By Paul Post

In 1999, a Rochester-based company passed up an opportunity to build a hotel in Saratoga Springs, just when the Spa City was arguably becoming the hottest year-round resort destination in upstate New York.

But that company, DelMonte Hotel Group (DHG), never lost interest in the market, which it entered last year by acquiring the downtown Hampton Inn & Suites at 25 Lake Ave. Now the group has strengthened its local presence by purchasing the 113-room Homewood Suites by Hilton on South Broadway, in partnership with XSS Hotels of Hooksett, N.H.

Alex DelMonte, DHG president and chief executive officer, said plans call for a light renovation of the Homewood Suites, but a major overall of the Hampton Inn beginning next fall. “The scope of the renovation will touch all areas of the hotel allowing the Hampton to remain the premier downtown hotel for those traveling to Saratoga,” he said. “DHG is excited to be the owner and manager of the two premier properties in Saratoga.”

DHG now owns or co-owns six Capital District hotel properties, with three more in Albany and one in Troy, joining a portfolio that stretches to Pittsburgh and Cleveland as well.

“There’s a significant increase in the awareness of the rich history and cultural hotspots the Capital District has to offer,” said DelMonte. “This has driven demand for quality hotels that are in close proximity to these attractions for visitors.”

By Paul Post

A Florida firm is creating more opportunities for affordable vacations in the pricey Saratoga market by almost doubling the size of a local recreational vehicle park.

Saratoga RV Park, on Route 50 just south of Gansevoort, is growing from 154 to 297 sites to keep up with fast-paced demand for both long-term seasonal and shorter, transient-type stays.

“It’s a substantial undertaking,” said Richard O’Brien, CEO and founder of Orlando-based Athena Real Estate, the park’s owner. “RV ownership has greatly increased, some of it driven by demand during the pandemic, folks looking to have leisure activity close to nature. 

“This provides an affordable vacation for the wonderful summer activities that Saratoga Springs offers. Part of it is the track and track season. In addition there’s a beautiful downtown with tremendous restaurants We also have the (Saratoga Spa) state park with its springs and concert series.”

Work is already under way and some sites should be ready by April, when the park opens, with the rest scheduled for completion in 2024. 

“It essentially means putting in roads, sites, gravel for each site, utilities, bathhouses and we plan to expand our swimming pool,” O’Brien said. “We have a strong cadre of local contractors.”

By Susan Elise Campbell

Life Made Simple Boutique, a retail gift shop that opened in Burnt Hills two years ago, now has a second shop in the Wilton Mall on Route 50. 

Owner Nicole Wilson said that despite “a scary economy,” she opened a second store in the mall, where there is “a diversity of stores and services, including Saratoga Hospital, to attract customers.”

Wilson is also hoping to benefit from increased traffic if and when the proposal to construct apartment buildings behind the mall, now under review, is approved.

“I decided in July that despite slow sales earlier in the year, I was motivated to open a second store,” said Wilson. A month later the second boutique had taken up residency at the mall.

“I love retail, shopping for retail, stocking funny and sarcastic items, and hearing customers laugh,” she said. “People are feeling stressed out these days and we have items that cheer them up.”

BST & Co. CPAs, LLP, an accounting and management consulting firm, has merged with O’Connor & O’Connor CPAs, an Albany-based accounting firm that has served clients in the Capital Region and beyond for more than half a century.

O’Connor & O’Connor CPAs offers a variety of professional accounting, financial and tax services to businesses and nonprofit organizations. The team, comprised of four CPAs and administrative staff, counts small businesses, professional service firms, professional athletes, medical practices, real estate agencies, and individuals among its clients. 

As the business has grown, its needs have evolved, prompting leadership to seek a like-minded business partner poised for exceptional future growth.

“BST is thrilled to join forces with O’Connor & O’Connor CPAs, whose culture, clients and reputation are second to none. John and I have known each other professionally and socially for 35 years and we are excited for our firms to come together at this time,” said Ron Guzior, BST & Co. managing partner. “We are confident that the many years of expertise the veteran tax specialists from O’Connor & O’Connor bring to our team will benefit our existing clients and enable us to cultivate deeper relationships through expanded solutions for O’Connor & O’Connor clients.”

O’Connor & O’Connor CPAs was originally established more than five decades ago as a part-time practice under the sole leadership of John V. O’Connor Sr., a full-time professor of accounting and taxation at UAlbany and Siena College. After earning his degree from St. Bonaventure University and getting licensed as a Certified Public Accountant, his son John V. O’Connor Jr. joined the firm in 1981. 

By Jill Nagy

Breanna Chiarello calls herself a “jewelry concierge.”  

She is in the business of helping people turn their jewelry ideas into reality at Her Rock Jewelry, recently opened at 10 Lake Ave. in Saratoga Springs.  

Chiarello interviews prospective customers about their preferences and price range and then meets with them in person. At the meeting, she presents some stones and sample settings that meet the customer’s specifications. After the customer chooses the desired combination, the jewelry is made to order and delivered in three to four weeks. 

The shop sells about 30 rings monthly, Chiarello estimates.

She tries to provide a quiet intimate setting for the meetings. Her suite of offices includes a conference room, a showroom, and her office.

Her Rock specializes in diamond engagement rings, most of them sporting “lab diamonds,” which are manufactured in New York City, not dug out of the ground.