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Business leaders urge college to reverse hospitality program cuts, warn of workforce impact
Summary
Lake George Regional Chamber read a letter asking Sunni Aderondac trustees to reconsider discontinuing hospitality degree, certificate and microcredential programs, warning the move could harm a tourism sector that the letter says generates nearly $928 million in annual visitor spending and supports thousands of local jobs.
Business groups urged Warren County officials April 2 to press the college to reconsider discontinuing its hospitality programs, saying the programs are central to the county’s tourism-driven economy.
Gina, speaking for the Lake George Regional Chamber of Commerce, read a formal letter into the record asking the Sunni Aderondac board of trustees to reverse a decision to discontinue the hospitality AAS degree, related certificate and a microcredential. “Hospitality and tourism are not peripheral industries in Warren County. They are foundational to the region's economy,” Gina read, and the letter cited an economic figure of nearly $928 million in annual visitor spending.
Supervisor Batty and other county officials echoed those concerns, noting the tourism sector’s scale and urging continued partnership between the college and local employers. Batty said about 8,610 jobs in Warren County are tourism‑related, and he asked trustees to rethink program cuts because the college and county are linked as workforce partners.
College leadership told the committee the trustees have voted to discontinue the major; the president said the college will deactivate the program for the coming fall but will teach out students currently enrolled. The president also described alternative strategies the college is pursuing — apprenticeship options, noncredit-to-credit pathways and targeted programs aligned to employer needs — and invited the business community to partner on recruitment and internships.
The Chamber’s letter requested earlier business engagement on such decisions and offered to collaborate on recruitment, experiential learning and advisory participation. County officials and college leaders said they would continue conversations about whether program redesigns, apprenticeships or partnerships could preserve pathways into local hospitality jobs.
