Courtesy Saratoga Casino Hotel
Saratoga Casino Hotel on July 6 held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially commemorate the opening of its new hotel.
Elected officials, construction workers, local leaders and casino employees were on hand to attend the ceremony in front of the facility, located on Crescent Avenue in Saratoga Springs.
Amenities in the 117-room hotel include Morton’s The Steakhouse, Perks Café, an indoor resort pool with spa whirlpool, 13 premium suites, an outdoor terrace, fitness center, lobby bar and grand ballroom that officials said offers more than 3,000 square feet of meeting and event space.
“Our new hotel will transform the entire guest experience at Saratoga Casino Hotel,” said Tom Wiedmayer, general manager at Saratoga Casino Hotel. “We are now a dynamic entertainment destination offering something for everyone, and providing guests with yet another reason to visit Saratoga Springs all year long.”
Saratoga Casino Hotel’s expansion offers guests a modern interpretation of the Victorian architecture that influences the community. JCJ Architecture created interior and exterior designs to integrate within the existing casino, racing, dining and entertainment facilities.
The $40 million project first broke ground in May 2015 and was led by Consigli Construction and Tishman, An AECOM Company. During the 13 months of construction, nearly 200,000 man hours were utilized, creating 700 construction jobs, officials said. More than $22 Million was spent directly with subcontractors located in the Capital Region.
“This beautiful hotel will serve as a key building block for the area’s most exciting entertainment venue as it strives to be a premier destination resort for the entire region,” said Greg Burns, president of New York Operations for Consigli Construction Co., Inc. “This project is the result of an incredible joint venture and we thank our partner Tishman Construction as well as JCJ Architecture, all of the subcontractors and especially the community for their support.”
Guests at Saratoga Casino Hotel will have multiple ways to visit other area attractions, including Saratoga Race Course. Every day of racing during the summer meet at Saratoga Race Course, a custom horse-drawn carriage will take hotel guests to and from the races along a scenic backstretch route that arrives at the Clubhouse entrance.
Hotel officials said the carriage will also be available for weddings and other special events at the hotel and The Lodge. A shuttle bus is also available year round to offer local transportation for guests.
Now in its’ 75th year of racing, the Saratoga Harness track season runs 10 months during the year, from March through mid-December. Guests at the new hotel will be able to watch and wager from their rooms, using their SaratogaBets account, Saratoga Casino Hotel’s online interactive wagering platform.
“The ability to watch and wager on live racing from the comfort of your room is an amenity that can’t be found anywhere else in the Greater Capital Region,” said John Matarazzo, director of racing operations at Saratoga Casino Hotel. “We look forward to introducing our guests to the excitement of live harness racing, especially as we celebrate our 75th year.”
Prior to its opening on June 27, the closest Morton’s location was more than 150 miles away in White Plains. Casino officials said the Steakhouse has received hundreds of national awards and accolades. It is renowned for its signature menu offering quality and consistency with VIP service. The restaurant serves USDA prime-aged beef, fresh seafood, hand-picked produce and desserts. It has a fully stocked bar and an extensive wine list.
“We’re excited to bring the Morton’s experience to the Capital Region,” said Shawn Mason, General Manager of Morton’s The Steakhouse at Saratoga Casino Hotel. “Our guests can expect the same attention to detail and excellence that has made Morton’s The Steakhouse one of the finest restaurant brands in the world.”
It has a dining room and lobby bar and a private dining area for parties up to 32. Reservations for the hotel and Morton’s can be made online at SaratogaCasino.com.
In 2015, Saratoga Casino generated $244 million in statewide economic output, according to Casino officials. Some $19.2 million was paid in salaries to 561 employees, $16 million funded the local racing and breeding industries, and $77.6 million supported education in New York state. Since first opening their doors in 2004, Saratoga Casino has generated nearly $800 million for statewide education, officials said.