©2017 Saratoga Photographer.com
By Maureen Werther
The Homewood Suites by Hilton Saratoga Springs opened on June 20 at 3368 South Broadway, on the property that was formerly home to Weathervane Restaurant.
It is a venture of Turf Pioneer South Broadway LLC and .
The four-story hotel has been in the works since 2013 and taken four years for approvals and construction. The cost of the project came in at approximately $20 million, nearly double what owner Mike Hoffman originally estimated in 2013, when the project was still in the planning and approval stage.
The property had originally been zoned for medical/office/professional development and Hoffman requested a change to tourism-related business district designation.
The upscale Hilton-brand hotel has 113 suites—ranging from studios to one- and two-bedroom units—an indoor pool and hot tub, a basketball court, a fire pit and two grills for guests to barbecue. The hotel will also offer a shuttle service for guests who want to dine in Saratoga Springs.
Homewood Suites are known as upscale extended-stay “home away from home” hotels that offer fully equipped kitchens for people who are planning to stay for longer than normal one- to two-night hotel stays.
“We hope to attract a lot of track, as well as non-track people,” said Hoffman’s business partner Brian Straughter, president of Turf Hotels which owns the property. He noted Saratoga Springs attracts tourists and business people to the city throughout the year.
In a recent press release, Homewood Suites General Manager Matthew Quigley said the hotel will be a suitable destination for all kinds of visitors, “whether traveling for the races, to enjoy a polo match or simply for business.”
Other amenities include a complimentary hot breakfast daily, evening socials from Monday through Thursday, free WiFi and a concierge grocery shopping service. The property also includes 480 square feet of open space that is available for social or business gatherings.
This is the fifth hotel located between Albany and Saratoga for Hoffman and Straughter. Turf Hotels also owns the Hampton Inn on Lake Avenue.
Hoffman recently sold the 129-room Holiday Inn Resort in Lake George for about $14 million. Hoffman said in the past that the location of his new hotel would contribute to the beautification of the southern entrance to the city from Exit 13.
He also noted that his company is at the stage where, “when we build a hotel, we build a great hotel. “
Straughter said business has already been good in the first few weeks since the opening and already shows signs of picking up in advance of the upcoming summer season.