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.

Tweet this: more than 90 bird watchers migrated to Hamilton County from June 10-12 for the 12th annual Adirondack Birding Festival! The three-day Adirondack Birding Festival features birding hikes, walks, safaris, outings, and seminars throughout Hamilton County.This year, 30 more registrants participated in greater numbers in the variety of expert-led outdoor trips than in 2015. Hamilton County contains more than one million acres of the Adirondacks. With more than 60 percent of those acres classified as either wilderness or wild forest, it is one of the best locations to watch boreal birds. Now in its 12th year, the Hamilton County Birding Festival brings together bird watchers from all over the United States to explore and discover the amazing birds of the Adirondacks. MORE INFO

The 2016 Summer Fest in Malone, presented by the Malone Chamber of Commerce, was held on Saturday, June 11th to benefit the Capital Campaign for the Malone Civic Center. The event included live music, beer and wine tastings, auction and food, and the popular Mayor's Poutine Challenge. The Malone Civic Center, located at the end of State Street in Malone, is used by multiple organizations throughout the year. As an ice rink, more than 500 athletes participate in Malone Minor Hockey, the Malone Figure Skating Club, Malone Men’s Hockey, and Franklin Academy Boys and Girls Hockey. Additionally, over 1000 people have enjoyed open skate this season. In the off-season, the Civic Center is also used for various community events. The Capital Campaign is raising funds to renovate the arena into a more modern and safe environment; new boards, glass, and safety netting will be installed to ensure a safe and fun environment for everyone who uses the Malone Civic Center. The Mayor's Poutine Challenge Nice job if you can get it! Judges for the Mayor's Poutine Challenge: (L – R) Rick LeVitre, Cornell Cooperative Extension, Mayor Joe Riccio, Village of Malone, DJ Canon, Mayor DJ with Martz Communications and Chris Cordes with Cordes Software. 2016 Malone Chamber of Commerce Summer Fest Poutine Contest Winner was Mo's Pub & Grill. (L - R) Sharon Tucker, Manager, Casey Degon, Malone Chamber of Commerce, and Chef Marc Senechal - Congratulations!