From the spectacular peaks of the Adirondacks to the more than 100 wineries that dot the Finger Lakes wine country, upstate New York offers a wealth of playgrounds for groups to explore. The state’s storied past is alive in the rolling hills of Saratoga, Albany, and Cooperstown, and its untouched wilderness adds to the draw.
The appeal of the Saratoga Springs area, with its natural mineral springs, dates back to the days when this area was populated mainly by Native Americans. Today, the Saratoga Race Course and its surrounding equine industry, the region’s emerging status as a cluster for semiconductor innovation, and great restaurants and shopping, combine to form a world-class destination.
Corporate group business is up, says Todd Garofano, president of the Saratoga Convention and Tourism Bureau. Speaking before final figures for the quarter were available, Garofano said: “We’re seeing a record-setting first quarter. We’re up 30.6 percent in occupancy, 4.8 percent in rate, and 36.8 percent in RevPAR so far after finishing strong in 2011. Corporate groups are making a strong return in Q1. GE Global R&D and Merck were a couple of short term pick-ups that added to our growth.”
Margaret Kindling, senior program manager for Semiconductor Equipment and Materials Inter-national (SEMI) arranged for the SEMI Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing Conference to be held in Saratoga Springs for the first time last May. The conference was such a success that the group will be returning this year.
Highlights of the meeting included a tour of the exterior of GlobalFoundries, a semiconductor manufacturer that is building a $4.6-billion campus in Saratoga County. After the tour, the group enjoyed a reception at the Canfield Casino, a historic 1870s gambling hall and a National Historic Landmark. No longer used for gambling, Canfield hosts a variety of corporate and social events each year.
“Having our conference in Saratoga Springs was very different than what we have experienced in the past in larger cities like Boston, Cambridge, and San Francisco,” says Kindling. “We’re a smaller conference and got lost among the bigger groups in those cities. Saratoga Springs treated us like we were very special and made us feel very welcome.”
The GlobalFoundries plant has already brought 1,500 technical jobs to the region, and supply chain companies bring new opportunities for meetings, explains Michele Vennard, president and CEO of the Albany County Convention and Visitors Bureau. “The UAlbany College of Nanotechnology is growing exponentially; also showcasing the opportunity for new technical meetings business. The next generation of computer wafers, new advancements in the area of photovoltaics, and growth in our medical community all provide Albany with new opportunities for exciting growth in the meeting market,” adds Vennard.
Batter Up
Your group will be surrounded by America’s favorite pastime in Cooperstown, home of the Baseball Hall of Fame. Nestled in the northern foothills of the Catskill Mountains, on the shores of Lake Otsego, it’s also one of the state’s charming small towns. There are quaint inns, impressive restaurants, and plenty of shops, many featuring all sorts of baseball memorabilia. In addition to its priceless collections related to America’s pastime, the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum offers a variety of function spaces. The facility can hold up to 175 guests.
For groups looking for something unexpected, try a ride in a silent glider plane. The National Soaring Museum in Elmira, NY, regarded as the “Soaring Capital of America,” is one of only two U.S. museums dedicated to motorless flight. Another unique adventure awaits at Watkins Glen International, the birthplace of American Road Racing. Both the facility and the track are available for rental.
And Turning Stone Resort Casino, between Utica and Rome, provides around-the-clock entertainment and gaming for attendees who want some excitement after the sun goes down. The 709-room Turning Stone, with 100,000 square feet of meeting and event space, two spas, and five golf courses, recently completed a $5.5-million renovation. Other options include the 170-room Vernon Downs Casino that features 767 games, harness racing, and an event center; the Seneca Allegany Casino and Hotel in the foothills of the Allegany Mountains with 212 rooms, a spa, and 21,500 square feet of meeting and conference space; and the Seneca Niagara Casino and Hotel, just blocks from Niagara Falls, with 486 rooms and 108 suites, a spa, and over 30,000 square feet of meeting space.
Going for the Gold
It’s not just the Olympic Committee that found Lake Placid a destination worth visiting. The Winter Olympics were held here in 1932 and 1980, but year after year, Lake Placid attracts meetings and incentive groups. From a bobsled-run teambuilding activity to ice skating on an Olympic Rink, Lake Placid offers a plethora of unique options. And when it’s time to mix business with pleasure, there is also plenty of meeting space in the area, including the Conference Center at Lake Placid, which is connected to the 1980 Herb Brooks Arena and the 1932 Jack Shea Arena, and offers 90,000 square feet of meeting space with 12 breakout rooms.
Located on its own 72-acre island in the Adirondacks is The Sagamore. The resort offers a stunning view of Lake George and features 381 sleeping rooms and over 32,000 square feet of meeting space. There are seven restaurants and bars on property, the Sagamore Golf Club, an 18-hole 1928 Donald Ross-designed golf course, a spa with 13 treatment rooms, an outdoor pool overlooking Lake George, an indoor pool, tennis courts, an event center, and The Morgan, the resort’s 85-foot replica of a 19th century touring boat.
Nature takes center stage here and can be best enjoyed from one of the Adirondack chairs that dot the property. Your attendees are sure to be surprised to learn they are meeting on a private island in upstate New York, but the whole region is full of surprises.