Demand for hotel rooms, and hotel occupancy rates, were both at higher levels in 2015 than the years before, officials of the Saratoga Convention & Tourism Bureau said at its 31st annual meeting and dinner held on March 16 at the Saratoga Springs City Center.

In addition to highlighting the successes of 2015 and their initiatives for 2016, the bureau welcomed new members of the board of directors and Executive Committee.

A crowd of 175 members, government officials and others attended.

Bureau officials highlighted the 2015 annual report, noting that despite Saratoga County seeing a slight decrease in occupancy percentage because of new hotel inventory in Saratoga Springs and the county, overall demand and revenue were up significantly.

In Saratoga County, according to the report, demand for rooms was up 7.2 percent in 2015, over 2014. Revenue from hotel night stays was reported at $106.5 million in 2015, versus $96.5 million in 2014.

Occupancy rates, the report said, were at 68.7 percent in 2015, down 1.6 percent from 2014.

In Saratoga Springs, demand was up 10.2 percent from the previous year, according to the report. Revenue was as $71.3 million in 2015, 12.4 percent higher than the $63.5 million in 2014. Occupancy rates reached 69.2 percent, 4.9 percent above 2014, when the rate was 66 percent.

At the Saratoga Springs City Center, the report said the number of conventions/events held in 2015 was 420, versus 326 in 2014. That translated to an 80,185 room nights, compared to 66,191 in 2014. Estimated economic impact was reported at $29.5 million for last year, compared to $23.7 million in 2014.

By Maureen Werther

Mark Shaw, president of Stored Technology Solutions, has a simple and straightforward business philosophy.

“When clients ask for a product or service, we don’t like to say ‘no,'” he said.

So, when his company, Stored Technology Solutions, began receiving repeated inquiries from their customers for a training space, he decided it was time to give them one.

Storedtech offers clients a “comprehensive portfolio of voice, data, and video solutions,” according to its website, and the company’s rapid expansion is a result of being responsive to the needs of its customers.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and Saratoga Springs Mayor Joanne Yepsen will host the third annual Strengthening Cities, Communities, and Homes Summit, a day-long gathering of housing and economic development professionals.

Also hosting will Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan; Amsterdam Mayor Mike Villa, Glens Falls Mayor John “Jack” Diamond, Schenectady, Mayor Gary McCarthy, Plattsburgh Mayor James Calnon and Troy Mayor Patrick Madden.

The summit is schedule for 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, April 11, at the Hilton Saratoga, 534 Broadway.

“This year’s summit is targeted toward introducing and enhancing working partnerships focused on housing and community development,” said Yepsen. “The agenda for this important summit promises to be outstanding, with exceptional keynote speakers and multiple break-out sessions.”

“This summit truly exemplifies a model of federal, state and local governments partnering with the private sector to create stronger and more vibrant communities,” she said. “It is partnerships such as these that not only allow us to present a successful summit but to tackle national issues on a local level, such as ending veteran homelessness.”

A study conducted annually by the University of Wisconsin’s Population Health Institute has ranked Saratoga County as the top healthiest county in New York state.

The study is funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. In 2013 an 2014, Saratoga County ranked number 5, as well as ranking number 3 for health outcomes in 2015.

“We want to applaud everyone in our community that has done something positive in their jobs or in their personal lives to make our county and themselves healthier,” said Susan Halstead of Family Vision Care Center, chairwoman of the Chamber’s Health and Wellness Council. “Being the number 1 healthiest county in all of New York state is something we can all be proud of because it represents the work and commitment to wellness of so many organizations and people.”

In 2013, the board of directors authorized the formation of the Health and Wellness Council. In 2014, the council decided to celebrate June as Employee Wellness Month. They organized a series of #healthysaratoga events. The council’s mission statement for the #healthysaratoga movement is “Ensure Saratoga County is one of the healthiest places to live and work.”

Since that time, the council created a new Health & Wellness Week in January; the #healthysaratoga HORSE Basketball Challenge in March; a set of events to celebrate Employee Wellness Month in June; and a #healthysaratoga silent disco in October.

The council created a #healthysaratoga pledge program that now has 125 companies as signatories. Each has agreed to take action to ensure Saratoga County is one of the healthiest places to live and work.