Motorists are advised that sections of Route 86 in Ray Brook in the town of North Elba, Essex County, will be reduced to one lane starting Monday, June 6, as the New York State Department of Transportation removes dead pine trees along the highway. The tree removal, expected to take one week, will be performed under the guidance of a permit from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. The 413 trees along the highway that have been identified for removal are a hazard to the traveling public. During the work, traffic will be reduced to an alternating single lane controlled by flaggers on portions of the 2.5-mile stretch. It is imperative that motorists remember to drive carefully in the vicinity of this construction zone for their own safety and the safety of workers. Motorists are reminded that fines are doubled for speeding in a work zone. In accordance with the Work Zone Safety Act of 2005, convictions of two or more speeding violations in a work zone could result in the suspension of an individual’s driver’s license. For up-to-date travel information, call 511, visit www.511NY.org. Follow New York State DOT on Twitter @NYSDOT. Find us on Facebook at facebook.com/NYSDOT. For tweets from New York State DOT Region 1 (covering the Capital Region), follow @NYSDOTAlbany.

Ashley Andrews The Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism’s Ashley Andrews has been chosen for Destination Marketing Association International’s prestigious 30 Under 30 program. The program focuses on identifying and developing the talent of destination marketing professionals, 30 years of age and under, through increased access and exposure to industry networking and thought leadership. “Our nominating committee reviewed every submission, and ultimately delivered an impressive roster for 2016,” said Bob Lander, chair of DMAI. “I look forward to recognizing these 30 future leaders who have already demonstrated exceptional potential.” Andrews is a Saranac Lake resident who works at ROOST as sales and service manager. She has been a vital part of the ROOST staff for five years selling and managing conferences at the Conference Center at Lake Placid. In August 2014, Andrews became a Certified Meeting Professional, the foremost certification in the meetings, conventions and exhibitions industry. The 2016 honorees originate from a variety of destinations and backgrounds, from National Tourism Bureaus such as Brand USA and the Bermuda Tourism Authority to local Convention and Visitors Bureaus in Victoria, Texas and Macon, Georgia. “Investing in the future generation of destination experts is paramount,” said Welsh. “I am confident that the program we have developed for this year’s Annual Convention will inspire and further educate this incredibly talented team of future destination marketing leaders.” Now in its sixth year, 30 Under 30 is supported by founding program partner SearchWide, and sponsored by IMEX and USAE. The honorees will convene for the first time at DMAI’s Annual Convention Aug. 1 to 3 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Recipients will be recognized Monday, Aug. 1 immediately following the Opening Keynote featuring Abigail Posner.

A brand study meeting, Adirondack Day, and how millennials want to use technology in hotels - read this week's ROOST news!

Earlier this month, ROOST rolled out its new booking platform to the Whitefaceregion.com website that will keep ROOST's marketing efforts at the cutting edge of the industry. WhitefaceRegion.com is the second of ROOST's websites to receive this upgrade, following LakePlacid.com. The new platform replaces a much more limited one, which has been in place for many years. The system relies on a third-party software developed by the company Inntopia, out of Stowe, Vermont. The software provides businesses in the Whiteface Region the opportunity to reach visitors through a much more streamlined and user-friendly process. The platform also adds the ability for visitors to now book nearly any activity (admission tickets, guided tours, equipment rentals, etc.) all through the same system. Reservations are not just for lodging anymore! Whiteface Region businesses are strongly encouraged to take advantage of this new marketing tool. There is no setup fee or subscription fee, only a small percentage-based commission for sales made through the system. For more information, local businesses should contact Glenn Pareira at glenn@roostadk.com or 518-874-0255. ROOST will continue to bring this software to all of its destination sites in the coming year, including: SaranacLake.com, TupperLake.com, LakeChamplainRegion.com, SchroonLakeRegion.com, and AdirondackExperience.com.