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April 7-11---NYS Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Inc.---400 ppl
April 10-13---College Stores Association of New York State---150 ppl
April 12-14---New York Medical Equipment Providers---200 ppl
April 14-18---Association of Fire Districts of the Sate of New York---1,500 ppl
April 15---New York State Art Teachers Association---800 ppl
April 16-18--- Office of University Life, SUNY System Administration---235 ppl
April 19-21---New York Section American Waterworks Association---500 ppl
April 22---New York State United Teachers Association---300 ppl
April 23-25--- Adirondack Sports and Fitness Summer Expo
April 23-25---Descendants of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence---60 ppl
April 23-25---Saratoga Rowing Association---2,000 ppl
April 24-27---New York State Town Clerks Association---500 ppl
April 28-30---Fourth District Dental Society---900 ppl
April 30-May 5---Rotary District #7890---200 ppl
Cupcake Lab
deJonghe Original Jewelry
Lemery Greisler, LLC
Rifenbary Training & Development
Travel Leaders-Child Travel/Albany Travel
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.
"Since becoming a member of the Saratoga Convention and Tourism Bureau two years ago, we at Saratoga Walking Tours, have been blessed to work with the incredible staff at the Bureau. They treat visitors and businesses with respect and class. They make visiting Saratoga a memorable experience..and they're fun!"
---Dave Patterson, Saratoga Walking Tours
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 Gauchos Grill & Catering
The Gauchos Burger -an Ultimate Crowd Pleasure
8 ounces of ground beef
1 yellow or white onion / chopped equaling 4 ounces
2 ounces of cream cheese
2 tablespoons of butter
1 garlic clove
2 pieces of French toast bread or Texas toast bread
BBQ sauce to taste
Salt and Pepper to taste
Chop 4 ounces of onions and sauté in a pan until translucent using 1 tablespoon of butter, then add 2 ounces of cream cheese and mix until onions are coated with melted cream cheese, then place to the side like a casserole to cool. Chop 1 garlic clove into a very small rough chop or use a garlic press for the best consistency and melt 1 tablespoon of butter in the microwave or a pan.
Combine the garlic and butter making a garlic spread. Brush the garlic spread on two pieces of the bread you choose, then toast the bread making garlic bread, and then set aside. Make a beef patty with the 8 ounces of beef, seasoned with salt and pepper to taste and cook to your favorite cooking temp and add BBQ sauce if like that smoky flavor on your burger.
Place one piece of the toasted garlic bread on a plate, then add your burger. Top with the onion cream cheese casserole and your last piece of garlic bread. Add additional BBQ sauce if you would like! Kick back and enjoy!
Visit Gauchos Grill & Catering located at 1012 Rte 146A Clifton Park, NY. www.gauchosgrillcatering.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.
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, LinkedIn 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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25th Anniversary Annual Meeting Recap
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On Wednesday, March 24th, the Bureau celebrated 25 years of incorporation with a dinner and reception held at the Hall of Springs. A record crowd of 170 members, government officials and past chairs attended! We even had our very first Board Chairman David Morris and first Executive Director Michael Mendrick in attendance. Dan Murphy, President of the New York State Hospitality and Tourism Association, and one of the founding members of the Saratoga Convention and Tourism Bureau was our special guest speaker. The Board and Bureau recognized outgoing board members and a special recognition was given to Kathy Denkenberger, Convention Services Director, who was celebrating her 20th year with the Bureau! It was also a great opportunity for our new President, Todd Garofano to meet everyone!
Special thanks to: Angelo Mazzone of Mazzone Management, Kevin Sykes and the entire staff of the Hall of Springs, Dan Murphy of NYSHTA, Jim and Gretchen Squires from the Posie Peddler, Tom Stock of Stock Studios Photography, Ralph Pascucci of Myriad Productions for the video and to everyone that participated in the video. The next 25 years will even be better and exciting and we are all looking forward to being a part of it!!
Click Here to See PHOTOS
Well, spring has officially arrived and there is new life all around us. There is new steel in place at the City Center as they continue their expansion project. Several large groups will be descending on Saratoga this month, you will see them listed in our calendar update, and we all look forward to welcoming their delegates and participants. The Bureau team continues to work hard towards increasing our service levels to our incoming groups & conventions. We have identified technology enhancements that will allow us to promote our member attractions, restaurants, shops and services to our guests well in advance of their arrival so we can roll out the red carpet before they arrive. By discovering all that Saratoga has to offer ahead of time, hopefully, they decide to bring their spouse or add on a day or two to their visit with us.
You’ll also see in our Sales update that the team is working diligently to implement our action plans and bring new business to Saratoga. We are focused in our efforts to reach new and emerging markets. We’ll look forward to sharing our successes with you in future newsletters.
Finally, our Bureau's annual golf tournament, scheduled for May 19th, at Saratoga National will take on a slightly different feel this year. As it has in years past, this will certainly be a great opportunity for members to network with one another. But this year’s event will include more of our clients, meeting planners and group organizers than ever before. We hope you come out to help us showcase and sell Saratoga. The other change will be that we will be collecting donations from participants to benefit the Backstretch Workers at Saratoga. We think this is a great cause that hits close to home. Invitations will be mailed soon!
Mark your calendars for the Bureau's Annual Golf Tournament on Wednesday, May 19th at Saratoga National Golf Club!
Look for your printed invite in the mail!
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Sales and Services Update
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Your bureau sales force is celebrating the addition of one more to our team! Marie Moynihan and Heather McElhiney brought our new Bureau President, Todd Garofano, out on the front lines for client introductions, luncheons and meetings during the month of March. Todd’s strong sales background as well as his established relationships in Albany and beyond have been a great gain for the sales force. Our clients have enjoyed meeting- or reconnecting – with Todd and are encouraged by our genuine appreciation for their business. What a great way to help Saratoga stay on top of their meeting destinations list! This will be an ongoing mission as we continue to plan calls with current and prospective clients.
Additionally, the sales staff has identified an action plan which includes sales blitzes, attending MPI events in New England, Greater NY, NJ and Pennsylvania. The bureau and partners will also be exhibiting in expos and trade shows that will focus on corporate, association and/or group tour business. The sales staff have also slated sales call days for each territory as we look to expand our exposure to new business opportunities throughout the Northeast and Atlantic Coast region.
The Bureau’s annual golf tournament, scheduled for May 19th, is another great opportunity for us to bring clients in to town, where they will enjoy a day of golf at Saratoga National Golf Club. This event is a great way for the sales staff, our clients and partners to get to know each other a little better in a relaxed, fun atmosphere. We will continue to invite clients to join us for this exciting event!
MPI NENY's Golfapalooza
Meeting Professionals International Northeastern New York (MPI NENY) is hosting their 4th Annual Golfapalooza Golf Tournament at Saratoga National Golf Club on June 1st to benefit the Alzheimer's Association. It will be a shotgun start with scramble format at 1 PM. The Saratoga Convention and Tourism Bureau is the main sponsor of the After-party taking place at 6:30 PM with an open bar, silent auction and entertainment! Non golfers are encouraged to attend the After-party for $50.00 per person. Visit www.mpineny.org
Convention Services
Spring has arrived and so has our busy Convention Season. Our new Ultimate Saratoga Maps have been delivered and we will be getting them out to all the incoming groups that are holding their conventions in Saratoga. Check them out – they have been printed by none other than our own JIMAPCO– right in our backyard.
On March 16, 2010 Kathy Denkenberger participated as a panelist at the ESSAE/MPI program at the Crowne Plaza in Albany. The following is a recap of that session:
During the March 16 session, panelists responded to participants’ questions and provided insights on building RFPs to help ensure the best responses. CVBs can be valuable assets to conference planners,
as they collaborate with colleagues across their state to replicate successful events, and generate leads through attending trade shows, telephone prospecting, and responding to RFPs.
New Services
We are looking to provide some new services to our incoming groups this year – one of them being to help create “landing pages” for their meetings. This page would be accessible to their attendees and provide some important information regarding their conference – before they arrive in Saratoga. This should assist delegates in their preparation and also provide them with some important information on all aspects of their convention. – i.e., transportation, weather, events during their convention, etc.
There is an Association for Everything and Everyone!
We feel very fortunate to have meeting in Saratoga this month – “Descendents of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence” for their regional meeting. How appropriate with all the history that Saratoga has to offer that this group chose to meet here this month. They will be taking the time to enjoy our history during their meeting as part of their program.
Please folks, keep Saratoga in mind the next time you attend a meeting of any kind out of town – give us a call if you think that meeting could possibly meet in Saratoga and we will take it from there. You could become one of our Hometown Heroes by bringing your meeting “home” to Saratoga.
The Bureau upgrades to Simpleview 3.0
Starting next week, the Bureau is switching over from Simpleview 2.5 to 3.0! We are all excited to work in the new database. The upgrade is free and there are many changes to the system. One major change is the new look and feel especially to the navigation. Dashboards and tabs will be more functional, increased ability to create custom reports with a re-engineered "Advanced Search", more organization to lead structures, new invoicing features and much more!
Simpleview is our web-based destination management system, integrating sales, partner/customer relationship management, email marketing, forecasting, reporting and business analysis. The system is specifically for travel and tourism, based on the way Destination Marketing Organizations work, to improve every aspect of destination sales, marketing and reporting.
The result: shorter response times, higher productivity, enhanced industry partner and customer relations, lower operational costs and increased sales and visits.
ATTENTION!
Please look at your contact information on our website, www.discoversaratoga.org. Make sure it is up-to-date! If you have changes to your contact info., contact Membership and Services Coordinator Connie at connie@discoversaratoga.org.
If you do not see your logo/photo, please provide us with one! Photos formats of .jpeg, .gif or .eps will work. Please e-mail them to angela@discoversaratoga.org. Thanks!
Michael Frayn's Noises Off
Home Made Theater is generously offering 100 tickets to its opening night performance of Michael Frayn’s Noises Off on Friday, April 16, 2010, as a fundraiser to support Saratoga Arts (The Saratoga County Arts Council at the Arts Center). Saratoga Arts’ supporters pay only $24 per person, and half the ticket cost will be donated back to Saratoga Arts, helping the arts organization to reach its goals in 2010.
Vouchers for tickets may be purchased by contacting Sandra Natale at The Arts Center at 584-4132 or snatale@saratoga-arts.org; vouchers must be purchased through Saratoga Arts by April 1 and must be redeemed at the HMT box office for tickets.
Annual Barbershop Show
The Racing City Chorus' 54th annual Barbershop Show "A Brand New Day" will be held at the Maple Avenue Middle School, Saratoga Springs, NY. The show is on Saturday, April 17, 2010 with 2 shows - 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. The show will feature the Racing City Chorus, 7-time Northeastern District champs, Scollay Square, former NED champion quartet, and chapter quartets.
Ticket prices are: Adult-$12 advance/$14 at the door; Students & seniors $8 advance/$10 at the door. Contact 518-587-0811 or 518-371-0062 or visit www.racingcitychorus.org
Preschool Program at the National Museum of Racing
Click Here for more information!
Hilton Garden Inn Receives Highest Form of Recognition
Click Here to view the article!
Airway Meadows is Now Open!
Airway Meadows Golf Club in Gansevoort opened for play for all 18 holes the earliest ever in their 12 year history. March 19, 2010 was opening day. The recent snow cover has only delayed golf temporarily. Airway has already set their first Open to the Public club run 2-Player Scramble Tournament for Saturday, May 8, 1:30 shotgun Start. See their web site www.airwaymeadowsgolf.com for details or call 518-792-4144.
Saratoga’s Spring Mardi Gras Festival
For the fourth year, The Giving Circle announces the Mardi Gras Festival on April 24, 2010.
Click here for a complete schedule!
or visit www.saratogamardigras.org
 Saratoga Springs
City Center Update
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The City Center saw extensive progress to the Expansion Project on Friday, March 26. The major steel girders were delivered and put in place by the end of the day. The City Center staff stood in awe as the truck drivers managed to back into a very narrow space in order to off-load the 16 ton; 74 foot long sections of steel. The contractors began setting the pieces immediately and everything went together like a giant erector set. An indication of the size of the girders is shown in the picture – Judy LeCain, Director of Sales is 5’ tall!
Please take the opportunity to drive by – there will be something new to see every day!
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