Our destinations in the media Blogger Michele Hermann, who ROOST hosted in February, shares her first impressions from her visit. In this post, she focuses on High Falls Gorge and the Whiteface Region. READ THE ARTICLE

NORTH ELBA, N.Y. - The National Volunteer Week Committee is now accepting nominations for North Elba/Lake Placid's 2016 Distinguished Volunteer of the Year. National Volunteer Week began in 1974 when President Richard Nixon signed an executive order establishing the week as an annual celebration of volunteering. The Town of North Elba and the Village of Lake Placid will both sign proclamations declaring the week of April 24-30, 2016 as National Volunteer Week, an event that celebrates and thanks one of the communities’ most valuable assets: its volunteers. The NVW Committee is planning a celebration on Thursday, April 28 with a ceremony and reception at the Lake Placid Center for the Arts, recognizing the 2016 Distinguished Adult and Youth Volunteers of the Year. The Committee is now accepting nominations from any individual or organization for this award. Nominations must be received by Monday, March 21, 2016. Any previous candidates may be re-nominated. The committee also retains and reviews all past nominees. A Distinguished Volunteer award will be given in recognition of a lifetime of activity and effort on behalf of the Town of North Elba and/or the Village of Lake Placid. Volunteers do not have to reside in North Elba/Lake Placid but the organization that they have been nominated for, and where they have performed their services, must be within the boundaries of North Elba. The committee will accept nominations for a separate youth category for those 18 years of age and younger. The same criteria will be used. Nomination criteria: o Any individual or organization may nominate a candidate (s). o Previous nomination does not disqualify person for another year. o Please keep nominations confidential. All nominees will not necessarily receive an award. o Include as much pertinent information to support your nomination as you can. o Please provide at least 1 contact in support of your nomination. Be sure to include name and number where support person can be reached. o Additional letters of support are encouraged. Submissions: Download a nomination forms HERE. Nomination forms are also available by phoning Bethany Valenze at the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism office 636-0096 or emailing her at bethany@roostadk.com, or stop into the ROOST office at 2608 Main Street, Lake Placid.

ROOST employees enjoyed Gov. Andrew Cuomo's Adirondack Winter Challenge in Lake Placid, helping with planning and managing an information table, then attending the closing reception.

ROOST wishes to extend a HUGE thanks to Adworkshop for lending their tremendous expertise to the Summit. Their contributions were critical to the success of this event! Lake Placid, adirondacks, usa — More than 200 individuals representing a wide range of businesses and organizations from across the region attended the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism’s (ROOST’s) inaugural Adirondack Destination Marketing Summit in Lake Placid on March 3, with additional attendees joining in just for the keynote lunch. As the destination marketing organization responsible for promoting a large geographic of the Adirondacks, ROOST’s aim for the Summit was to support the success of its marketing partners at all levels of marketing savvy by providing marketing insight from top-notch speakers on a range of current digital marketing topics. “As our region’s businesses and organizations are better armed with the ability to implement the latest marketing strategies, we will collectively be more competitive in today’s fast-paced and ever-evolving destination marketplace,” said James McKenna, ROOST president. The lunch keynote, presented by Bill Siegel of Longwoods International, highlighted some interesting data from his company's study showcasing the value of a singular brand. The presentation included a case study about Pure Michigan, and the astounding positive results of their investment in a coordinated branding campaign on the image of the state for both tourism AND economic development. The Pure Michigan brand has been adopted consistently by municipalities, tourism businesses and even private enterprises, with remarkable results. READ ALL ABOUT IT. The Pure Michigan model has potential application in the Adirondacks. “By attaching the ‘adirondacks, usa’ umbrella brand to all of the destinations and experiences in the Adirondacks, our region’s communities will benefit from a much stronger, coordinated message in the destination marketplace,” said McKenna. “It seems the Pure Michigan example resonated, as we’ve already had a number of Summit attendees ask for the adirondacks, usa logo font to add to their individual websites and printed materials.” Summit attendees who completed an exit survey provided feedback that will inform future events. Among the comments collected, it was clear that Tourism Currents co-founder Sheila Scarborough was a hit with her energetic presentations on website design and reputation management, Adworkshop and ROOST presenters provided some very valuable insight and immediately-usable takeaways, and lunch by Centerplate was tasty! Many thanks to the Olympic Regional Development Authority and Centerplate for their support of the Summit! [gallery size="large" ids="18788,18787,18786,18785,18780,18779,18778,18776,18775,18774,18773,18772,18770,18769,18766,18764,18762,18761,18760,18759" orderby="rand"]

TICONDEROGA — The Ticonderoga Area Chamber of Commerce (TACC) March After Business Mixer/Networking Opportunity will be held on Thursday, March 24, at the Best Western Plus/Burgoyne Grill from 5:30 to 7 p.m. The Best Western Plus/Burgoyne Grill is located at 260 Burgoyne Road in Ticonderoga. Sponsors providing door prizes are Bridge Point Communication, Century 21 Adirondacks, Serenity Therapeutic Massage, Stoney Lonesome B&B, and the Wagon Wheel Restaurant. “We invite all Chamber Members, area businesses, and organizations to join us at the March Networking Opportunity. You will also have a chance to hear from our hosts as well as connect with fellow Chamber Members, businesses, and organizations. We encourage you to take advantage of this and all networking opportunities,” said TACC Executive Director Matthew Courtright. The Chamber’s “After Business Mixers” provide a networking forum for Chamber Members and area business people in addition to showcasing the site of the host as well as promoting the door prize sponsors. Networking is a key component of Chamber membership and marketing your business. Chamber members, area businesses, and organizations are encouraged to take advantage of this and all networking opportunities. Join the Chamber to reconnect with area businesses and organizations, meet new people, and take advantage of the opportunity to hear from the hosts. “We at the Best Western Plus Ticonderoga Inn & Suites and the Burgoyne Grill are proud to have been part of the Ticonderoga Area Business Community for eight years now! We provide clean and welcoming rooms for guests traveling into our area to visit their families or our local attractions. Along with the Ticonderoga Area Chamber of Commerce we have grown through new business partnerships, support, feedback, a sense of togetherness and pride to continue moving our business and the community forward. We are excited to see what new and exciting things the Chamber is going to accomplish in 2016 and would like to thank everyone for their business and support,” said Allison Kaupelis, director of operations for the Best Western Plus Ticonderoga Inn & Suites.