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.

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A group of students from Hamilton County's Wells Central School spent the day at ROOST's Adirondack Destination Marketing Summit. They learned alongside the 200 adults gathered at the Summit to find out how to better promote their businesses and organizations to travelers. ROOST Ad Salesperson Glenn Pareira tells the students about what ROOST does to help promote local businesses. About 15 students from the school's business program ventured to Lake Placid to attend the event with their teacher Steve Stofelano Jr. and guidance counselor Sharon Parslow. Stofelano said it's important for the kids to learn what their home is about — to see the bigger picture of tourism throughout the Adirondacks and how it shapes our region. "The students are the Park's future," Stofelano said. Not only did the class learn about many tips that could help them in business once they graduate high school, Stofelano said the experience was also valuable because it got the students to a new place and taught them how to behave around adults in a networking and professional environment. That's valuable for kids from a small town. They even got the opportunity to meet some members of the business community whom they've worked with via email on various projects over the last two years. One of Stofelano's students, Kevin Stone is a 17-year-old who hopes to graduate next year, from a family that's been in Wells for more than a century. Stone is currently thinking about start his own heating, ventilating and air conditioning business once he finishes high school. He said he learned a number of useful tips that would be helpful if he were to go into business, like how to get a business to show up on a local search in Google or other search engines. Kevin said his business classes have been valuable, especially an exercise in which they have to learn how to budget using real-world simulations. He has learned everything from how to budget for food and bills to how to save for retirement. The students likely won't even realize the value of many of the things they're learning until 10 years down the road, Stofelano said. Students from Wells Central School pose with teacher Steve Stofelano, ROOST CEO James McKenna, and guidance counselor Sharon Parslow. The school's business program was eliminated nine years ago due to budget cuts, but the school board decided to revive it two years back. In a town of about 675 people, the school is tiny, with about 50 kids in the high school and 11 in this year's graduating class. But the school board decided that it was important enough to invest in. Stofelano ran a bed and breakfast in Albany for nearly three decades, and he's now the Hamilton County representative on the Adirondack North Country Association board, so he's got a wealth of knowledge that benefits the kids. He said a strong business program in high school is important to grooming responsible citizens and effective employees because business impacts every aspect of a person's life. The school's guidance counselor agreed, praising Stofelano for rebuilding the business program from the ground up. Parslow said he's been great at showing the kids the community outside their school, working with area businesses, chambers and organizations. She said a strong business program will have wide-ranging impacts on the school's students. "It ties into almost every career," Parslow said. And it's especially important in the small towns of the Adirondacks, because as youth continue to leave the area, they need to be taught that there are always options for them to stay here after high school, or come back after college. Paul Smith's College The Wells students weren't the only ones who came to the Summit. Thirteen students in Kelly Cerialo's class in the Hotel, Resort, and Tourism Management program at Paul Smith's College also attended half the day and learned plenty while they were there. The class is the driving force behind creating the inaugural Eat ADK Restaurant Week.