The Conference Center at Lake Placid is set to welcome more than 2,700 attendees at upcoming conferences between now and October 2024. Spring and fall of 2023 will welcome a number of organizations to Lake Placid, including New York Snowmobile Association, SUNY Technology, New York State Mayors, New York Rural Waters and New York State Hospitality and Tourism. Next year’s conferences include the New York State Library Association, New York State Highway Safety Symposium and the return of the New York Snowmobile Association. Conferences are typically scheduled in April, May, June, September and October.
Many organizations postponed or canceled conferences and corporate retreats during the COVID-19 pandemic; many of which were planned years in advance. The upcoming Lake Placid conference schedule reflects a pre-pandemic event program.
According to Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism (ROOST) COO Mary Jane Lawrence, the attraction of conferences and group business to the Lake Placid region represents a significant aspect of ROOST’s marketing strategy. “Our staff, in collaboration with the Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA) and local lodging properties, cultivates relationships with organizations and their event planners, presenting and encouraging Lake Placid as a destination for annual meetings, conferences, events, and retreats,” she said.
To that end, Hannah Ackerman has joined the ROOST team as group sales coordinator. Her role focuses on identifying potential opportunities, working with ORDA conference staff and lodging properties to secure midweek events, especially during months with decreased visitation.
Conferences and group travel business are most often scheduled to capitalize on Lake Placid’s “shoulder seasons”—the weeks and months between the busy winter, summer and fall seasons. Spring and early fall tend to have lower visitation than the other times of the year. Conferences taking place in the region during these times can help support lodging properties, restaurants and local attractions. “Our work to secure these events supports ROOST’s commitment to supporting local businesses, especially during times of the year that can be a bit challenging,” said Lawrence.
Lake Placid represents an attractive location for conferences, as many conference attendees have expressed interest in visiting the region to their conference planners and organizers. These events provide an inherent marketing opportunity for the region as conference attendees’ positive experiences in Lake Placid can drive future visits. In addition to the conference, the region benefits when attendees visit local attractions and eateries. Attendees often bring family members who can explore the area during conference hours. Many people take advantage of the come-early-stay-late option to extend their stay.
The Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism is the destination marketing and management organization for Hamilton and Essex counties, including the communities of Lake Placid, Tupper Lake and Saranac Lake, all located within the Adirondacks in New York state.
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