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Message from the President...
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Happy New Year!! It’s hard to believe the Holiday season has come and gone for another year. I hope everyone was able to enjoy with friends, family & loved ones!
At the Bureau, we wrapped up a very successful 2010, having set records for New membership generation, Membership renewals, Membership revenue and Overall number of members. Additionally, we ended the year with a higher hotel occupancy percentage and RevPar (Revenue per available room) than 2009 and about even in Average Daily Rate. So, given the slow economic rebound and uncertainly in 2010, we are thrilled with the results.
As the economy continues to improve slowly, we are cautiously optimistic that 2011 will bring us continued success. Conference & convention business continues to be very competitive with every destination seemingly going after every piece of business that will fit. We feel strongly that we are well positioned to compete for this business, with the new addition at the City Center coming online in January and all of the other attributes Saratoga has to offer…over 2000 hotel rooms, 150,000+ sq ft of meeting space, world-class attractions, great restaurants, close proximity to NYC, Boston, Montreal, etc… we offer a cost-effective and quality destination that rivals anywhere in the Northeast and beyond.
To ensure that we do continue to compete and develop new business, we are hitting the road immediately in 2011, first heading to the Helms Briscoe Annual Business Conference in DC and we don’t stop until the National Tour Association convention in December. We have targeted a larger number of trade shows and sales missions this year, specific to market segments that can and will produce new business for our destination. In addition, we are excited to announce that we have contracted with Passkey for their GroupMAX product so we can provide a state of the art housing product for our large city-wide conventions. This housing tool will allow large groups to funnel their reservations through the Bureau and ensure we capture a larger share of their room nights. It allows us to better serve city-wide events that already call Saratoga home but it will also allow us to compete for new business that requires this service. We have also invested in another new piece of technology and that is our new interactive kiosk which the Bureau will feature at large conferences and events in town. This kiosk will allow conference and group delegates to peruse menus of area restaurants, find location and hours of area attractions, feature maps of the area with most of this information being able to be translated into several languages as well. As Saratoga continues to develop as a global destination, it is vital we stay ahead of the sales & service curve!
2011 is off to a flying start and we excited at the prospects that lie ahead! Here’s to a happy, healthy and successful New Year!!
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Upcoming Conventions
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January 7-9---Alpin Haus Ski Shops, Inc. RV Show and Sale---Public Invited
January 14-18---Youth for Christ---1600 ppl
January 20-23---Northeast Organic Farming Association of NY, Inc.---700 ppl
February 2-6---Empire State College-Graduate Studies Program---300 ppl
Central Awards
Malika International Gift Store
Malta Drive-In Theatre
Ndakinna Education Center
Olde Saratoga Brewing Company
RECOGNIZING
OUTSTANDING SERVICE IN HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY
The Saratoga Convention & Tourism Bureau launched an annual program recognizes outstanding service, professionalism and stewardship within the hospitality industry in Saratoga called “Hospitality Stars of Saratoga”. This program provides an opportunity for Bureau members to be recognized, by their peers & customers alike, for going above and beyond the normal call of duty and build upon Saratoga’s reputation as providing world-class hospitality.
All Bureau members are eligible. Nominees will be grouped into categories and those will consist of lodging, restaurants, service providers/retail establishments and attractions/entertainment. Nominations will come in the form of a narrative, describing instances of an individual exceeding expectations and providing outstanding service. Nominations can be submitted at any point during the calendar year via the online form at www.discoversaratoga.org. A committee will review nominations and select winners within each category. Nominees will be recognized each quarter in the Bureau’s Member Newsletter with the winners in each category being recognized at the Annual Meeting each March.
Sponsorships of this program will be solicited from the Bureau membership. Winners will receive a $250 Downtown Business Association (DBA) certificate, engraved plaque and Certificate acknowledging the award and signed by committee members.
To nominate an individual or learn more about sponsorship opportunities, please CLICK HERE!!
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Member Testimonials |
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 Join the Bureau!
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Area Events
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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
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Restaurant
Recipe Corner
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Send in your recipe to angela@discoversaratoga.org or fax it to 584-2969.
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Write a Blog! |
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.
Find Us on Social Media sites!
 
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Angela is frequently updating these sites with useful information including upcoming events, pictures, videos, industry articles and more! Friend us, follow us, watch us, like us, and read about us! CLICK HERE for media page
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Chowderfest/Winterfest is just around the corner! Mark your calendars, gather your friends and family and come out for a fun, filling, good time.
Date: February 5, 2011 from 11am- 4 pm
Don’t let the fun end there though! Check our website www.discoversaratoga.org for Winterfest events that will take place all weekend long!
SAVE THE DATE!
Saratoga Convention & Tourism Bureau's
26th Annual Meeting
at Saratoga Springs City Center
Wednesday, March 23rd, 5:30-8:30 pm
Saratoga Convention & Tourism Bureau's Annual Golf Tournament
at Saratoga National Golf Club
Wednesday, May 25th
More details to follow!
 Thank you to all the restaurants, sponsors and diners who participated in Saratoga’s 2010 Restaurant Week! We had 43 fabulous restaurants participate, up from 38 last year. Because of the generosity of our sponsors, the Bureau will be donating $1,500 to the Franklin Community Center to help re-stock their food pantry since we’re sure it’s been depleted over the holidays. Be sure to keep an eye out for the press release and pictures! Mark your calendars for the 2011 Restaurant Week, which will take place December 2-8, 2011.
The Convention Bureau is currently working on the 2011 Ultimate Saratoga Map. This year we will have 30,000 copies of the map printed. Once again we will be using JIMAPCO to design the map. If you want to participate in the 10% discount to Conventioneers and haven’t sent in your memo, please send/fax it in January 7, 2011. If you need another copy of the memo, please contact Connie Crudo. If you have any changes to your address, phone number or would like to change your 10 word description please let us know ASAP.
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Sales and Services Update
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December turned out to be quite an eventful month for the Bureau sales team. While there was a lot of effort put into planning for the new year there was also a great deal of ‘mirth & merriment’ sales calls. Fellow hospitality partners joined in on the fun with Marie, Heather and Kathy D as they set out on several days to greet current and potential clients and hand deliver peppermint pigs. This tradition has proven to be a fabulous way to thank planners for choosing Saratoga as their destination for meeting & conferences and to spread wishes for a prosperous new year.
The sales team (along with the entire staff) underwent two days of training with SimpleView, our sales database, which has most helpful in managing the daily activity of accounts and updating information in the database in order to provide the best in sales and customer service.
Marie hosted the NYS Liquor Store Association for a site visit in December and is planning ahead for more tours in January. Speaking of January, Marie Moynihan will be heading to Washington, DC for the Helms Briscoe Annual Business Conference January 5-7. One-on-one meetings with HB planners and CVENT representatives are planned in an effort to promote Saratoga as a premiere northeast destination for their clients’ meetings & events. Marie will also travel to Boston with Kathy Denkenberger to exhibit in the New England Society of Association Executives’ Annual Conference & Trade Show January 21-22.
Sales call missions will also be set forth for the greater NYC area in early 2011. Heather will be traveling to Philadelphia in early January for the American Bus Associations Annual Marketplace, where we have more than 45 confirmed appointments with Group Tour Operators. The show will also give us the opportunity to attend a private NY event, where NY destinations will have exclusive access to a select number of attendees. We will follow this show up with a smaller, more concentrated show in March that will bring 50 tour operators to New York for two days. Exhibitors will be limited to 25 for this joint American Bus Association and Ontario Motor Coach Association venture, allowing for a two to one ration in our favor! Heather will continue to work both the Group Tour and Sports market aggressively in 2011 by making targeted sales calls, joining organizations, and attending trade shows that are considered effective and important to each industry. The Bureau sales team looks forward to a successful New Year!!
Convention Services
On December 1, 2010 Kathy Denkenberger was the guest speaker at the Saratoga Springs Rotary Club luncheon at Longfellows. She enlightened our local Rotarians on the role of the Bureau – how we obtain leads, win convention bids and what we do for each group when they are meeting in Saratoga. It was a great experience – we love telling our story.
If you, or someone you know, belong to a group that holds meetings and conventions – reach out to us with the contact name. We will take it from there. The more meetings that are held in Saratoga, the more beneficial to all of our restaurants, retail stores, attractions, lodging properties and all other service professionals. We want to help keep people working – all year round! That’s what makes Saratoga such a great place to live, work and play.
December brought some great conventions as well. The Associated General Contractors of America and The Joy of Sculling – both repeat groups that choose to hold their meetings in Saratoga each year.
The SCTB staff attended several holiday functions throughout the capital region – ESSAE, Saratoga County Chamber Holiday Mixer and the Saratoga Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) Holiday party.
As 2010 comes to a close, many groups are already reaching out to us regarding their 2011 meetings. We are busy creating and preparing Landing Pages for groups, working with them on additional lodging, pre-convention promotion and just being their liaison to our beautiful city.
In January, Kathy will be traveling to the ACOM – Association of Convention Operations Managers and a day of PCMA Convening Leaders (Professional Convention Management Association) conference. It is always very rewarding to get together with our colleagues from around the country to see how they are faring during these challenging economic times.
Lake Ridge Happy New Year!
Lake Ridge is offering their month long three course menu for $20.11. Every year Lake Ridge celebrates the New Year by offering a three course dinner menu corresponding with the year.
For the second year, The Wine Dinners Of March is back! Four wine dinners, four weeks on four Fridays. Four different themes with great wines, great food and great fun. Details and menus will follow soon.
West Mountain's 50th Season Anniversary!
West Mountain is celebrating its 50th season with a sophisticated ticketing system that reflects how much society and technology have changed in the past half-century.
Skiers and boarders no longer have to wait in line for lift tickets, but can obtain a reusable card and purchase ski time online, allowing them to hit the slopes as soon as they get out of their cars.
People must obtain a non-transferable, credit card-type ski card that costs $5. Ski time is purchased online or at the mountain. Before getting on a lift, visitors pass through a turnstile that records each entry and shows personal data including the card holder’s birth date. If a lift attendant asks the person’s birthday and it’s different from the one on the card, the card probably isn’t in the right hands.
Learn more about the ski cards at www.skiwestmountain.com
New Name!
Saratoga Gaming and Raceway will be changing its name to Saratoga Casino and Raceway on Jan. 1. There are now electronic roulette games and a Wheel of Fortune game.
Saratoga Performing Arts Center's (SPAC) 2011 Classical Events
Check out the dates and information on the NYC Ballet, Philadelphia Orchestra, Jazz Festival and much more... Click here to see a list of events!
Saratoga Arts Fest, June 9-12, 2011
www.saratogaartsfest.org
SaratogaArtsFest, a four-day annual celebration of the arts scheduled in early June, delivers the brilliance and energy of art in its many forms—music, dance, visual art, film, theatre, and literary art. Now in its fourth year, SaratogaArtsFest has become a cultural staple to the popular Saratoga summer arts scene. The SaratogaArtsFest Admissions Package includes an ARTSPASS which provides full festival access to multiple events, organizations and discounts, including shopping and dining specials throughout downtown Saratoga Springs.
ARTSPASS online sales begin January 3, 2011 on the SAF website. The $5 discount will be offered on the online purchase of an Adult (including Senior) ARTSPASS by March 31, 2011. Online purchasers can pick up their Admission Package at the SAF Center and Gallery when it opens in May.
Sales of the ARTSPASS will resume March 1 at these retail locations, and the discount will continue to be available until March 31, 2011. Saratoga Beads, Impressions of Saratoga, Mimosa Gallery and the Skidmore College Bookstore in Case Center.
Vapor Night Club at Saratoga Gaming and Raceway's January 2011 Events
There are events going on every weekend in January, check them out... Click here to see the full list of events!
Women's Winter Weekends at the Residence Inn by Marriott
 Grab your girlfriends and treat yourselves on January 7/8, February 4/5, and March 4/5.
Facials, massages, pedicures, shopping and dining, live music and dancing at Vapor Night Club, shuttle service, hot breakfast, spacious suites, and wine!
Reservations can be made through Director of Sales Leslie Miller, 518-886-0656 or Leslie.Miller@marriott.com
Saratoga Automobile Museum 2011 Events
On Saturday, January 8, 2011 at 2pm, the Saratoga Automobile Museum will present a workshop on... Click here to see a list of events!
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 Saratoga Springs City Center Update
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Read the City Center's Blog, browse through photos ....
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