Category Archives: Business News

New York state crews have started work on a $4.2 million redevelopment of Roosevelt Drive within Saratoga Spa State Park. 

The project will improve transportation safety within the park by adding pedestrian and bicycling pathways adjacent to the park’s busiest stretch of roadway, which connects the Avenue of the Pines with the golf course, pools, picnic areas, and the Roosevelt Baths and Spa.

Funding for the project came from New York Works capital funding as well as $1.2 million from the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund. 

“This exciting upgrade will make Saratoga Spa safer, more environmentally friendly and more enjoyable to cyclists, pedestrians, and guests who visit the many cultural venues in its historic setting,” Gov. Kathy Hochul said. “The $4.2 million project will complement the significant investments we have made to enhance Saratoga Springs’ status as a world-class recreational and tourism destination.”

Officials said the roadway will be moved away from the classical arcades, making space for a large circular patio as a welcoming gathering place to kick off exploration of all the park has to offer. 

Part of the Park of the Arts initiative, the corridor improvements mark another major milestone in the restoration of the National Historic Landmark campus. The project will also create expanded parking to service the Spa Little Theater and the recreational and cultural attractions of the Roosevelt Campus, as well as to provide new EV charging stations.

New stormwater management features will help protect water quality, stabilize water temperature, and improve brook trout habitat in Geyser Creek. These include installing underground stormwater chambers and porous asphalt at the expanded parking lot to filter rainwater and allow it to slowly infiltrate back into the soil, reducing stormwater runoff and sedimentation flowing into Geyser Creek.

U.S. hotel leisure travel revenue is projected to end the year 14 percent above 2019 levels, while hotel business travel revenue is expected to come within 1 percent of 2019 levels, according to an analysis by the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) and Kalibri Labs.

The projections are not adjusted for inflation, and real hotel revenue recovery will likely take several more years, officials said.

Post-pandemic recovery remains uneven, particularly in many major cities and destinations where business travel continues to lag. Among the top 50 U.S. markets, 80 percent are projected to see hotel leisure travel revenue exceed 2019 levels, but just 40 percent are expected reach that milestone for business travel revenue. Many urban markets, which rely heavily on business from events and group meetings, are still on the road to recovery.

Other study said the uptick in revenue is leading to historic career opportunities for hotel employees, with more than 115,000 hotel jobs currently open across the nation. Hotels are offering potential hires a host of incentives to fill vacancies—81 percent have increased wages, 64 percent are offering greater flexibility with hours, and 35 percent have expanded benefits, according to a September 2022 AHLA member survey.

“The hotel industry continues its march toward recovery, but we still have a way to go before we fully get there,” said AHLA President and CEO Chip Rogers. “That’s why AHLA remains focused on working with members, lawmakers and stakeholders in markets that are rebounding more slowly to ensure the full return of meetings, conferences, and group travel in addition to leisure and business travel. 

“At the same time, we are continuing to grow the industry’s talent pipeline by highlighting the unprecedented career opportunities hotels are offering. Thanks to higher wages, better benefits, and more flexibility and opportunities for advancement, there has never been a better time to work at a hotel.”

New York state has launched a $5 million multi-agency pilot program aimed at reducing suicide among vulnerable groups in Albany, Schenectady, Rensselaer and Saratoga counties. 

Funded through a grant from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and administered by the state Office of Mental Health, Capital Connect will utilize data from state agencies and local partners to identify at-risk groups for focused prevention efforts in specific areas and industries in the four-county region. 

New York is one of only six states to receive the grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, officials said.

“While our state’s mental health resources are among the best in the nation, we still lose far too many New Yorkers to suicide each year,” Gov. Kathy Hochul said. “With a focused approach to prevention, we can better identify groups and industries most at risk and ensure they have access to resources, and this $5 million grant announced today will help us provide critical support and foster connections among vulnerable individuals throughout the Capital Region.”  

Chairman of the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors Theodore T. Kusnierz, Jr. said mental health and wellness “are equally as important as physical health and Saratoga County is committed to offering services to assist those who face such daily challenges. The Capital Connect Program will help promote a healthier community by assisting at-risk populations including our young people suffering from the lingering effects of the pandemic and working-class men who’ve also seen an uptick in mental health crises, according to recent studies. 

“These funds will help Saratoga County reduce the stigma surrounding mental health services while assisting those suffering with mental health issues and suicidal thoughts.”

Hattie’s Restaurant in Saratoga Springs announces the long-awaited return of its Mardi Gras fundraiser.

After a four-year absence, the fundraiser is returning with The Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York as its 2023 beneficiary and CNN’s Alisyn Camerota as emcee. It is set for Saturday, Jan. 28, at the Canfield Casino.

 The inaugural Hattie’s Mardi Gras was held in 2001 and since its launch, has donated more than $1 million to nonprofits in the surrounding community.

“Not only will the gala be supporting a great cause, it will also be an evening of delicious dining and dancing,” said Business For Good  restaurant operator Jasper Alexander. “I’ll be working with chef Phil Fitzpatrick and chef Mark D. Graham to bring the taste of New Orleans to Saratoga.”

Business For Good  is a charitable business that owns Hattie’s.

Hattie’s director of hospitality, Beth Alexander, believes the upcoming event will be their most successful Mardi Gras yet.

“Returning this event to the community is such a wonderful feeling,” she said. “With CNN’s Alisyn Camerota as our emcee, it’s going to be a night to remember. We hope all of our regulars can join us for a good time and a great cause.”