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March 7-10---New York State Reading Association---800 ppl
March 12-14---Youth for Christ---900 ppl
March 16-20---NYS Athletic Administrators Association---300 ppl
March 21-24---NYS Recreation & Park Society, Inc.---300 ppl
March 23-26---Empire State College, All College Conference---300 ppl
March 24-28---New York Press Association---250 ppl
March 29---Curtis Lumber-Contractor's Expo---2,000 ppl
April 7-11---NYS Speech-Lanaguage-Hearing Association, Inc.---400 ppl
EmbroidMe
SaratogaArtsFest
Stella's of Saratoga
Johnny's Italian Ice and Handcrafted Ice Cream
Tark's Indoor Golf Club
When you become a member of the Saratoga Convention and Tourism Bureau in Saratoga Springs NY, your business will be actively promoted through various member-only outlets. We actively work to attract conventions, meetings, trade shows and social events to Saratoga Springs and bring business to our local neighborhood vendors.
Submit your testimonial!
Refer a Friend to Become a Member!
Please send us your event listings, special news or congratulations and we will post it on our website and in our newsletters!
E-mail your news and event listings to Angela LaTerra at angela@discoversaratoga.org
+ See Area Events
Browse through the Bureau's newsletter archive... Click Here
This dish is served at The Bread Basket Bakery
St. Patty's Kielbasa Chowder
2 cups chopped celery
3 med. onions chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 lbs. sliced kielbasa
1 med. head of cabbage, shredded
6 potatoes, cubed
1/4 cup butter
3 T. flour
2 C milk
2 C 1/2 &1/2
Sauté celery, onions, garlic in 2 T. butter until soft.
Add Kielbasa and cabbage and sauté until cabbage is al dente'
Meanwhile boil potatoes and when still firm drain and add them to the cabbage mixture.
In another pan melt butter and add flour and stir until you have a thick
paste. Cook for a minute or two. Stirring constantly. Add milk and 1/2 &1/2 (or can use cream) and stir until thickened.
Add your potato cabbage mixture and stir gently. Leave on low heat and let your flavors come together. Season with salt and pepper as needed.
www.saratogabreadbasket.com
Send in your recipe to angela@discoversaratoga.org or fax it to 584-2969.
We'd love to hear from you! If there are specific topics you'd like us to blog about or if you are interested in writing your own blog to be published on our website, please don't hesitate to e-mail our sales and communications coordinator Angela LaTerra angela@discoversaratoga.org.
New Blog Posted! Click Here!
The Bureau is always finding new ways to communicate to our audience. One section on our website is dedicated to blogging. We use blogs as a social media strategy to help us stay in frequent contact with existing and potential customers and members.
Through our blogs, we share industry tips, comment on and discuss issues related to the industry and life in general, explain new technology emerging in the market, and much more!
To keep up with the burgeoning use of Internet marketing, the Bureau has a presence on social media websites. We are featured on Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, and YouTube. Angela is frequently updating these sites with useful information including upcoming events, pictures, videos, industry articles and more! So, befriend us, follow us, watch us, and read about us! Check us out... CLICK HERE!
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It's our 25th Anniversary!
The Bureau's 25th Annual Meeting is on Wednesday, March 24th from 5:30-8:30pm at The Hall of Springs.
Click Here to Register Online!!
NEW Group Tour Resource Manual
We are in the process of updating our bi-annual Group Tour Manual. We are looking forward to a new look this year and producing a marketing piece that will be sent out to 1800 tour operators throughout the country.
If you have not signed up and are interested in attracting Motorcoach tours, please contact the Bureau ASAP as the directory will be going to the printers soon! 518-584-1531 or kathyp@discoversaratoga.org
 I would like to sincerely thank the Bureau staff, Board of Directors and members for the warm welcome and best wishes I have received. I look forward to working with you all. This is an exciting time for the Bureau and for Saratoga with, among other things, the expansion of the Saratoga Springs City Center and with Global Foundries coming into our market. These two developments alone create so many new opportunities for group and conference business for Saratoga. We are focusing on extending our sales reach into new and emerging markets, while maintaining our high level of service for our existing business. We are dedicating ourselves to increase our visibility in the marketplace and exceed the expectations of our membership. I look forward to seeing you all at our Annual Meeting on March 24th at the Hall of Springs!
Todd Garofano
President
Chowderfest 2010 broke records in every category! There were a total of 56 participating Chowder outlets (up from 46 last year), 55,852 servings of chowder were dished out between 11am and 4pm (up from 42,000), and over 11,000 chowder consumers were on the streets (up from 8,500) enjoying the day!
The Bureau would like to extend a big “Thank You” to the participating Chowder outlets. Another job well done! We would like to thank the Chowderfest sponsors. Without your support, Chowderfest would not be the wonderful family, and community event that it is. Most of all, we would like to thank the folks who showed up to taste some of the best Chowders this side of the Mississippi!
We are already looking forward to the 13th Anniversary of Chowderfest in 2011!
More details to follow!
Bureau's Annual Golf Tournament is on Wednesday, May 19th at Saratoga National Golf Club
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Sales and Services Update
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Your bureau sales team have hit the ground running in 2010, and the beginning of the first quarter has us very excited and encouraged! We count among our successes new opportunities that have been uncovered, new relationships made, and old relationships strengthened. Senior Sales Manager Marie Moynihan and Convention Sales Manager Heather McElhiney have continued to maintain a strong presence in the Albany area markets, using weekly sales calls to keep Saratoga top of mind with our existing clients and educate new contacts on all we have to offer. Additionally, Marie hosted the New York Bankers Association and American Diabetes Association for site visits this month.
We are working hard to identify new business in and around the area, and have had successful sales calls with several new accounts. The sales team has also made an effort to have increased activity in Northern and Western NY locations, as well as throughout the Northeast and along the Eastern Seaboard. Call days to the Glens Falls and Queensbury region were extremely productive with more to follow.
Marie made her way through the stormy Northeast weather to Washington DC in late February to represent Saratoga at the 2010 Destinations Showcase Conference & Expo. For more than 20 years, this Expo has put hundreds of CVBs in direct contact with thousands of meeting professionals who specifically come seeking new and exciting locations for their future conferences and events. These annual shows are the only events featuring an exhibit hall that is focused exclusively on meeting destinations. Because only Convention Bureaus are allowed to exhibit, there is no competing with service providers, hotels or promotional item vendors. Marie was able to meet and greet potential planners and familiarize them with the Saratoga Experience in an effort to bring their group to our lovely city. This was a fabulous way in which to promote the expansion of our City Center and showcase Saratoga as the perfect destination from start to finish.
For the future, there will be Albany, Massachusetts, New York City, New Jersey and Connecticut sales missions and calls to the Syracuse area with points in between. With the addition of Todd Garofano as the Bureau’s new President, there will be an immediate focus on meet and greets with past, present and potential clients. We are excited about having our new leader on board and look foward to a successful new beginning!
CONVENTION SERVICES
Spring is right around the corner and it seems that everyone is getting excited not only for spring, but for their upcoming conventions in Saratoga as well. We are welcoming back this month the NYS Reading Association, the NYS Athletic Administrators, The NYS Recreation and Park Society, New York Press Association and the Capital District Youth for Christ. New this year to Saratoga is the New York Community College Trustees of SUNY, Inc.
On Tuesday, March 2, 2010, Todd Garofano and Kathy Denkenberger attended Tourism Action Day along with Greg Dixon from the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce. We had legislative appointments along with many of our colleagues from around the state as we try and protect Tourism funding in our beautiful state for 2010.
CONGRATS!
The Saratoga Convention and Tourism Bureau congratulates Joe Wakefield from the
Hilton Garden Inn and David Hesselfeldt from the Saratoga Hilton for winning in NYSH&TA’s
“Outstanding Lodging Employee” category!
We Need "Stuff"!
The Bureau is looking for member collateral materials (flyers, menus, business cards, brochures, etc.)! We distribute member related materials along with our ultimate maps to the incoming groups and conventions coming to Saratoga. Just another benefit to your Bureau membership. Connie is running low, so if you have anything, please drop off or mail to the Bureau office or contact Membership and Services Coordinator Connie Crudo at connie@discoversaratoga.org
Annual Customer Appreciation Open House
Stone Soup Antiques Gallery's presents their Annual Customer Appreciation Open House on March 13-14, 2010 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. This is a great opportunity to meet our professional antique dealers and see the faces behind our fabulous antiques and art. During the event, will be offering gallery-wide discounts, door prizes every hour and one can enter to win a $100 gift certificate. There will be savory finger foods, sweets and refreshment both days so please come hungry and bring a friend! Visit www.stonesoupantiquesgallery.com
National Museum of Dance, Spring Opening Delayed
Due to exhibit installation and maintenance, there will be a delay in the museum's spring opening.
The museum will open to the public on Friday, February 26, 2010.
From February 26 through May 18, 2010 the museum will be open Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Starting May 18, 2010 the museum will be open Tuesday through Sunday from 10a.m. to 4:30p.m.
For more information or questions, please visit our website at www.dancemuseum.org or call (518) 584-2225 x3001
Congratulations!
The Posie Peddler celebrates 100 years in business! There was a lengthy story written about the store and its history in the Saratoga Business Journal. The Posie Peddler is a dedicated bureau member and we wish them the best for another 100 years in business, congrats!! Visit www.posiepeddler.com
Music Schedule for The Jonesville Store
Live music both Friday and Saturday evening beginning at 6:30pm
Friday, March 5 --Blackboard Blues
Saturday, March 6 --L.B. Walker
Friday, March 12 --Bernice Lewis
Saturday, March 13 --2Late
Friday, March 19 --John Eisenhart
Saturday, March 20 --Chris Carey and Sam Zucchini
Friday, March 26 --David Kraai
Saturday, March 27 --Mark Emanatian and Tom Dolan
Networking Mixer Night at Gauchos Grill & Catering
Click here for more info!
March Wine Madness!!
The Wine Dinners Of March at the Lake Ridge Restaurant!
Friday, March 12- Wines Of Washington, Caderetta Vineyards offers big juicy wines. Chef Scott has chosen to pair these wines with adventurous foods. Game and shellfish.
Wednesday, March 24th- Wines of Australia and New Zealand. Join us for bright and exciting wines from down under. Chef Scott will be pairing the wine with great food from the Barbie.
Wednesday, March 31st-The Wines Of Spain. This dinner has Chef Scott presenting authentic Spanish dishes with wines from four regions of Spain.
Each dinner includes four courses of wine and food pairings plus dessert with coffee. A great value at $65.00 per person!
Please call for reservations, 518-899-6000.
 Saratoga Springs
City Center Update
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Courtesy of Emily Miller of the Saratogian
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