade.” This year, Santa will visit neighborhoods on a firetruck instead of the traditional parade down Main Street. “This is such a wonderful time of year and we are thrilled to be able to put together a Holiday Village Stroll that is safe, healthy, and fun for everyone,” said Bethany Valenze, Lake Placid Representative and Events Coordinator for the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism. “We even heard a rumor from Santa that there might be a virtual bedtime story one night.” The Holiday Village Stroll is organized by the Lake Placid Business Association along with a local committee. 2020 is the event’s 11th year. For more information, visit www.HolidayVillageStroll.com or follow Lake Placid Holiday Village Stroll on Facebook, both of which are updated frequently. ###

The ROOST team has been busy gearing up for winter. We are launching the winter campaigns that we reviewed with many of you during last month’s regional update calls. Your time, insight, and feedback are greatly appreciated - thank you. At this time, in addition to our winter leisure travel programming, we have a few new updates that we are excited to share with you. Make a big impact - #ShopADK We are kicking off a #ShopADK campaign that focuses on the importance of keeping as much business within the Adirondacks as possible. While the #ShopADK programming will extend year-round, the first component will be focused on holiday shopping. The #ShopADK holiday campaign will focus on: Supporting community-based holiday shopping events hosted by our regional partners. Promoting the importance of supporting our local communities by shopping local. Highlighting the unique variety of one-of-a-kind gifts and experiences you can find locally this holiday season. Showing the critical mass of unique shopping opportunities the Adirondacks has to offer is the greatest path to success this holiday season, so we need your help! You are invited to share your holiday shopping information with us and to use the #ShopADK toolkit resource that we have prepared. In the toolkit, you will find forms to submit your information, flyers, posters, logos, social images, and much more. View the #ShopADK Toolkit Politely Adirondack Signage (Winter Edition) The critters are back! The team has updated the Politely Adirondack signage for winter. The package again includes regionally branded signs that cover the health guidelines and expectations for people when they are in our communities. View/Download the Winter Signage Travel Unity Partnership In case you missed it, in October we announced that we are participating in a diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) pilot program with Travel Unity. We look forward to working with the Travel Unity team and the other members of the first cohort as we navigate through this program. Learn more about the ROOST/Travel Unity partnership We will share more details about this initiative as they evolve. Attention Restaurant Owners! As we prepare to head into the winter season, we are reviewing and updating our dining information and want to know what your winter plans are. Please take a quick moment to complete the short form below so that we can assist you with getting accurate information out. Even if your operation plans have not changed, please complete the form so that we can verify that we have the most up-to-date information. Complete the Restaurant Form On a final note, we want to thank you for your partnership as we navigate through this year together. We remain committed to continuing to work together to become an even stronger Adirondack region. Please remember to follow us on Facebook for quick access to the latest updates impacting the region.