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

The Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism Board of Directors elected new officers at its recent annual meeting. The board has also added two ex-officio members this year, as much of its work includes communities throughout Essex County. Mary Jane Lawrence, ROOST chief operating officer, explained the importance of adding representation from Essex County. “This year, ROOST has created two ex officio board seats, specifically for members of the Essex County Board of Supervisors. Town of North Hudson Supervisor Stephanie Dezalia, along with Town of Jay Supervisor Matt Stanley have joined the board to share their local knowledge and expertise regarding county- and community-specific challenges and needs,” she said. “As we continue to focus on destination management, representation from the Essex County board of supervisors will be very helpful.” Newly appointed officers, elected by their fellow board members, include Nick Politi, chair; Chandler Ralph, vice chair; Marc Galvin, treasurer; Hillarie Logan-Dechene, secretary. Nick Politi is a lifelong resident of the Lake Placid area. His professional background focused on real estate sales within the Adirondacks; offering expertise regarding local economic and housing trends. Nick currently owns and operates Merrill L. Thomas, Inc., along with his family. He represents the Lake Placid area. Chandler Ralph is the former chief executive officer at Adirondack Health in Saranac Lake. During her 21 year career at Adirondack Health, Ms. Ralph oversaw a growing network comprising health centers, a hospital, nursing home, and physical therapy center. Her tenure saw the rapid and significant change of healthcare within the upstate New York region, along with its role as an economic driver. Ms. Ralph represents the Saranac Lake region. Marc Galvin is the owner of The Bookstore Plus in Lake Placid. Marc’s retail and business expertise offers ROOST a unique perspective regarding retail in the Adirondack region and specifically, within Lake Placid. He represents the Lake Placid region. Hillarie Logan-Dechene is the deputy director of the Wild Center in Tupper Lake. Her expertise in tourism-oriented venues within the Adirondacks provides an important context when discussing tourism and visitor experiences within the region. Ms. Logan-Dechene represents the Hamilton County region. Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism (ROOST) officers will serve in their executive role for one year; each term is three years, and ROOST board members can serve a maximum of three terms. Each board member represents a different industry and region of the Adirondacks. According to ROOST CEO Jim McKenna, the board of directors is responsible for setting the organization’s overall direction. “The board focuses on ROOST’s strategic goals and on its high level initiatives,” he said. “This mission of the organizations is always at the forefront of decisions and plans that are developed and implemented.” Additional ROOST board members include: Lisa Hess-Marks from Schroon Lake, Karen Dalton from Willsboro, Joe Gehm representing Tupper Lake, Jodi Gunther from Saranac Lake, Charles (Chip) Grundon from Wilmington, Mark Jessie from Tupper Lake, Leslie Karason from Saranac Lake, James Lemons and Garrick Smith both from Lake Placid, and Mariann Rapple representing the Lake Champlain region. Sarah Wilson, who served nine years on the board, reached the end of her term after serving as board chair in 2022. 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. Contact:Jane Hooper, communications managerRegional Office of Sustainable Tourism518-621-3662 518-578-6328 (cell)jane@roostadk.com

The Conference Center at Lake Placid is set to welcome more than 2,700 attendees at upcoming conferences between now and October 2024. Spring and fall of 2023 will welcome a number of organizations to Lake Placid, including New York Snowmobile Association, SUNY Technology, New York State Mayors, New York Rural Waters and New York State Hospitality and Tourism. 2024 conferences include the New York State Library Association, New York State Highway Safety Symposium and the return of the New York Snowmobile Association. Conferences are typically scheduled in April, May, and June, then again in September and October. Many organizations postponed or canceled conferences and corporate retreats during the COVID-19 pandemic; many of which were planned years in advance. The upcoming Lake Placid conference schedule reflects a pre-pandemic event program. According to ROOST Chief Operating Officer Mary Jane Lawrence, the attraction of conferences and group business to the Lake Placid region represents a significant aspect of ROOST’s marketing strategy. “Our staff, in collaboration with the Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA) and local lodging properties, cultivates relationships with organizations and their event planners, presenting and encouraging Lake Placid as a destination for annual meetings, conferences, events, and retreats,” she said. Hannah Ackerman has joined the ROOST team as group sales coordinator. Her role focuses on identifying potential opportunities, working with ORDA conference staff and lodging properties to secure midweek events, especially during months with decreased visitation. Conferences and group travel business are most often scheduled to capitalize on Lake Placid’s “shoulder seasons” - the weeks and months between the busy winter, summer, and fall seasons. Spring and early fall tend to have lower visitation than the other times of the year. Conferences taking place in the region during these times can help support lodging properties, restaurants and local attractions. “Our work to secure these events supports ROOST’s commitment to supporting local businesses, especially during times of the year that can be a bit challenging,” said Lawrence. Lake Placid represents an attractive location for conferences, as many conference attendees have expressed interest in visiting the region to their conference planners and organizers. These events provide an inherent marketing opportunity for the region. “The Adirondacks, and the community of Lake Placid, is a destination that many people aspire to visit,” said Lawrence. “ Event planners are very excited to offer the opportunity to visit Lake Placid to their organization; and we know that a conference attendee’s positive experience in Lake Placid can drive future visits.” In addition to the conference itself, the region benefits when attendees visit local restaurants and attractions. Event attendees often bring family members who can explore the area during conference hours. Many people take advantage of the come-early-stay-late option to extend their stay. The conference center’s 2023 spring season begins in mid-April. May and June will be another busy time with four conferences scheduled. The 2023 schedule continues in September and October with conferences taking place across multiple properties. 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. Contact:Jane Hooper, communications managerRegional Office of Sustainable Tourism518-621-3662 518-578-6328 (cell)jane@roostadk.com View the upcoming schedule for the Conference Center at Lake Placid

The Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism (ROOST) is hosting its spring Social event at Lake Placid Center for the Arts on April 29 from 5:00-6:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased through the ROOST website for $10 in advance; or for $15 at the door. The purchase of a Spring Social ticket entitles each attendee to 50% off Lake Placid Center for the Arts’ presentation of ANIMAL by Cirque Alfonse, beginning at 7:00 p.m. that evening. The ROOST Social will provide an opportunity for Adirondack businesses, community organizations and local officials to learn about ROOST’s program of work. ROOST staff, along with its board of directors, will be on-hand so that attendees can learn more about each role and interact with staff in a casual, relaxed atmosphere. “We are really excited to host this event,” said Mary Jane Lawrence, chief operating officer at ROOST. “The pandemic affected so many events, and the ROOST Social was one that had been paused for the last 3 years. Hosting this event gives ROOST staff and many of our regional partners and local officials an opportunity to meet and connect again in person,” she said. “These conversations and personal connections are invaluable.” The event features a short presentation about ROOST’s overall efforts to support the Adirondack region through its work in tourism marketing, community alignment, destination development and management, and sustainability initiatives. Those who purchase tickets in advance should be sure to check their emailed ticket confirmation for a promo code, entitling them to 50% off admission to the LPCA event following the ROOST Social. 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@roostadk.com