Business people pack networking event

Differing views on economic outlook

By FRITZ MAYER

MONTICELLO, NY — Are the tough economic times having a serious impact on local businesses?

The answer depends on whom you talk to.

A networking event sponsored by the Spencer Daniels Agency and arranged through the Sullivan County Chamber of Commerce drew an overflow crowd to Monticello Gaming and Raceway on March 20, where business people from Sullivan, Ulster and Orange counties and the tristate area gathered to meet and greet and exchange business cards. The crowd was lively and seemingly unconcerned that a recession is upon us, though they had different answers about whether their individual businesses were being affected.

Joe Tinari, the proprietor of the Fosterdale Motor Lodge, said he expected the upcoming tourist season to be just about as good as last year, which for him was pretty good. He said that people might not be willing to travel as far for vacation as they have in the past, but that they still want to travel. He said thanks, in part, to Bethel Woods, bookings at his facility for July and August are running even with last year. He also said that he is getting a lot of inquiries from people who are working on the Millennium Pipeline upgrade and has received some bookings from them.

Alan Goodman, who at HSBC Bank deals with clients that are generally fairly well off, said that his customers are not being affected much at this point, though the plummeting interest rates are becoming a concern because it means their investments deliver decreasing returns.

Jeff Siegel is the CEO of the Spencer Daniels Agency, a Monticello-based entertainment and production company that produces meetings and events across the country. He said that business is down for the industry, and fewer party events are being held. Such mainstays as expensive wedding parties are being scaled down or put off, as young couples decide to put the price of a party into a down payment on a house, and, perhaps, have a smaller party in the house at a later time.

He added that there was a serious dip in the business following the 9/11 terrorist attack at the World Trade Center, but such lean periods are part of the business. With 100 employees, he expects his company to easily survive this slow patch.

Melody Newcombe bills herself as a Comedy Magician from Ulster County who performs at birthdays, parties, trade shows and elsewhere. She said she hasn’t seen a downturn in her business because “everybody still needs to laugh.”