By Jill Nagy
Fort William Henry Hotel and Conference Center plans to expand facilities and activities, another step toward in the efforts to make Lake George a year-round tourist destination.
“It is what the whole area is trying to do,” said Kathy Muncil, CEO of the hotel complex, an 18-acre development at the southern end of the lake.
Currently, the hotel and museum are open weekends during the winter months.
“We want to change that,” she said, by introducing more activities that are not weather-dependent. Plans also include installing a distillery, renovation of the four-story carriage house and addition of a fitness center.

Common Roots Brewing Co., whose brewery burned down in a March 25 fire, is already planning to rebuild and has been getting assistance from the community and other craft brew manufacturers.
Supporters of the South Glens Falls business went to the Queensbury Hotel on Sunday, April 7, for a “Rally for Roots” event to help raise money.
The fundraiser featured locally made beer, live music, raffles and silent auctions. The project also has a GoFundMe fundraising page.

The Lake George Regional Convention & Visitors Bureau continues to see growth in the sports tourism market.
The Lake George Regional CVB, a division of the Lake George Regional Chamber of Commerce, has funding supplied through occupancy tax dollars with the goal of realizing a return on that promotional money in the form of weather-proof year round business in the form of meetings, conventions, sports tournaments and other events.
This year, officials said the Lake George Area has netted three awards for sports tourism including:
• The 2019 SportsEvents magazine’s Readers Choice Award. The bureau has won this award twice in the last three years. SportsEvents asks readers annually to nominate events, planners and locations for the award. Voting is done on online ballot.

The New York Racing Association (NYRA) board of directors has unanimously appointed David O’Rourke as NYRA CEO and president.
O’Rourke had been serving as interim CEO since Jan. 23 following the resignation of Chris Kay.
“David has made significant and lasting contributions to NYRA since he joined the organization more than a decade ago,” said NYRA board chairman Michael Del Giudice. “He possesses broad expertise in nearly every facet of the industry, enjoys deep respect among his NYRA colleagues and industry peers, and understands how the sport and the business will continue to evolve in the future. His combination of skills and obvious leadership ability made this an easy choice and we congratulate David on this appointment.”