Saratoga Casino Hotel announced the return of live harness racing for its 85th season, which began Sunday, February 1. The 2026 schedule at the Spa Oval will consist of 150 racing programs running through mid-December, including several Saturday matinee race cards throughout the season.

Horsemen will compete for over $17 million in purses during the season. In addition, the track will host eight New York Sire Stakes programs featuring the best New York bred horses in the state racing for an additional $1.5 million in purses.

“I expect a very strong season of racing,” said Race Secretary Peter Iovino. “The horse population has been abundant the last few years and this gives us the ability to offer a high-quality product for our fans.”

Saratoga Casino’s premier event, the Joe Gerrity Jr. Memorial Invitational Pacing Series, will kick off on Saturday, July 11 with a new format better suited for local horsemen participation. This year, competitors will vie for points in the $20,000 Invitational over seven consecutive Saturdays, with the top point earners advancing to the $100,000 final on Saturday, August 29. Total purses for the Gerrity Invitational series are $240,000.

Discover Saratoga announced the winners of the 27th Annual Saratoga Chowderfest, held Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Thousands of attendees braved winter temperatures to sample a wide variety of chowders from participating vendors and vote for their favorites. Winners were recognized in eight categories during the annual awards ceremony at the Saratoga Springs Heritage Area Visitor Center.

The 2026 Chowderfest winners are:

• People’s Choice, 500 bowls or less: Artisanal Brew Works

• People’s Choice, 501–750 bowls: The Mill on Round Lake

• People’s Choice, 751–1,000 bowls: Whitman Brewing

• People’s Choice, 1,001–1,500 bowls: The Parting Glass

• People’s Choice, 1,501–2,000 bowls: Rhea

• People’s Choice, 2,001–3,000 bowls: Wheatfields Restaurant

• People’s Choice, 3,001–4,000 bowls: Morrissey’s Lounge & Bistro

• People’s Choice, 4,001-plus bowls: Druthers Brewing Company

First New York Federal Credit Union is pleased to announce the appointment of Vik Muktavaram as its next President and CEO.

Muktavaram, the ninth chief executive in the credit union’s 88-year history, joins First New York following the planned retirement of current President and CEO Lucy Halstead.

Muktavaram is currently the Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer at Sunmark Credit Union. He joined Sunmark as the Chief Risk Officer in 2022 and was named Interim Chief Financial Officer in 2024. Prior to joining Sunmark, he was a Principal with Satori Consulting, a New York City-based management consulting firm.  Before that, he served as Chief Risk Officer for Old Mutual Bermuda, an investment management company, and spent over a decade in management consulting.

Behan Communications announced that Kristine D. Duffy, Ed.D., former president of SUNY Adirondack, has joined the firm. Duffy will work with crisis communications and public affairs clients and assist with business development.

Duffy served as president of SUNY Adirondack for 12 years, retiring in 2025 as the second-longest-serving president in the college’s history. During her tenure, the multi-campus community college served approximately 6,000 students annually with a $31 million operating budget and 385 employees. Under her leadership, graduation rates increased by more than 12 percent, more than $50 million was invested in capital improvements, and workforce-focused degree and short-term training programs were expanded. She also secured millions of dollars in grant funding to support equipment, classrooms, and student success initiatives.

“We are thrilled to have Dr. Duffy on our team,” said Ryan Moore, president and CEO of Behan Communications. “Her leadership experience in higher education, workforce development, and economic development will be an asset to our clients.”

Mark Behan, chairman and founder, said Duffy’s career has been defined by relationship-building and community impact across the region.

By Carol Ann Conover

Homeowners looking for personalized design guidance rather than off-the-shelf solutions now have a new local option with the opening of a collaborative home design and improvement showroom on Upper Glen Street.

Tim and Michelle Schultz are launching a multi-brand showroom at 704 Upper Glen St. that brings together custom window treatments, interior design services and energy-efficient replacement windows and doors. The space unites Gotcha Covered of Saratoga, Designs on Glen and Window Depot of the Adirondacks, offering what the owners describe as a consultative, one-on-one alternative to the stock selections and self-guided experience typical of big-box retailers.

The concept is designed to help homeowners make cohesive decisions that balance aesthetics, performance and budget, rather than purchasing products in isolation. Clients can work directly with experienced professionals to evaluate everything from fabric and light control to insulation value and window performance.

“We’re really focused on the personal side of design,” Tim Schultz said. “Big-box stores serve a purpose, but many homeowners want guidance tailored to their space, their home and how they live. That’s what we’re providing here.”

Mitchell B. Muroff, Esq., Founder, Muroff Hospitality Group

As we look ahead to 2026, the hospitality industry enters the year on far more stable footing than many anticipated just a few years ago. While 2025 was marked by moderation rather than acceleration, it ultimately proved to be a year of normalization—one that set the stage for measured, sustainable growth rather than speculative excess.

Nationally, 2025 saw travel demand remain resilient despite higher interest rates, inflationary pressures, and continued labor challenges. Leisure travel continued to outperform expectations, particularly in drive-to markets and experience-based destinations. According to STR data, a CoStar company, occupancy stabilized across most U.S. markets, average daily rates held firm, and revenue per available room posted modest but consistent gains. Importantly, hotel fundamentals remained strong even as transaction volume slowed, reflecting a market adjusting to higher capital costs rather than weaker demand.

As we move into 2026, national forecasts from major hospitality analysts such as CBRE and JLL point to continued incremental growth rather than dramatic swings. New hotel supply remains constrained due to elevated construction costs and financing hurdles, which is expected to support pricing power for existing assets. At the same time, easing inflation and the potential for lower interest rates later in the year could help unlock transaction activity that has been sidelined since mid-2023. Investors are increasingly focused on well-located, operationally sound assets with clear paths to efficiency and modest value-add, rather than large-scale redevelopment or speculative growth.

For the Northeast—particularly New York and New England—the outlook for 2026 is especially encouraging. The region benefits from a dense population base, strong seasonal tourism, and a growing preference for regional travel over long-haul destinations. Unlike gateway cities that rely heavily on international travel or large convention demand, many Northeast markets are driven by leisure travelers, outdoor recreation, weddings and events, and repeat visitation—segments that have proven durable through multiple economic cycles.