PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE
GBJ 9 Broad Street Glens Falls, NY 12801
VOL. 35 NO. 02
PAID
GLENS FALLS, NY 12801 PERMIT #600
HH The Business Newspaper of Warren and Washington Counties HH
www.glensfallsbusinessjournal.com
APRIL 2023
Approaching 50th Anniversary, Officials Say Apple Growers Had Good Crops last Year, Balloon Fest Economic Impact Is Enormous But Face Challenges Going Into This Season
This year’s Adirondack Balloon Festival, slated for Sept. 21-24, will have special-shaped balloons marking its 50-year history. Officials say they expect some 150,000 visitors. BY PAUL POST Planning for the golden anniversary of Warren County’s most popular fall attraction is well under way, already providing a major economic boost to the region’s hospitality industry, highlighted by hundreds of advance hotel room bookings. This year’s Adirondack Balloon Festival, slated for Sept. 21-24, will have the most special-shaped balloons in its 50-year history, joined by nearly 100 other pilots and 150,000 visitors from throughout the U.S. and overseas, according to organizers.
Courtesy Adirondack Balloon Festival
“I wish we were able to afford a true economic impact study because I’m sure it would be in the millions of dollars, especially with a good weather weekend,” said Mark Donahue, festival board president. “Right now we’ve booked rooms in 12 different hotels. We need 400 to 500 hotel rooms this year for all our special guests.” The all-volunteer run, nonprofit festival operates on a roughly $200,000 budget, only a fraction of the money spent by large commercial balloonContinued On Page 12
Hick’s Orchard in Granville had a banner year in 2022, but the apply industry is faced with rising costs of production related primarily to increased wage rates mandated by the state. BY PAUL POST This is the most nerve-racking time of year for apple growers as warm weather followed by a sudden cold spell can freeze blooms, effectively ruining an entire crop. “That’s a really big hazard and with the vagaries of climate catastrophe that we’re in, you just don’t know what’s going to happen,” said David Garvoille, Hicks Orchard business development manager. “Fifty degree temperature swings have become a regular thing. It can
Paul Post
be 60 one day and 10 the next.” Founded in 1905, this family-run Granville operation is New York state’s oldest “you-pick” apple farm, which is coming off its best year ever. “We had the most insane bumper crop, bigger than anyone alive remembers,” Garvoille said. “One tree fell over it was so weighted down with apples. We have about 20 different varieties and they all ripened at the same time. Continued On Page 4
Lake George Regional Travel Guide Is Out, President Of Six Flags Great Escape Gets Increased Circulation In Chamber’s Plan Prestigious Award From State Tourism Group The Lake George Regional Chamber of Commerce’s 2023 Four-Seasons Travel Guide features eight additional pages and a robust distribution strategy with increased circulation. The guide is now available. Some highlights of the new 60-page travel guide include a reader submitted travel pro tips and photos, a color-coded area map and a lodging grid to help people sort through camping and accommodations amenities. There are also 400-plus member listings including attractions, dining, shopping and more, facts about Lake George and a Lake George Region trivia section. The submitted photos and pro tips will also be used in a social media campaign. Photos and pro tips are continually being accepted for social media and the 2024 Travel Guide via this link. The Chamber produces the Travel Guide inhouse and increased the number printed from 70,000 to now 75,000 copies. The guide is also available digitally. They are strategically distributed around the Northeast, at AAA offices, and across the U.S. and Canada through direct mail by request. “With new data from where our visitors were coming from, we were able to readjust our distribution plan to match current intel. The guide was so popular last year we decided to increase the number printed and add pages,” said Chamber Executive Director Gina Mintzer.
The Lake George Four-Seasons Travel Guide is now available. This year’s cover features a photo of Lake George submitted by photographer Dan Scott. The photo is from his Adirondack Dawn series. Dan Scott is based in Chicago and was raised in Glens Falls. Additional photos on the cover were provided by photographer Linda Ouellette, Ice Castles, Adirondack Extreme Adventure Course and The Great Escape. The cover design was chosen with the help of the Chamber’s social media audience, who Continued On Page 14
Rebecca Wood, president of Six Flags Great Escape Theme Park and Lodge Resort in Queensbury, is the recipient of the New York State Hospitality & Tourism Association’s (NYSHTA) Outstanding Tourism Executive of the Year award. Wood received the award at the Six Flags Great Escape property on Feb. 28. The Tourism Executive of the Year award is part of NYSHTA’s annual Stars of the Industry program. Stars of the Industry celebrates the exemplary professionalism and exceptional service of individuals in the hospitality and tourism industry. The award recognizes an executive who has demonstrated outstanding contributions of leadership and service to the industry and to his/her community. “Every year, the state’s hospitality and tourism industry nominates its most outstanding individuals. After reviewing all the nominations submitted, the judges agreed that Rebecca Wood was the best of the best,” said Mark Dorr, NYSHTA president. “Rebecca Wood is a star in every sense of the word and a shining example of what New York state hospitality and tourism is all about.” “Lake George is one of the great places on earth,” he said. NYSHTA is the country’s oldest state lodging association and offers programs and services to the statewide hospitality and tourism industry. NYSHTA’s mission is to lead and protect the New York State hospitality and tourism industry by providing advocacy, education and resources. “This past year was nothing short of a series of challenges followed by amazing celebrations
Rebecca Wood receives a state tourism award with Gina Mintzer, who nominated her. because of you guys,” she said, recalling the difficulty finding workers during the pandemic. “We chose this industry not because of how easy it is, but because of how fun and rewarding it is,” Wood said to the staff. “This is not my award. You guys make this job so ridiculously rewarding.” Gina Mintzer, the president of the Lake George Chamber of Commerce nominated Wood for the award. Wood started at the park in 2009 in marketing area and was named president four years ago.