New Year's Resolutions

Out with the old and in with the new; the mark of a new year inevitably brings new resolutions to better one’s life. The obvious resolutions, such as losing weight and staying healthy, spending less and saving more, and organizing your life are always bound to show up on resolution lists (top ten resolutions here). But how about some other interesting resolutions? Here is a list of our top ten things to get accomplished this year (with, of course, some of the most famous ones still on the list!).

1. Travel More. Getting out of the house can always be a refreshing experience. Travelling doesn’t always mean vacationing. Refresh yourself and cross this nugget off of your resolution list by taking overnight road trips or long weekends (some great destinations just outside of Malone include Syracuse, Lake Placid, Albany, Montreal and Ottawa). Sometimes a staycation can even settle your travel bug until you get some time to really get out. So don’t limit yourself by only thinking of travelling in week-long segments to far-away places.
2. Learn to Ski or Snowboard. Most resolution lists include some category of learning something new. Why not try out snow sports? Titus Mountain is a wonderful family resort for those who want to learn the sport. Titus has a snow sports school and rentals available at the mountain for you to try it out—and their lift tickets are an exceptional value, especially going on weekends when there is night skiing. But a disclaimer: you might just get addicted. And if you are already a skier or rider, but want to try something more advanced, check out our information on learning about Terrain Parks. Or if you are a lady giving it a go for the first time, check out our "Ladies Learn to Ski" program.
3. Eat Healthier. Whether you want to eat healthier to lose weight, maintain weight, or just feel better, there are many opportunities to do so. When ordering your coffee, get it with non-fat milk instead of whole (you could save up to 10 pounds a year!) Get water with dinner instead of soda (15 pounds a year). Order a salad for an appetizer instead of the mozzarella sticks (Mo’s has some delicious salads). And ask your waiter or waitress how to make your meal healthier—normally they can tell you the ingredients to cut out.
4. Help Others. There are many opportunities to help others inside or outside of your community. If you are having trouble finding a place to state, try checking out your local Chamber of Commerce (Malone’s Website). Or check out http://www.volunteermatch.org to find out what is available (you can also post here if you are an organization). If you don’t have spare time, monetary donations are always welcome to a plethora of organizations.
5. Get Organized. Whether you have papers overflowing on your desk or your calendar looks like a chimpanzee scribbled through it; don’t fret because you aren’t alone. There are many ways to get organized whether you are planning for an event or just trying to keep track of your life. The first step is to find out what you need help organizing; if the papers overflowing on your desk are only from trying to plan a family reunion or wedding, there is no need to uproot your bill paying system. Stay on track. And sometimes it helps to have people on your side. There are many paid services such as organizing and cleaning professionals and wedding planners, but there are also many services available at no additional cost—always ask if there is anything else that is offered by your hotel, event venue, or service company (such as automatic withdrawal or email reminders).
6. Exercise More. Again, another resolution that always makes the top ten list, though it is the most joked about because it is never followed through. Make sure that when you are making your resolution to exercise more, you are making it an attainable goal. If you travel often, fit that into your regimen (Healthy Travel Tips). If the thought of running makes you gag, try a different form of cardio such as Zumba. Just doing something active fits into this plan—think skiing, golfing, walking, biking, playing softball—activities that you enjoy are much more likely to become a lasting resolution than something that you dread.
7. Learn to Play Golf. The Malone Golf Club is a world-renowned course. What better way to learn to golf on the best course available in the area? They also offer a program, Get Golf Ready, which is available to help learn the game of golf itself as well as etiquette and rules. And you might even get the chance to get a short clinic from the Vice President of the PGA, Derek Sprague (20 Minutes with DerekSprague). How cool is that?
8. Enjoy the Small Things. Bigger isn’t always better. And farther isn’t always nicer. Take some time to enjoy small things that your community offers. Have you been to the AlmanzoWilder Homestead? Hiked Elephant’s Head? Had dinner overlooking the Malone Golf Club or the Titus Mountain slopes? Have you walked the Malone Rec Park to see the gathering of snow geese? Taken a few minutes to yourself to watch a Malone Sunset?
9. Get your Finances in Order. This is always a tricky one. The obvious is to spend less and save more, and since spending is different for everyone, why not take a look at how to save more? There are the obvious tactics, such as getting things on sale and clipping coupons. But what about the not-so-obvious savings? Use your reward cards. Whether you are a member at a grocery store, retail store, hotel chain (info on Priority Club here), or Milk Club… dollars and points add up. Why waste the money that you are already spending?
10. Spend More Time with Family. Read number 1, 2, 4, 7, and 8 and just remember: have fun.

The Olympic Village & The Holiday Inn

Did you know that Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express is the "Official Hotel Services Provider to London 2012?" That means that they provide additional capability and expertise in the accommodation sector, supplying experienced personnel to assist in the planning and operation of the Olympic Village.

Holiday Inn stated that "being the first hotel chain ever to be asked to help run an Olympic Athletes’ Village leaves us brimming with pride. We're putting our very best people in place to make absolutely sure that athletes, officials and staff have the time of their lives."

Since we are part of IHG and the Holiday Inn brand name, we share in this excitement! So how about some interesting facts on the Olympic Village?

By the Numbers:

• Up to 16,000 athletes and officials will be accommodated during the Games
• There are 11 residential plots, each made up of 5-7 blocks around communal squares and courtyards
• A total of 22,000 pillows, 1,200 blankets and 28,000 duvets will be used
• There are 16,000 beds, 9,000 wardrobes and 1,000 sofas on site
• Food to be consumed includes 25,000 loaves of bread, 232 tons of potatoes, 75,000 liters of milk and 330 tons of fruit & vegetables
• The athlete gym has over 750 pieces of equipment and over 100 personal trainers will be on site (Source)

 Legacy of the Village

• The site will be transformed into a residential quarter to be known as East Village
• It will have 2,818 new homes, including 1,379 affordable homes and houses for sale and rent
• The accommodation will range from one-bedroom apartments up to four and five-bedroom townhouses
• A new education campus with 1,800 places for students aged 3-19 and a new health center will be built

Olympic Village from above.

The Olympic Village containing several housing blocks and community yards.

Now for some trivia--How does the Village stack up to your very own Holiday Inn Express & Suites of Malone?

• We have had over 2600 guests at our hotel this month
• We have 1.4 acres of open area in front of the hotel
• A total of 516 pillows grace our rooms
• We have 129 beds and 17 sofas
• On an average month we go through 24 loaves of bread, 6 gallons of juice, 12 Dozen Cinnamon Buns, and 60 pounds of fruit for our Express Start Breakfast
• We don't have personal trainers but we have a 3 pieces of cardio equipment with free weights and an indoor pool (albeit not Olympic Size)

For more info on the Olympic Village, go to the official website here. For more info on your hometown Holiday Inn Express, go to our website here.

Healthy Travel Tips

Whether you are traveling for business or pleasure, on vacation or company training, anybody would be hard pressed to say that they keep their routines intact. Fast food becomes normal while driving, late nights and early mornings reek havoc on circadian rhythms, and exercise tends to go right out the window. For those who are on the road a lot (such as our platinum priority club members... at least 50 stays a year!), routine-breaking travel is tough to digest.

A healthy lifestyle promotes eating right, sleeping right, exercising, and being productive. Being a frequent flyer doesn't mean you have to give these things up! Here are some tips for staying healthy on the road.

1. Plan in advance. Schedule workouts and meals just like business meetings.
2. Get up and stretch on flights. Take breaks on long car trips. Take a few minutes every hour or so to stretch and improve circulation while also combating fatigue.
3. Walk during meeting breaks. Take the stairs. Park farther away from entrances.
4. Stay hydrated. Six to eight glasses of water a day is recommended. Opt for the free water instead of soda during luncheons. Make use of the cups in your room and drink a glass in the morning and before bed.
5. Be conscious of your calories. Opt for fruit instead of fast food--it's just as easy to eat while driving. Pack healthy snacks in your suitcase to keep you away from the hotel snack shops at midnight when the cravings hit. Opt for the veggie sides in restaurants instead of the french fries.
6. Always pack your sneakers, a set of gym clothes, and a bathing suit--just in case. Swimming is a great exercise and walking around the hotel in heels or loafers isn't conducive to wanting to do it again.
7. Get a good night's sleep. Try to keep your sleep cycle the same during trips. If that is impossible, make sure you clear your head before heading to bed. Write things down instead of thinking them over and over in your mind.
8. Stay productive at a table or desk, not your bed. Don't bring your laptop into bed with you or read through those reports in your pajamas. Desks and tables are in your room for a reason. Not only will you be more productive, but you'll get a better night's rest.
9. Pick appropriate fitness activities for travel. Leave the dumbbells at home and opt for body weight exercise. Push-ups, crunches, and lunges are always a travel go-to, and they don't require a lot of space. And who said carrying your 40 pound suitcase up 3 flights of stairs can't be turned into an exercise?
10. Make it fun! Having a the same fitness routine and meal plans every day can become mundane and boring--travel becomes the excuse for routine-breaking instead of the reason. (Adapted from Lodging Magazine, April 2012)

And for those that staying active is more than a routine but a lifestyle, IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) has launched a new brand, EVEN Hotels, to fill a void for healthy travelers. From their website, they state that "travel can be healthier, and we're here to prove it." From free and unlimited flavored water at check-in to a Wellness Board to showcase local club or fitness activities, the new brand exudes healthy lifestyle just by walking in the door. Round out their ventures with a best in-class gym, freshly prepared food, and a coat rack that doubles as a pull-up bar and work out bench, EVEN Hotels is a refreshing option for travelers with health on their minds.