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Table Of Contents:
-Todd Garofano, President:
What a terrific year 2011 was for Saratoga’s hospitality community. All of the lodging segment indicators (occupancy, average daily rate and revenue per available room) were up for the second straight year. Bureau membership was also up for the second straight year and we saw a record number of participants in Chowderfest and Restaurant Week. Our sales team secured more leads and booked more room nights than 2010 as well. You will see all of the detailed numbers when we release our Annual Report at the end of January.
In looking forward to 2012, we are cautiously optimistic for another very good year. Some of the highlights will see the return of the SEMI ASMCII conference; the second straight year this vital semiconductor industry conference will come to Saratoga. New this year will be the Semiconductor Industry Association’s World Semiconductor Council meeting which will bring CEO’s and top officials from the world’s leading semiconductor manufacturing companies from around the world. We’ll roll the red carpet out, as Saratoga is known to do. These conference opportunities are a direct result of Global Foundries, SUNY CSNE & Sematech all contributing to make our region a global hotbed for the semiconductor industry. We will continue to aggressively pursue conference opportunities in this market segment. In addition, we’re seeing increased bookings at the recently expanded Saratoga Springs City Center and we’re starting to have our sales efforts around the sports market rewarded with new bookings like Hero Rush which will bring over 3000 athletes to Saratoga County in September.
Special thanks to our Board of Directors and our Strategic Planning Committee for all of their efforts and direction this past year. Some of the highlights out of that group’s efforts include the Bureau taking on the Destination Wedding market which is a very exciting opportunity for the Bureau and for Saratoga as a destination. Watch for the launch of our new website and strategy on developing this market. The committee was also instrumental in drafting a new mission statement and a change in our bylaws that more clearly defines the Bureau’s mission. We will release these in the coming weeks and present them at our Annual Meeting in March.
So, congratulations to all of our members, volunteers & staff on a terrific 2011 and here is to a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous 2012!!
Upcoming Saratoga Events
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SAVE THE DATES!
February 4, 2012 - Saratoga Chowderfest
February 23-25, 2012 - Saratoga Beer Week, www.saratogabeerweek.com
March 21, 2012 - SCTB's Annual Meeting at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
May 22, 2012 - SCTB's Annual Golf Tournament at Saratoga National Golf Course
June 7-10, 2012 - SaratogaArtsFest, www.saratogaartsfest.org
Last Call to register to participate in the 1st Annual Saratoga Beer Week!
www.saratogabeerweek.com
SARATOGA BEER WEEK 2012
Saratoga Beer Week, set for February 23–25, 2012. Join us as we celebrate three days of 30 plus events centered on beer and the best of what Saratoga has to offer.
Click here for participation form!
This three day event will be put on in collaboration with Saratoga Festivals, LLC, Saratoga Convention and Tourism Bureau, and the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce. Visit www.saratogabeerweek.com
As Winter Weekend quickly approaches, we are interested in knowing what activities you have going on. If you are planning an activity during the weekend of February 3-5, 2012 and would like the Convention Bureau to help advertise your event, please email Connie at connie@discoversaratoga.org. We would be glad to send you the Winter Weekend form to get the details of your event and add them to the Winter Weekend/Chowderfest page on our website!
Saratoga Chowderfest!
Thanks to our sponsors:
April Fresh Cleaning, Saratoga Springs City Center, Saratoga.com, American Express, Prime at Saratoga National Golf Club, Saratoga Living Magazine, Clipper Magazine, ValPak, Wesley Community, Adirondack Trust Company, and Capital Region Living Magazine!
Saratoga’s 7th Annual Restaurant Week was a Success!
Thank you to all the restaurants who participated, all the sponsors who generously donated, and all the patrons who enjoyed wonderful meals during Saratoga’s 7th Annual Restaurant Week December 2-8, 2011. With a record setting 45 restaurants participating there was a wide variety of offerings to choose from. The Convention Bureau saw 32,130 hits to the Restaurant Week webpage! We hope you all got a chance to get out and enjoy one of Saratoga’s fabulous restaurants! Mark your calendar for Saratoga County’s 8th Restaurant Week which will take place November 30-December 6, 2012.
We would like to thank our sponsors; American Express, Saratoga Today, Saratogian, Clipper Magazine, DeCrescente Distribitors, ValPak of NENY, Saratoga Eagle Sales and Service, Saratoga Living Magazine, Adirondack Trust, Capital Region Living Magazine, and the Wesley Community.
We also want to thank our members who generously donated gift certificates to be given out as prizes to help promote Restaurant Week; Sushi Thai Garden, Maestro’s at the Van Dam, Mouzon House, Gaffney’s, Lillian’s, Wheatfield’s, Bookmakers, Capriccio Saratoga,
Holiday Inn Saratoga Springs, Courtyard by Marriott, and Crafters Gallery. We appreciate your support!
New Members
Malta Business & Professional Association
Noonmark Group, LLC
Saratoga Sports Massage
Wilton Mall at Saratoga
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!
Area Events
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
Restaurant Recipe Corner
Spaghetti alla Puttanesca served at Capriccio Saratoga
1 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and hand-torn
½ cup capers
1 T. anchovy fillets, chopped
3 cloves garlic, sliced
1 small fresh hot pepper, sliced
2 T. extra virgin olive oil
2 T. fresh oregano, chopped
28 oz. can San Marzano whole peeled plum tomatoes, hand-crushed
1 T. fresh parsley, chopped
Saute ingredients together 1-2 minutes on low to medium heat. Add tomatoes. Bring to a boil, then lower to a simmer and cook 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, cook one pound of spaghetti al dente, then toss in the pan over flame with the sauce ingredients for one minute. Garnish with parsley. Serves 2-4.
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 at angela@discoversaratoga.org
Find Us on Social Media sites!
   
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!
National Museum of Dance Events Calendar
Salsa Sunday!
January 22, 2012 from 2:00 to 5:00pm (Snow Date: February 5, 2012)
For more information: www.dancemuseum.org or 518-584-2225
Winter Antique Show
January 28 from 10am to 5pm & January 29 from 10am to 4pm, 2012
For more information: www.dancemuseum.org or 518-584-2225
Black History Month Celebration
February 26, 2012 at 2:00pm
For more information: www.dancemuseum.org or 518-584-2225
Yoga Motion
February 7 through March 27, 2012 (Tuesdays from 9:30 to 10:30am)
For more information call Susan Edwards at 584-2225 x3009
SaratogaArtsFest2012
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Sales Updates
Saratoga Conventions
January 6-8--- Alpin Haus Ski Shops, Inc.--- Public Invited
January 7-12--- New York State Association of Professional Land Surveyors---650 ppl
January 12-16--- Youth for Christ---1600 ppl
January 19-23--- Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York, Inc.---700 ppl
January 26--- Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner
January 27-28--- United States Junior Chamber---50 ppl
January 27-29--- NEACA, Inc.
-Heather and Mary Jo, Sales:
We hope all of our members had a wonderful
Holiday season! December was a very busy month for everyone, and our usual tradition of Mirth and Merriment holiday deliveries was welcomed and appreciated by all our clients. It is so important that we stay connected with our client base, and this tradition allows us to show them face to face how much we appreciate their business. This year we delivered Betties Cupcakes as our gift and the clients loved them. We will reach out to one of our members each year for new ideas for our client holiday gifts as our Saratoga merchants have so much to offer. In addition to Mirth and Merriment calls, Heather attended the weeklong NTA conference, during which she held targeted prescheduled appointments with more than 30 Group Tour and Travel Operators and wholesalers. Many of these operators are looking to wrap up their late 2012 offerings or start to fill in their 2013 catalogues and we are excited to be bringing new business opportunities to our members as a result of this show.
December also saw the sales team has finalized their plans for our 2012 marketing efforts and are looking forward to a very prosperous year. Mary Jo will be attending the Helms Briscoe Annual Business Conference and trade show January 25-27, 2012 in Reno, Nevada. This trade show will allow us to introduce and showcase Saratoga to Helms Briscoe Representatives who look to our area and the northeast to plan their clients meeting and events. Heather will be attending the American Bus Associations Annual Marketplace, January 5-11, 2012 in Grapevine, TX. Heather currently has more than 25 appointments set up, will be volunteering in the NY Sate booth, and will co-host private client event in conjunction with several other New York state destinations. Our hotel and attraction partners will also be teaming up with us throughout the year to attend several scheduled trade shows, as we join forces to and promote our beautiful city.
In January Mary Jo will be working to confirm several pending groups such as NYS Public Transit Association for the fall of 2012, Bard College Posse Foundation for March 2012, American Bonsai Society, and the Empire State Alliance of Paralegal Associations for September 2012, all of which are just about to finalize their decisions. Heather is working to finalize several sporting events, such as the Ragnar Relay Adirondacks and The Hero Rush Race. We are focusing on expanding our data base with new state, regional and national accounts which will continue to create opportunities for new business in the coming years.
All of us at the Bureau wish you and your families a Happy, Healthy, New Year!
It’s a new year, sign up for a new event…
Ragnar Relay Adirondacks!
Ragnar Relay, the overnight running relay series that makes testing your limits a team sport, is coming to Saratoga Springs September 28-29, 2012.Don't miss out on participating in Ragnar's first Adirondack's course! For more info & to register, click here: www.ragnarrelay.com/race/adirondacks or visit their conference landing page.Contact the Race Director, Courtney, at Courtney@ragnarrelay.com with questions.
The Saratoga Springs City Center is excited to announce its new exterior Electronic Message Center. The City Center’s new sign went live on Thursday, December 1st, just in time for the Downtown Business Association’s 25th Anniversary Victorian Street Walk. The community was thrilled with the new message format. Similar in size the old lettered sign, the new LED sign offers all the newest technologies of full color format and flexibility of changing messages quickly from a computer. City Center President Mark E. Baker, states “the exciting activation of the new welcome sign is the final step in completing The City Center’s facility successful upgrade and expansion”. The City Center’s many convention and conferences planners have been delighted with the signs ability to welcome their delegates and announce their events in Saratoga Springs.
Convention Services
Congratulations to Alan Mallanda! He was inducted to the 3rd class of the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators' Hall of Fame! His induction took place December 13, 2011 in Indianapolis at the national conference of athletic administrators.
NEACA Arms Fair
Friday January 27, 2012 to Sunday January 29 at the Saratoga Springs City Center
This is the 29th year at the City Center and the 86th event! January *27 (dealer set-up and NEACA Members only from 6PM to 8PM) January 28, 2012 ~ Saturday 9AM to 5PM Show Time January 29, 2012 ~ Sunday 9AM to 3PM Regular Admission is $8.00 Daily Seniors over 60 is $7.00 and Children under 14 are free with adult. Visit www.NEACA.com
The 2012 Flurry Festival will be held
February 17-19, 2012 in Saratoga Springs. Each year, our annual three-day Flurry Festival brings thousands of people to the Saratoga Springs area. They stay in area lodging, dine at area restaurants, shop at local stores and visit area attractions. Let our attendees know about the services you provide by placing an AD in our Festival Program Book (8.5" x 11" - approximately 60 pages).
Convention Services Update
Is it really almost 2012? Wow – where did December go? We had some great groups that met this past month – AGC/DOT – bring hundreds of attendees to Saratoga for their annual conference and this year was no different. The mild December weather had many of them out on the streets looking for restaurants to take their clients to. How awesome is this?
The Joy of Sculling also returned to Saratoga for another year.
Volunteers – as we begin 2012 we continue to look for volunteers to work with us during conventions, sporting events, etc. If you have any extra time and would like to sign up to be on our volunteer list – give Kathy Denkenberger a call – 584-1531 – or e-mail to: kathyd@discoversaratoga.org - we would love to hear from you.
Member News
Impressions of Saratoga Annual Clean Sweep Sale
They're starting the New Year off right with their Annual Clean Sweep Sale (in -store only).
This includes at least 25% off the entire store (with a few exceptions). Keep your whole family cozy and warm this winter with 50% off all Adult Sweats and a whole rack of t-shirts, thermal tops and sportswear.
Save 60% on Christmas & fall décor items while supplies last. Save 60% on remaining German Nutcrackers & Steiff Plush!
The sale ends on January 16th so hurry in and save. New items and discounts will be added daily so make sure to keep checking back!
Prime Live Disco Party
Join us for a disco-rific time on Saturday, January 21 for PrimeLive's 70's Disco Party!
The Audiostars will be live, as well as the PrimeLive DJ playing all your 70's favorites all night long. Click here for more information!
Adirondack Museum – 2012 Cabin Fever Sunday Schedule
Click here for full schedule
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Hilton Garden Inn Packages!
Experience Saratoga Shopping Package
-Click here to view the flyer!
Women's Italian Spa Weekend, February 11th
Courtyard by Marriott is offering a delicious way to treat your self in February and throughout the year.
Overnights available on Friday &/or Saturday night, February 11, 2012 www.marriott.com/albss
Saturday
11:00AM-1:00PM, Forno Bistro's Passport to A Country of Flavors
www.fornobistro.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/three-lands.pdf
An educational class into the food wine culture and history of Central Italy including Tuscany,Umbria, Abruzzo, Lazio
1:30PM - 4:30PM, Spa Cascada Indulgence www.cascadasalonandspa.com
Chose from three pampering experiences
4:30 - 8:30PM, Drinks and /or Dinner on your own downtown
www.saratoga.org or www.discoversaratoga.org or
www.saratogadowntown.com/
saratoga-springs-ny-dining.asp
8:30PM - ? Dancing at Vapor http://saratogacasino.com/vapor-nightclub/VaporLive.aspx
Sunday
7:00AM-10:30AM, Breakfast at Courtyard
Prices start at $199 for double occupancy.
Contact Leslie Miller at 518-221-0051 or leslie.miller@marriott.com for reservations
and more details. Space for Country of Flavors is limited, so please call early!
SPAC 2012 Events
Click here to see full listing!
Hyatt Place Meeting Room Package
Hyatt Place - Saratoga/Malta is a different kind of hotel designed around you. Let us help you bring people together for meetings and events in new and innovative ways. Our Meeting Room Package will make your planning that much easier.
Saratoga Casino and Raceway January Events
Inside Vapor on January 23 from 12-6 pm. Open to the public. To make an appointment to donate blood, or for more information about donating blood, call 1-800-RED CROSS or visit redcrossblood.org.
Click here to see January's events
Saratoga Casino and Raceway donated a total of $125,000 to 32 local organizations last night during the 7th Annual Make a Difference Charity Event. The event included remarks by the casino’s Vice President of External Affairs, Skip Carlson and Senior Vice President of Marketing, Rita Cox. Donations of $2,500 up to $10,000 were presented by Guest Co-Host, Mark Mulholland of WNYT.
This year, nearly 165 people were in attendance as Saratoga Casino and Raceway presented 32 organizations with donations, up from 24 in 2010, and a $25,000 increase in total donations for the evening.
Read entire press release here
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