November 2010 Meeting Planner

The Bureau's Annual Thanksgiving and Hometown Ambassadors Reception!

Wednesday, November 10th
5:30-7:30 PM, $25 a person
At Panza’s on Saratoga Lake
Please R.S.V.P. by Friday, November 5th
Sign up online!



Saratoga’s 6th Annual Restaurant Week!

December 3rd-- December 9th
www.discoversaratoga.org/restaurantweek
Go to the website for a list of participating restaurants and lodging specials during the week!

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Giving Back to the Community

We are going to be bell ringers on November 23rd for the Salvation Army as a way for the Bureau to say “Thanks” to the community and give back!
 
We will be stationed our front of Adirondack Trust Bank, Lillian's Restaurant, Price Chopper, and Borders.

Stop and see us and make a donation! We will be around town from 10:30-12:30pm!

Happy November! As I stood outside this weekend, watching my daughter run a Cross Country race in 40 degree weather while a baseball game was being played on the opposite field, I was sad to admit that the days of fall sports are numbered. When I expressed this to another parent, I was reminded of how lucky we are though, to have such a large amount of year round outdoor activity options in our area. Soon we will be snowshoeing and cross country skiing at the Spa State Park, ice fishing on Saratoga Lake, or downhill skiing and tubing at West Mountain. And before you know it, we will be running springtime 5K’s, rowing on Saratoga lake, and traveling to the various area soccer, softball and lacrosse tournaments to see our children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews compete throughout the Northeast. But maybe you are doing more than just traveling to these events to cheer on the athletes? Maybe you are involved in the planning process of a sporting event? Did you know that the Saratoga Convention and Tourism Bureau can assist with the planning of a tournament or event?

Saratoga Springs has so many sporting venues, whether it be Gavin Park or one of the many fields developed and run by the Saratoga Springs Recreation Department, including the brand new Recreation Facility offering basketball, volleyball, racquet ball and wallyball courts, as well as indoor soccer and lacrosse coming next spring. Add to this a midsized lake, 8 area golf courses and a 2,200 acre state park, and you have a city that can host almost any type of sporting event tournament, meet or classic. As you know, our city is family – and parent – friendly. With countless shops, restaurants, boutiques, galleries and museums, there is so much for a family to do before, between and after the event. All of our rec facilities are located within 10 minutes downtown Saratoga, making it easy to grab a bite between games, or take the siblings back to the hotel for a quick swim and rest. So, if you are involved in the planning of an area event, we ask that you consider Saratoga as a future venue. If you find yourself traveling out of the area to attend these types of sporting events, why not suggest Saratoga to the organizers for a future event? The Saratoga Convention and Tourism Bureau is here to help make the event a overwhelming victory for all involved!
 

--Heather McElhiney, Group Tour and Convention Sales Manager

Group Tour

The Saratoga Convention and Tourism Bureau and Saratoga Springs would like to welcome your next group tour! If you are a group leader, group operator or someone who likes to enjoy everything our area has to offer from the comfort of a motorcoach, then may we suggest Saratoga for your next tour? You probably already know that there are over 100 restaurants, countless shops and boutiques, world class museums and golf, and of course - horses, horses, horses! But did you also know that Saratoga is an ideal "hub and spoke" location? Travel to Cooperstown, Lake George, the Adirondack State Park or historic Albany for day trips, and return to Saratoga in the evening to enjoy the restaurants, nightlife and a stroll on Broadway. Call Heather at the bureau for more information and ideas! 518-584-1531. E-mail heather@discoversaratoga.org
 

Group Tour Package from Hilton Garden Inn Saratoga Springs

November 1-3---New York Independent System Operators---50 ppl

November 3-5---NYS Day Service Providers---300 ppl

November 1-7---New York Library Association---1,000 ppl

November 5-7---International MOMS Club---150 ppl

November 6---Uncle Sam's Boxing Club---Public Invited

November 7-9---School Administrators association of NYS---250 ppl

November 11-12---Association of Mathematics Teachers of NYS---900 ppl

November 13-16---Northeast Association for Institutional Research---200 ppl

November 13-16---NYS Teachers' Retirement System---1,000 ppl

November 16-18---NYS Health Facilities Association, Inc.---175 ppl

November 17-19---The Business Council of NYS---200 ppl

November 19-21---Adirondack Sports & Fitness---Public Invited

November 29-December 1---NYS Coalition for Children's Mental Health Services---550 ppl

Click here for more information on the expansion! Targeted completion late 2010!

Read the City Center's Blog, click here!

Site visits are available, come see the new space! Contact Marie Moynihan at marie@discoversaratoga.org or Heather McElhiney at heather@discoversaratoga.org at the Bureau or call 518-584-1531

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The Saratoga Convention and Tourism Bureau is on CVENT and STARCITE!

Social Media Sites:
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Landing Page for Your Conference!

Are you a meeting planner who is bringing your convention/conference to Saratoga Springs, NY? Or are you in the process of finding a home for your convention/conference?

The Saratoga Convention & Tourism Bureau is offering a new service that we think your attendees will just love. Our new “Saratoga Landing Page” is being offered to meeting planners free of charge. We can customize a web-page which lists the highlights of Saratoga during the time of your conference – i.e., local events, directions, weather, things to do, etc. We’ll include links to spas, golf courses, restaurants and attractions and include the itinerary of your convention/conference. All you have to do is provide us with the information for your conference. We will set it up and then send you the URL to distribute to your delegates/members.

Don’t delay – please call Kathy Denkenberger, Vice President of Operations and Convention Services today at 518-584-1531 to find out more about this exciting new service. E-mail

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October has been a very eventful month in Convention Services department. We assisted with some helpful visitor information for the Gull Wing Group which met in Saratoga for the first time the end of September.

On October 6, 2010 Kathy Denkenberger, Connie Crudo and Angela LaTerra exhibited at the Saratoga County Chamber Annual Business Showcase at the Saratoga Springs City Center. This showcase always provides us the opportunity to visit with current members as well as prospect for new ones.


Saratoga Chamber of Commerce: Business Showcase 2010

Kathy Denkenberger welcomed the New York State Agricultural Fair Managers on Saturday, October 9, 2010 at the Holiday Inn – Saratoga. Their keynote speakers were Dave Patterson and Charlie Keunzel from Saratoga Walking Tours.

The Bureau provided a banner and promotional materials for the NYS Middle School Assn in Rochester October 21-24, 2010. Chris Reed, Middle School Principal from the Glens Falls Middle School was our ambassador for Saratoga. Chris will serve on the local committee for this group when they return to Saratoga in October 2011.

At the MPI NENY chapter meeting on Thursday, October 21, 2010, Kathy Denkenberger served as a panelist during the Learning Lab Panel program. This program was an interactive opportunity for planners and suppliers to share ideas and positive experiences.



October 21 – 22, 2010, Kathy Denkenberger and Cindy Sullivan (Saratoga Hilton) traveled to the Sagamore for pre-convention promotion for the NYS Nurse Practitioners Assn. who is bringing their meeting for the first time to Saratoga in 2011 and 2012. The delegates were very excited to be coming to Saratoga next year – most of their comments were – “I drove through there on my way here – we can’t wait to be able to be downtown and see your beautiful city!”



Groups that have met in Saratoga during October were: Gull Wing, Empire State College – Residency Program, School Facilities Management Institute, New York Construction Materials Assn., Inc., NY Society of Physician Assistants, NYS Assn of Agricultural Fair Managers, NYS Bar Assn., Alcohol and Substance Abuse Providers of NYS, NYS School Nutrition Assn., Northeastern Retail Lumber Assn., SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, NYS Homes and Services for the Aging, The New England Surgical Society and the Dental Hygienists Assn. of NYS.


Christine King, Alcohol and Substance Abuse Providers Assn. of NYS and Kathy Denkenberger

Laura Lillo is now the new Director of Sales at the Hilton Garden Inn! She was previously the DOS at the Hampton Inn Cohoes for 4 years. We are all excited that she is now part of the Saratoga Sales Team!

National Automobile Museum

For upcoming events, click here: Page 1, Page 2
 

National Museum of Dance

For upcoming events, view the online calendar!

Winter Hours
The museum's hours are changing for the winter. Beginning November 2, the museum will be open only on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays through March 4, 2011. Group tours of fifteen or more may be booked to take place during the museum's closed days.

Group Tours
The museum welcomes groups of all ages and sizes to visit the museum and take a group tour of the facility and exhibits. Group tours and the accompanying rates are available by reservation only. The option of docent guided tours as well as arranged movement classes are also available. The level and style of movement class is dependent on volunteer/instructor availability. We recommend that reservations for docent guided tours book one docent for every 15 guests. For groups of 15 persons or more the admission rates are as follows:
• Adults $5
• Seniors/Students $4
• Children [12 and under] $2
For more information on group tours please call us at 518.584.2225 or e-mail info@dancemuseum.org
 

National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame

Stella F. Thayer, President of the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, has announced the appointment of Christopher Dragone as the Museum’s Director effective Jan. 1, 2011. Dragone will succeed Joseph E. Aulisi, who is retiring effective Dec. 31.

“The Museum has been well served by Joe Aulisi’s leadership during difficult economic times and we are pleased that Christopher Dragone will continue to enhance the Museum’s outreach to the Thoroughbred racing community,” Thayer said.

Dragone began work at the Museum in October to ensure a seamless transfer of the day-to-day responsibilities in January of 2011.

Joseph Aulisi has been the Museum’s Director since October of 2006. Under his direction, the Museum streamlined its expenses and paid off its debt, as well as expanded and modernized its exhibits, and introduced many new programs. Aulisi, who began his tenure at the Museum as Development Officer in 2000, will continue to advise and assist the Museum’s efforts to meet the William Stamps Farish Fund challenge to achieve a $10 million endowment.

Arm yourself with all the tools you need to plan a successful meeting or convention in Saratoga Springs. The toolkit has videos, media, photos and much more! + GO TO TOOLKIT

You can find “all the news that’s fit to print” (or email, or blog, or send by video…) about Saratoga conventions and meetings. Read our press releases to find out what we’ve been up to. Current local Saratoga news, blogs, recent videos, and a gallery of photos give you a better idea of why Saratoga meetings and conventions are productive, successful, and always fun! + GO TO MEDIA PAGE

Meeting planners know there is always something to do in the Spa City year-round - perfect for meetings, conventions, reunions, and group tours! + SEE AREA EVENTS

From special event planning to promotion and lodging assistance. The Saratoga Convention & Tourism Bureau makes hosting a successful meeting so much easier!
+ FILL OUT AN RFP