Akwesasne Travel, The Wild Center and the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism (ROOST) have partnered to offer a series of three information sessions for local businesses and organizations that focus on tourism within the region. The North Country Travel Trade Activation is a series of free workshops that will share information designed to increase international and group travel business. The workshops will provide strategies to work with travel trade - organizations that sell tour packages and make itineraries for groups and individuals. These 2-hour virtual sessions take place on February 9, March 2 and March 22, beginning at 10:30am. Businesses can register for the sessions on the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism website. Presented by Alon Tourism Solutions, the workshops will assist participants by providing specific strategies and resources to grow business through building relationships with long-term business partners and enhancing marketing efforts with business-to-business resellers of travel (referred to as “travel trade”), including online travel agents, tour operators, wholesalers, and travel agents. Partnering with these resellers allows local travel-oriented businesses to share travel packages with national and international travelers. ALON Tourism Solutions has partnered with New York State Tourism for more than 20 years, providing seminars, workshops and comprehensive training that equips destinations, venues and small businesses with the information and skills required to successfully work with the travel trade. The workshops provided by Alon encourage businesses to develop a strong, local tourism network - one that helps local businesses develop partnerships to attract visitors to the local area; all designed to advance economic development in the region. According to Nick Gunn, marketing director at The Wild Center in Tupper Lake, the workshops will offer a great deal of information for local businesses, encouraging them to view other tourism-based organizations as partners that can help position an entire community as a wonderful destination. "Our backyard has so much to offer the travel trade business,” he said. “We're excited to be partnering with ROOST, Akwesasne Travel and Alon Tourism Solutions to shine a light on the opportunities we have to show travelers all over the world the special experiences our neck of the woods offers." The virtual information sessions for Adirondack region businesses, hosted in February and March, will include information about how to establish pricing, developing a summary of products and services, developing itineraries for travelers and establishing partnerships and packages with other local and regional venues. Each session will focus on a different aspect of developing a travel trade program. The first session focuses on program basics including how to develop a travel trade strategy, working with travel trade organizations to increase domestic and international travel packages and developing the processes required to sustain the program. Subsequent workshops will focus on building a strategy for travel-trade interaction, learning about requirements of package resellers, and developing a pricing structure that positions the venue to attract the desired markets and travelers. It will culminate with an opportunity to work directly with key travel trade operators, sharing information about packages that have been developed as a result of the workshop training. The travel trade activation training is supported by a grant awarded to New York State Travel Industry Association (NYSTIA) by New York State's Empire State Development and the I LOVE NY Division of Tourism under Governor Kathy Hochul's Regional Economic Development Council Initiative. The Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism is the destination marketing and management organization for Hamilton and Essex counties, along with the communities of Lake Placid, Tupper Lake and Saranac Lake, all located within the Adirondacks in New York state. Contact:Jane Hooper, communications managerRegional Office of Sustainable Tourism518-621-3662518-578-6328 (cell)jane@auroraroostadk.com

Taryn Delanie Smith, Miss New York 2022, visited the Lake Placid region last week in support of her work with the Miss America Organization. As Miss New York, Ms. Smith works with the New York By Rail Organization to promote train travel throughout New York state. According to Communications Manager Jane Hooper, the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism (ROOST) contacted Miss New York last October and suggested a visit to the Adirondack region. During late December and early January, trip details were finalized and an itinerary developed. During her time in the area, Ms. Smith rode the gondola to the top of Whiteface Mountain, she visited businesses along Lake Placid’s Main Street, experienced a snowshoe adventure at Henry’s Woods, visited John Brown Farm, toured the Olympic Museum, visited the Herb Brooks Arena in the Olympic Center, and spoke with a number of local residents, business owners, tourism industry personnel and regional tourism officials. Throughout her visit, Ms. Smith captured a great deal of video and many photographs of her time spent at the various venues, visiting area businesses and during her time outdoors. These photos, videos and her personal accounts of the experience will be shared on the Miss New York Instagram page and on the New York By Rail social media accounts. Additionally, she will summarize her experiences in a blog written for NY By Rail that will be shared in a weekly newsletter, along with the video highlighting her experiences. As a social media content creator, Ms. Smith’s proficiency with various social media platforms has increased the Miss America NY Instagram account substantially, doubling the number of followers in her first 6 months in the role. She has used her expertise to share her experiences as Miss New York, along with her statewide travels and appearances, with a wide audience. This particular trip highlights the ease in which people can take the train to the Albany area and access the Adirondack region by car; allowing potential Adirondack travelers to learn more about the region. Hooper explained that ROOST often works with various media professionals to help promote all that the Adirondack region has to offer. “ROOST undertakes a media relations strategy as part of its overall marketing effort,” she said. “We work with travel writers, editors, and social media content creators to encourage story development about the Adirondack region; ultimately sharing information about travel to, and within, the area. Writers and social media content professionals present the Adirondacks to their audiences which adds to the overall understanding of the Adirondacks - these writers and social media personalities tell the ‘story’ of the region through words, photos and video. The stories are also reinforced through ROOST’s advertising campaigns, encouraging potential visitors to begin planning their own Adirondack adventure.” Miss New York’s adventures in Lake Placid and throughout the state can be seen on Instagram @missamericany and @newyorkbyrail. The Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism is the destination marketing and management organization for Hamilton and Essex counties, including the communities of Lake Placid, Tupper Lake and Saranac Lake, all located within the Adirondacks in New York state. About Miss New York 2022 Taryn Delanie Smith is a passionate communications and media creative with a strong educational background in media studies and international relations. As a bilingual 25-year-old, she has scholastic expertise and hands-on experience with digital communities, inter-cultural relations, and diplomacy. Taryn is an honors graduate who holds both a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degree from St. John's University. She is a freelance content creator and consultant for numerous national and international brands. Taryn was the first runner-up at the Miss America pageant, held in December 2022. About New York By RailNew York By Rail is an annual magazine produced along with NewYorkByRail.com, a web version of the magazine, under a publishing agreement between Amtrak and Martinelli Custom Publishing that promotes Amtrak train travel, primarily in New York, and features information on Amtrak trains, routes, services and destinations and attractions. New York By Rail has an agreement with the Miss New York Organization for Miss New York to visit destinations via Amtrak and promote her experiences through a blog, video and social media. Contact:Jane Hooper, communications managerRegional Office of Sustainable Tourism518-621-3662518-578-6328 (cell)jane@roostadk.com

The Town of Tupper Lake is hosting its annual BrewSki event on Saturday, February 25 from 12-4 p.m. at the Tupper Lake Golf Course. BrewSki features 17 local and regional breweries that offer samples and the opportunity to learn about regionally produced beers and the breweries that produce them; while skiing, snowshoeing and riding along the trails. Event organizers also arrange fire pits at which to rest along the trail and fat tire bike rental from High Peaks Cyclery. The event culminates with an after party at Raquette River Brewing featuring live music with Mickey and Claire. Tickets for the event are $25 each and includes admission to the event, drink samples, a commemorative mug along with a lanyard to help carry the mug as participants travel along the route. Tickets for the event can be purchased at TupperLake.com/events/brewski. Participants under 21 years of age or those who do not wish to sample products from the breweries can take part free of charge. There will be a welcome tent at the event to ensure that all participants are registered. BrewSki participants can ski, walk, fat tire bike or snowshoe along the 1.5-mile loop that weaves in and out of the woods and along the James C. Frenette Sr. Recreational Trail adjacent to the golf course. While moving along the trail, participants have the opportunity to visit brewery sample stations hosted by a number of local and regional breweries. The breweries will offer product samples, information about the products, fire pits and music so that participants can mingle and relax. According to Laura LaBarge, recreation and youth activities director for the Town of Tupper Lake, the BrewSki is one of the area’s most popular events. “In our area, so many people really embrace winter and BrewSki is one event that people really look forward to each year,“ she said. “Physical activity, the opportunity to socialize, a chance to play in the snow while sampling some local beers, all combine to provide a solid cure for our collective cabin fever.” The one-of-a-kind, and dog-friendly event typically attracts more than 1,000 participants each year. “We have a limit on the number of tickets, so I really encourage people to register as soon as possible. The event takes place, rain or shine, snow or mud,” she laughed. “It’s a great event, no matter the weather. This year, we are excited to have some snow, and with the upcoming cold weather, I am hopeful that it will last.” The Tupper Lake Central School Class of 2023 will be selling hot cocoa, tacos, popcorn, s’mores kits and dog treats at the main fire pit, located approximately halfway along the route. Snacks are available on a cash-only basis. Breweries taking part in this year’s BrewSki include: Raquette River Brewing (Tupper Lake) Maple Brewing (Akwesasne) Livingoods (Peru, NY) Big Slide Brewery (Lake Placid, NY) Lake Placid Pub & Brewery (Lake Placid, NY) Hex & Hop Brewing (Bloomingdale, NY) Woodboat (Clayton, NY) Oval Craft Brewing (Plattsburgh, NY) Woodland Farm (Utica, NY) Boots Brewing Company (Watertown) Gristmill Brewery (Massena, NY) Ray Brook Brewhouse (Ray Brook, NY) Valcour Brewing (Plattsburgh, NY) Northway Brewing Co. (Queensbury, NY) Paradox Brewery (North Hudson, NY) 1812 Brewing Co (Sackets Harbor, NY) Nine Pin Cider Works (Albany, NY) The event raises money for the volunteer-groomed ski trail system. BrewSki is the second winter-themed event taking place in Tupper Lake this February. The Lumberjack Scramble, hosted by the Town of Tupper Lake will take place on February 11 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. The cross-country ski event welcomes skiers ages 6-14 who wish to compete in distances ranging from .8 km to 4 km. Proceeds will benefit the youth ski program. Refreshments and lunch will be provided. More information can be found at tupperlake.com/events. Contact:Sydney Aveson, communications coordinatorRegional Office of Sustainable Tourism518-831-5375626-533-5008 (cell)sydney@roostadk.com

Lake Placid has been included in the 2023 edition of Leading Places: The 100 Most Loved Destinations Around the World, compiled by destination marketing agency Destination Think. Lake Placid placed 92nd in the rankings. This is the second year that destinations around the world have been studied to determine consumer sentiment. Locations featured in the rankings are considered to be the 100 most loved destinations according to consumer sentiment – what people really feel. Being included within this list means that Lake Placid has offered positive experiences and instilled the kind of happiness that visitors talk about, leading to an impressive Tourism Sentiment Score®. According to Jane Hooper, communications manager at the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism (ROOST), the Lake Placid region offers the perfect combination of things that make visitors love the area, regardless of the season. “Lake Placid is set against a beautiful natural background with mountains, lakes, ponds, streams, a charming village and incredible Olympic community history. There is so much natural beauty to access each day while the local hotels and resorts offer a wonderful place to rest in the evenings; people really can have the best of both worlds,” she said. “Visitors can have a variety of experiences. This is really an ideal location to create your perfect vacation.” According to ROOST’s Community Liaison Catherine Ericson, Lake Placid focuses on continually improving the visitor experience. “Lake Placid is a community that continues to enhance the experience of visitors and residents,” she said. “Main Street infrastructure, new sidewalks, renovated hotels, businesses that offer new products and services, local trail improvements, and upgraded Olympic venues sit adjacent to businesses and properties that have been in place for generations. People who visit see both familiar favorites and new adventure opportunities; all against a stunning background of natural beauty.” In addition to the charming village, Lake Placid’s location within the Adirondack Park in upstate New York has ensured that Lake Placid and its region has remained unspoiled since the park’s creation in 1892. “The Adirondack region, including Lake Placid, has been focused on environmental protection and sustainability long before it was in vogue,” commented Hooper. Tourism Sentiment Index conducted an intensive study of its data – more than 1.6 billion online conversations and content pieces publicly available about 21,330 global destinations – to identify the 100 Most Loved Destinations. Tourism Sentiment Index is cutting-edge technology that applies the power of artificial intelligence to the challenge of extracting sentiment from human expression. This technology in the hands of its data scientists has brought to life a leading quality indicator for destination marketing: Tourism Sentiment Score®. To learn more about the Lake Placid area visit LakePlacid.com. Visit https://sentiment-index.com/most-loved/ to learn more about the other 99 Most Loved Destinations on the list. The Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism is the destination marketing and management organization for Hamilton and Essex counties, along with the communities of Lake Placid, Tupper Lake and Saranac Lake, all located within the Adirondacks in New York state. About Tourism Sentiment Index Tourism Sentiment Index is an intelligence solution created by acclaimed destination marketing agency Destination Think. Launched in early 2018, Tourism Sentiment Index was established as an independent business that same year, and today is managed by its team of expert analysts at its Vancouver, Canada, headquarters. The company sells a suite of products that gives destination marketers the ability to understand how consumers around the world feel about their destinations and competitors. Contact: Jane Hooper, communications managerRegional Office of Sustainable Tourism518-621-3662518-578-6328 (cell)jane@roostadk.com

The Lake Placid Community Day organizing committee is seeking nominations for the Distinguished Volunteer of Year award, to be presented at the fifth annual Community Day celebration on Sunday, June 4, 2023, from 1-4 p.m. at the North Elba Horse Show Grounds. Community Day celebrates all who contribute to various community-based initiatives, within the Village of Lake Placid and the Town of North Elba, that enhance the quality of life for community members and visitors. Residents, seasonal homeowners, those who work in the town and those who volunteer their time and effort for various events are encouraged to attend the event. It is a day to celebrate all who help make the community so vibrant. One important aspect of Lake Placid Community Day is showcasing volunteer efforts of community members and specifically, those who choose to give their time to activities and events in the area. As the community day event is being planned, organizers encourage nominations for the Distinguished Volunteer of the Year award. The nomination criteria is as follows: Any individual or organization may nominate one or more candidates. The organization and the volunteer work must be within the boundaries of North Elba. Previous nomination does not disqualify a person for another year. Please keep nominations confidential. All nominees will not necessarily receive an award. Include as much pertinent information as possible to support the nomination. Please provide at least one contact in support of the nomination. Be sure to include a name and a number where the support person can be reached. Additional letters of support are encouraged. To nominate someone for the North Elba / Lake Placid Distinguished Volunteer of the Year, fill out the nomination form and contact Catherine Ericson by email at Catherine@RoostADK.com or by phone at (518) 621-3668. Nominations are due by May 1, 2023. Previous candidates may be re-nominated. The committee retains and reviews all past nominee submissions. The Community Day Celebration is a joint initiative of the Lake Placid / North Elba Community Development Commission and the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism (ROOST). Visit the Lake Placid Community Day Celebration Facebook page or email LakePlacidCommunityDay@gmail.com for additional information. The Lake Placid / North Elba Development Commission facilitates the implementation of the Lake Placid / North Elba Comprehensive Plan, which was developed in 2014. The Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism is the destination marketing and management organization for Hamilton and Essex counties, along with the communities of Lake Placid, Tupper Lake and Saranac Lake, all located within the Adirondacks in New York state. Contact: Jane Hooper, communications managerRegional Office of Sustainable Tourism518-621-3662 | 578-6328 celljane@roostadk.com