May 1 deadline doesn’t worry Hotel Saranac developers
SARANAC LAKE — A fast-approaching May 1 deadline to get the Hotel Saranac reopened looks like it will come and go, but it doesn’t seem to be causing any panic for the company behind the $35 million renovation of the Main Street landmark.
New Hampshire-based Roedel Companies announced March 28 that guests can now start booking rooms in the hotel for stays beginning Nov. 17, “although the hotel is scheduled to open well in advance of that date.”
“The restoration project of Hotel Saranac by Roedel Companies is in its final stages and a soft opening is scheduled in July,” the company said in a press release.
Although an official opening date still remains a moving target, it appears the project will not be complete by May 1, the date the project is required to be finished and operating under the terms of a $35 million loan Roedel Companies received last fall and its franchise agreement with Hilton.
The loan, issued by a New York City-based, Delaware-registered limited liability company called OWS BCA Funding, provided funding for three Roedel Companies hotel projects, including $15.75 million for the Hotel Saranac renovations. It replaced a prior loan Roedel Companies had received from Community Bank.
Asked this week whether the May 1 deadline is still relevant, Roedel Companies spokesman Jim Fennell of EVR Advertising said he didn’t believe it was a factor. On Friday, he provided the Enterprise with a statement from Fred Roedel III that seems to indicate the deadline is not a major consideration right now.
“Our lender and Hilton Hotels have full knowledge of the project’s status and schedule,” Roedel said. “The contractors and designers are all working diligently to complete this project as quickly as possible. The hotel is going to be a beautiful property, and we are excited to get it done and open.”
Fennell said interest has been high since Hilton started accepting reservations in late March, although he couldn’t give specifics on how many reservations have been made.
Asked why the hotel isn’t accepting reservations for stays before Nov. 17, Fennell called it standard corporate practice for companies like Hilton.
“What they do is say, ‘Hey, you’re opening in July, but things happen. We’re going to set this date to start accepting reservations. As you get closer to your opening date, we’ll start bumping up the reservation date backwards.’ They give themselves that room so they don’t start booking rooms too soon. That’s standard corporate practice.”
Reservations for stays at the Hotel Saranac can be made at www.curiocollection3.hilton.com.
From the outside, work appears to be continuing inside the building on a daily basis. The hotel is also hiring employees. A catering sales manager position was posted on the hotel’s website on Thursday.
To see more rendering of what the Hotel Saranac will look like, visit, http://curiocollection3.hilton.com/en/hotels/new-york/hotel-saranac-curio-collection-by-hilton-SLKSNQQ/index.html.