The Town of North Elba, the Village of Lake Placid and the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism (ROOST) have collaborated to develop a destination management plan. This plan will guide efforts of local government, tourism organizations, environmental agencies, economic development initiatives, community organizations, residents and other organizations within the area. Its purpose is to establish regional priorities and guide efforts to balance community, resident and business needs, while enhancing the visitor experience. Local leaders will be meeting this week to begin discussions regarding implementation of the plan. “This plan offers a guide,” says Derek Doty, Town of North Elba supervisor. “It ensures that North Elba, Lake Placid, and organizations within the area understand and support an overall, long-term plan for the region. The destination management plan helps each entity make its plans in a very deliberate manner based on the agreed upon vision.” The Lake Placid and North Elba Destination Management Plan has been finalized after 18 months of study led by NextFactor, an industry-leading consulting firm specializing in travel and tourism and the important role of proactive, well-planned destination management. Research began in 2019 with a destination assessment survey of elected officials, community leaders and industry stakeholders. Results identified the region’s strengths, identified opportunities for improvement, and uncovered specific challenges from the perspective of those living and working within the Lake Placid region. The results of this research provided the basis for the next phase of study; determining which specific challenges needed to be addressed. NextFactor began this phase of the project by analyzing a broad spectrum of research from state and local government, regional universities, local environmental agencies, tourism-based organizations, economic development agencies and other community organizations. Led by a steering committee comprising business leaders, local residents, tourism officials and economic development professionals, specific information about these challenges was further refined through additional community engagement and conversation, including one-on-one interviews, focus groups, town halls, workshops and meetings with community leaders. The resulting plan includes six primary objectives on which the region will focus including: optimization of the local economy; addressing the challenge of resident housing in North Elba; working to ensure environmental sustainability; developing an event management strategy; ensuring that tourism industry investment benefits residents and more engagement of local residents in decision-making processes. Mary Jane Lawrence, chief operating officer at ROOST, explained that destination management and regional planning is something that ROOST is uniquely positioned to support. “One important aspect of ROOST responsibilities is to work with our local partners to develop and support initiatives to sustain a healthy community; economically, socially, and environmentally,” she said. “Destination management and planning serves that function within communities and regions.” Destination management identifies and solidifies a community’s vision, as determined by those within that community. The Lake Placid & North Elba Destination Management Plan is a strategic road map for the next 5-10 years that will balance the needs of local residents, community organizations, and area businesses. A destination management plan focuses on improving the important relationships supporting any destination including the community, local organizations, tourism partners, visitors and the natural environment. The Lake Placid and North Elba Destination Management Plan can be viewed here. 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. ### Contact:Jane Hooper, Communications ManagerRegional Office Of Sustainable Tourism 518.621.3662 | jane@roostadk.comMay 3, 2022

Find employees Looking for amazing employees to round out your team? This is your opportunity to promote job openings as part of the WorkADK campaign. How it works We know it can be hard to find summer help and we want to make it easier for you. Add your available job opportunities to Indeed at no cost, and you’ll be included in the WorkADK campaign. ROOST will actively promote the WorkADK site through a variety of channels, including social media, in order to highlight the many benefits of living and working in the Adirondacks. We want to drive diverse traffic to your listings to help you find the employee that best fits your needs. Make your job stand out Include information on housing for staff. Offer incentives such as sign-on bonuses, staff discounts, and free activities. Be sure to highlight any of the incentives you offer in your listing! Questions? Don’t hesitate to reach out to us! Email us at info@roostadk.com or call us at (518) 523-2445.

The Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism (ROOST) has received two awards from the New York State Tourism Industry Association (NYSTIA). The awards were announced on May 5, in observance of National Travel and Tourism Week, recognizing outstanding initiatives and achievements of New York state’s destination marketing organizations, attractions, and other tourism-related businesses. Categories included marketing campaigns, destination management initiatives, location stewardship, innovation and leadership. The NYSTIA “Economic Development & Destination Improvement” award recognized ROOST for its transition from a destination marketing organization (DMO) to a destination marketing and management organization (DMMO). “The distinction is significant,” according to James McKenna, CEO of ROOST. “Historically, the role of organizations like ROOST has simply been to boost the economic impact of tourism for the region. While ROOST continues to do that, it is also focused on its partnerships with local governments, businesses, organizations and community members. These partnerships help to ensure that we develop and support initiatives that enhance the lives of community residents while contributing positively to tourism infrastructure and the tourism economy. ROOST and its partners have forged this partnership to encourage sustainability of the region - economically, socially and environmentally.” ROOST CEO James McKenna also received an award from NYSTIA for his leadership and contribution to the ROOST transition to a destination marketing and management organization. Examples of ROOST’s work in 2021 that illustrate its transition to a DMMO include: Establishment of the North Elba Local Enhancement and Advancement Fund, supporting community enhancement projects through a dedicated 2% Essex County occupancy tax, implemented in 2020 after ROOST advocacy. Establishment of the Ironman Task Force to evaluate the economic and community impacts of the Lake Placid Ironman triathlon. The goal was to gather information and make recommendations regarding community impact, along with changes that can be made to alleviate negative impacts. Development of a destination management plan (DMP) for the Village of Lake Placid and the Town of North Elba. This 10-year plan aligns priorities of local government, economic development, community organizations, and residents to balance the tourism industry with community needs; ultimately ensuring quality of life for residents and quality of place for visitors. In addition to community-based initiatives, destination management messaging has been included within marketing outreach; specifically including information regarding sustainability, health protocols and staffing issues in the Adirondack region. Another local award recipient, The Wild Center, received industry recognition for its campaign: “Get Outside – Push Forward & Thrive Project” for the Excellence in Overall Tourism Marketing: Private Sector category. This year, the New York State Tourism Excellence Awards acknowledged the challenges faced by the tourism industry and all that was accomplished, ultimately contributing to the recovery and resurgence of New York state’s tourism industry. “Travel and tourism was the industry most adversely affected economically by COVID-19. Despite the many challenges the pandemic presented to the industry, the new technologies, techniques, and strategies adopted by New York’s tourism professionals have contributed to a resurgent industry embracing best practice destination marketing, management, and stewardship,” observed Dana Krueger, board chair of the New York State Tourism Industry Association. The New York State Tourism Excellence Awards are juried by a panel of industry experts under the auspices of the New York State Tourism Industry Association. Individuals and tourism organizations throughout the state were represented, and the judges were challenged by the diversity and quality of the entries. “Working collaboratively in New York state’s tourism community enables you to network with some of the best minds, most experienced individuals, and trendsetting thought leaders in the global tourism industry,” states Bob Provost, president of the New York State Tourism Industry Association. “The individuals, campaigns, initiatives, and projects being honored are world-class. I am humbled by their achievements and service to their communities.” Award recipients will be honored at a ceremony in New York City on October 27, 2022. ContactJane Hooper, communications managerRegional Office of Sustainable Tourism518-523-2445

You are cordially invited to a presentation of New York State's Fiscal Year 2023 Budget with Parks Commissioner Erik Kulleseid. May 16, 2022 at 1pm Conference Center at Lake Placid, 2nd floor 2608 Main Street, Lake Placid, NY Hosted by: Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism (ROOST)Olympic Regional Development Authority PLEASE RSVP to Kristin@roostadk.com if you would like to attend. Space is limited. Please leave a few extra minutes for parking due to the current Lake Placid Main Street construction detours and one-way traffic. Thank you and we hope you can join us for this presentation.

The first annual Raquette Pond Brewfest will take place at Flanders Park on June 4 from 3-7 p.m. The event will showcase 16 breweries, providing an opportunity to sample local and award-winning beers. The family-friendly event will also feature food trucks and music throughout the afternoon and evening. Breweries from throughout the Adirondack Park will be serving some of their most popular creations; and some will share their award-winning beers, along with newly created brews for the season. According to organizers, Raquette Pond Brewfest is expected to become a popular kick-off to the summer season, with next year’s event already being planned. “As we are planning this year’s Brewfest, we are also thinking about what future Brewfest events could look like,” said organizer Jocelyn Law. “We have had discussions about including crafters, other activities for kids, performers, and, of course, additional brewers. The opportunities are endless.” The establishment of local brewers throughout the Adirondacks in recent years has offered residents and visitors the opportunity to sample local creations, often in a setting that showcases the region. Local breweries often serve favorite local food, have outdoor seating, fire pits and regularly welcome musicians. The Raquette Pond Brewfest event is building on the success of Brewski, a winter event in Tupper Lake where participants can snowshoe or ski along the area’s network of cross-country ski trails, with brew stations set up along the way, offering local beers from many different brewers. “We are really excited about this year’s event, which is proving to be bigger than originally expected. The breweries, village board and local businesses have really supported the idea,” said Katie LaLonde, Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism Hamilton County and Tupper Lake marketing manager. “This event will provide a great opportunity for local brewers to showcase their craft, while hosting a really fun event for the community to kick off the summer season.” Tickets for Brewfest are $30 each and can be purchased on the event’s website. ### Contact:Jane Hooper, communications managerRegional Office of Sustainable Tourism518-621-3662jane@roostadk.com