LAKE PLACID, NY (March 30, 2022) - The Adirondack Region is being featured in two episodes of the PBS television docu-series “Fly Brother With Ernest White II.” One episode is currently airing nationally; the other will be airing later this year. The Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism (ROOST) worked with the show’s producers to bring the show’s host and his team to the region. The ROOST team provided location scouting, background information, and made arrangements for the crew to meet, interview, and learn about the region from those directly involved in the tourism industry. Now in its second season, “Fly Brother” is an award-winning travel series, hosted by Ernest White II, that focuses on friendship and connection in some of the most intriguing destinations around the world. Last summer, the crew visited five of the area’s regions, including Tupper Lake, Saranac Lake, Lake Placid, Lake Champlain, and the Hamilton County community of Inlet. The season two episode features the Whiteface Region, Tupper Lake, Saranac Lake, and Lake Placid. The episode is scheduled to air 75 times across 47 PBS stations throughout the United States, covering 25 million homes. It can also be viewed online at PBS.org. While in the Whiteface Region, Tupper Lake, and Saranac Lake, the “Fly Brother” crew visited The Wild Center, enjoyed lunch at the Saranac Waterfront Lodge with Mayor Clyde Rabideau, drove to the top of the Whiteface Memorial Highway, and fished the Ausable River with Brandon Seifert from Hungry Trout Fly Shop in Wilmington. In addition to the Saranac Lake, Tupper Lake, and Whiteface Region, the “Fly Brother” crew also visited the Lake Champlain area, along with the community of Inlet in Hamilton County. That episode is currently in production and will begin airing at a later date. According to ROOST Communications Manager Jane Hooper, the organization’s goals align with the show’s mission in that they aim to foster connections between locals and visitors to showcase opportunities for authentic travel experiences. “One of the many roles ROOST has is to showcase the Adirondacks and encourage people to visit the region,” she said. “ROOST works with travel writers, TV hosts, and other media outlets to share information about the area, ultimately encouraging people to plan a trip and experience the Adirondacks first-hand. We know that tourism is an important economic driver within our area; it promotes business success, job creation, infrastructure development, and invigorates communities.” Another ROOST goal that aligns with the “Fly Brother” message is to help educate residents and visitors about caring for the region to ensure that the tourism economy and its benefits extend to everyone for generations to come. “Fly Brother” host Ernest White II echoes the importance of caring for the planet during his travels. The beginning of the Adirondack Region episode attests to this. While visiting the Wild Center in Tupper Lake, White interviews David Fadden, educator and storyteller from the Six Nations Iroquois Cultural Center, who explains why travel is important. White asks, “How can we deepen our connection with the land in order to better take care of it?” Fadden replies, “The simple answer is get out there and use all your senses. Take the time to get in a canoe or go on a hike.” 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. "Ernest White II is a producer of film, television, and digital media. He is the founder and CEO of Presidio Pictures, a production studio centering BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and senior/elder narratives, and is executive producer and host of award-winning television travel docu-series, "Fly Brother with Ernest White II." ###

The 2022 Great Adirondack Garage Sale will take place on Memorial Day weekend, May 27 - 29, 2022, within the Adirondack region of upstate New York. The event takes place throughout communities along a 200-mile trail, along NYS routes 28, 30 and 3. The annual event has become a popular kick-off to the summer season, with residents and visitors taking advantage of the opportunity to sell and purchase unique household items, gently used furnishings and quirky treasures. According to Christy Wilt, Hamilton County planning, tourism and economic development director, the popular event attracts people from within the local communities, as well as from outside the region. “The garage sale brings people to the region from locations throughout the northeast,” she said. “Many people plan a trip to the Adirondack region each Memorial Day to take advantage of our big outdoor experiences, but also to visit the region’s small towns during the sale. It’s a way for visitors to take part in an activity that really puts them in touch with local communities.” “We are so excited about this year’s event, which is proving to be bigger and better than ever,” said Katie LaLonde, Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism Hamilton County and Tupper Lake marketing manager. “This region of the Adirondack Park promises unique small towns packed with character, and this event will most certainly showcase that,” she laughed. “It seems that people have been decluttering their households over the past couple years, so we are expecting a lot of items available for purchase.” The Great Adirondack Garage Sale route meanders through the communities of Old Forge, Inlet, Raquette Lake, Indian Lake, Blue Mountain Lake, Long Lake, Tupper Lake, Cranberry Lake, Piercefield, Wanakena, Newcomb, and Speculator, with additional stops at small hamlets and rural locations in-between. The garage sale route can be easily followed by using one of the printed maps available within each community. The event website, GreatAdirondackGarageSale.com, also includes an interactive map that showcases sale locations. Each listing includes information about available items, entered by the seller. Those wishing to add details about their garage sale can also use the event website; using the “add your sale” section. The listing is free. This regional garage sale originated in 2010 when the community of Long Lake coordinated its efforts with Old Forge, Inlet, and Indian Lake to promote 70 miles of garage sales. Hamilton County and the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism eventually expanded and promoted the event. To learn more about the event, contact the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism’s Hamilton County and Tupper Lake Marketing Manager Katie LaLonde at katie@roostadk.com. 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 Tourism518-621-3662jane@roostadk.com

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