1Berkshire Kicks Off 2025 with Winter Marketing

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — As the Regional Tourism Council (RTC) representing The Berkshires, and the official tourism promoter for the region, 1Berkshire is working on winter-themed marketing campaigns.

These tactics target visitors in New York, Boston, and surrounding New England areas, specifically young professionals, families, and members of the BIPOC community. Promoting the region as a preferred place to visit, play, and stay speaks directly to 1Berkshire's mission: to advance Berkshire County’s economy by advocating for the business community and attracting visitors.

"We have campaigns that run all year long, but our primary focus right now is the shoulder season when our local economy benefits from a boost. We want to share the message that this is a wonderful place to visit in any season, and winter holds its own unique, special appeal. It’s always a great time to explore outdoor recreation, culture, food, and wellness #intheberkshires," said Lindsey Schmid, Senior Vice President of Tourism & Marketing for 1Berkshire.

ski campaign featuring the Berkshires’ ski resorts and other cold weather activities launched in mid-December; this campaign was produced in partnership with other MA RTCs and Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism (MOTT), and is expected to garner 10M impressions for the Berkshires. Also produced in December was 1Berkshire’s Winter Brochure, a piece that is supported by members and highlights many of the ways to enjoy the region December through March. This year’s brochure has seen a 135 percent increase in views over last year, with 2,200 views in December alone. A great tool for all Berkshire businesses to use, it can be linked on websites or included in e-communications to customers, and will help further amplify the message: "Welcome to the Berkshires in winter - we are open for business!"

This past holiday season, 1Berkshire hosted a Storybook Holiday familiarization tour, sending four journalists to iconic Berkshire locations including the Dr. Sax House, Haven, Red Lion Inn, Winterlights at Naumkeag, and the Norman Rockwell Museum. Stories, such as this Instagram reel, continue to roll out and will ultimately garner the Berkshires thousands of PR impressions.

In its role as the destination marketing organization for the Berkshires, 1Berkshire hosts berkshires.org - the region’s #1 travel planning site, which receives 1.2M+ sessions annually and has more than 800K users. 1Berkshire also reaches an average of 3.5M visitors with its e-communications. Combined tourism promotion efforts continue to drive the visitor economy, an important cluster from the Berkshire Blueprint, and the focus on winter marketing means greater visibility for all Berkshire businesses during the shoulder season.


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Pittsfield Council OKs Underground Fiber Network

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — More underground fiber internet cables will be installed in Pittsfield. 

On Tuesday, the City Council approved Gateway Fiber's request to install an underground fiber network infrastructure within the city's right-of-way.  

The company was given the go-ahead for an aerial network last year alongside Archtop Fiber, marking the beginning of construction with a ribbon-cutting at the Colonial Theatre. Gateway Fiber will offer subscription plans ranging from $65 to $150 per month, depending on speed. 

Wards 3 and 4 will see the most work in the first phase, according to an underground fiber deployment plan.  Fourteen streets in Ward 4 will see underground fiber deployment; 13 streets in Ward 3.  

Ward 4 Councilor James Conant voted in opposition for personal reasons, as he signed up for Gateway Fiber briefly last year and said he had poor service and poor communication from the company. 

Some councilors and community members appreciated bringing competition to Spectrum internet services. Ward 5 Councilor Patrick Kavey pointed out that it costs about $90 per month for 500 megabytes per second with Spectrum, and that all three fiber services that have come to Pittsfield are cheaper. 

Operations Manager Jennifer Sharick explained that they were seeking approval for underground fiber deployment as part of the next phase in Pittsfield. The city was found to be a "very" viable community for underground fiber. 

Gateway Fiber, she said, originally served a community of 250 residents outside of St. Louis, Mo. 

"Following the pandemic, we saw the need, and what people need for fiber and reliable internet service to bring residents and businesses the opportunity for connectivity," Sharick said. 

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