The Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism elected four new board members at its annual dinner Monday, Jan. 19. More than 125 people attended the dinner at the Whiteface Lodge, including ROOST employees, board members, businesspeople and elected officials from throughout ROOST's seven Adirondack regions. As guests sat down for dinner, Communications Director Kim Rielly introduced the board, board Chairman Mike Beglin talked about all the good work ROOST has done over the past year, and CEO James McKenna welcomed elected officials in attendance and underscored the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead in creating a sustainable tourism economy. Local jazz band Le Groove entertained the crowd throughout cocktail hour, dinner and afterwards as people got up to cut a rug on the dance floor. New board members added for 2015 are Adam Boudreau of Tupper Lake, Marc Galvin of Lake Placid, James Lemons of Lake Placid, and Laura O'Brien of Speculator. Boudreau has been president of the Tupper Lake Chamber of Commerce for the last year, and he works for Kentile Excavating in Tupper Lake, a business that has been in his family for over 40 years. Galvin has owned the Bookstore Plus since 2005. He is also an active member, past president and current chair of the Lake Placid Business Association. Lemons took over as executive director of the Lake Placid Center for the Arts at the start of 2013. He has vast theater experience that includes Florida Studio Theatre in Sarasota, Florida, and 10 years as associate artistic director and communications manager at WaterTower Theatre in Addison, Texas. O'Brien is the vice president of marketing and sales and co-owner of Oak Mountain Ski Center in Speculator. She started her ski career at Sugarbush Resort — where she met Matt, her now-husband and co-owner of Oak Mountain — then moved to the Ski & Snowboard School at The Canyons in Park City, Utah. "We're excited about the variety of background and skills we're adding to the board," said ROOST board Chairman Mike Beglin, proprietor of Beglin's Lake Placid Jewelry and Gifts. “With representation from Essex and Hamilton Counties as well as the communities of Saranac Lake and Tupper Lake, the board has grown to match the organization’s evolution.” Beglin thanked outgoing directors Debbie Fitts from the Lake Placid Sinfonietta, Mary Ann Hawley of Parajax Inc., and Sharon Piper from the Schroon Lake Bed and Breakfast for their dedication of time and expertise to the board. The rest of the ROOST board is comprised of the following: Chair: Mike Beglin, Beglin’s Lake Placid Jewelery and Gifts Vice Chair: Ed Finnerty, Champlain National Bank Vice Chair: Cristina Lussi, Vice President and Co-owner, Crowne Plaza Resort Treasurer: Charlie Cowan, financial consultant with Janney Montgomery Scott Secretary: Bob Hockert, owner of Little Peak Chalet and Clearwater Camp vacation rentals Justin Smith, COO Prestige Hospitality Beth Hill, Executive Director at Fort Ticonderoga Kate Fish, Adirondack North Country Association (ANCA) Jill Cardinale, owner of The Pines Inn Sarah Wilson, Sarah Wilson Communications Melinda Little, who wears a variety of entrepreneurial hats in Saranac Lake Chris Erikson, former ROOST board chair and owner, Lake Placid Pub and Brewery For more information about ROOST, visit www.roostadk.com. Board Chairman Mike Beglin talks to attendees about ROOST's good work. Director of Communications Kim Rielly poses for the camera while introducing one of the evening's speakers. ROOST CEO James McKenna talks about ROOST's new initiatives. Members of Le Groove jazz band listen as CEO James McKenna speaks.

ROOST in the news Jan. 22, 2015: Lake Placid News, "ROOST moves forward in new year" Naj Wikoff covers ROOST's annual dinner. READ THE ARTICLE Naj Wikoff photo

Our destinations in the media Jan. 25, 2015: I Love New York, "3 Places to Go for a Spa Weekend Getaway" I Love New York's blog lists Lake Placid as one of three great places to go for a spa weekend getaway. The post highlights the Mirror Lake Inn as well as the Lake Placid Toboggan Chute, dogsled rides, bobsledding and skiing. READ THE ARTICLE

LAKE PLACID, NY – For the third year in a row, the Crowne Plaza Resort and Golf Club, Lake Placid received the InterContinental Hotel Group’s (IHG®) most prestigious award, the Torchbearer Award. The Torchbearer Award was presented during the 2014 IHG Americas Investors & Leadership Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada, Oct. 27-29, 2014, held at The Venetian® | The Palazzo® Resorts-Hotel-Casino. The Crowne Plaza Resort and Golf Club, Lake Placid is one of only 60 properties within the Americas chosen from the IHG system of more than 4,700 hotels for achieving the highest levels of excellence in all aspects of operation -- from quality to customer satisfaction. A 2014 Torchbearer trophy, the company's symbol of top excellence, will be on permanent display at the hotel. With over 1,000 acres of land, the Crowne Plaza Resort and Golf Club, Lake Placid has unmatched amenities such as 45 Holes of pristine golf and a prime location for access to the Lake Placid Olympic region. Their staff is welcoming and ever-ready to assist you with your needs. "It is my pleasure to name the Crowne Plaza Resort and Golf Club, Lake Placid as one of the top-notch hotels in our industry," said Kirk Kinsell, President - the Americas, IHG. "This hotel embodies the heart of our brand promise and continues to make IHG properties known and admired throughout the world, continuing our mission to deliver on great brands and Great Hotels Guests Love." The Crowne Plaza Resort and Golf Club, Lake Placid is pleased to be recognized with such an award, and is looking forward to another 12 months of excellence within their business. ###

Our destinations in the media Jan. 27, 2015: Ottawa Road Trips, "Getting a taste for snowshoeing in Lake Placid" Laura Byrne Paquet, who ROOST hosted in early January, braves the cold to try snowshoeing at Cascade Cross Country Center. READ THE ARTICLE Photo via Laura Byrne Paquet