It may have taken Martin Milano a little more time than he counted on to get his new Hampton Inn in Central Valley open, but it”™s a welcome addition to a tourist area bereft of upscale hotels.
Donna Miranda, the hotel”™s general manager, spent more than 20 years in Manhattan”™s fashion industry before switching careers and getting into hospitality management. Making sure everything is chic and up to customer expectation at the 136-room hotel fits in nicely with her background. Most of the clientele coming through its doors have come specifically to shop at Woodbury Common Premium Outlets, just a half-mile down the road. Guests may leave in the morning empty handed, but come back laden with shopping bags from all-day extravaganzas at the popular shopping destination.
In addition to Outlet visitors, said Miranda, friends and families coming to West Point have another hotel option when it comes to making travel plans. “We”™re only about 10 miles from the academy, and we are located right near the entrance to the highway that takes visitors directly there, so we have been very busy since we opened Aug. 5.
“So many families from all over the country have been here attending events for their children as the school year starts, and with events going on all year, we expect we”™ll be seeing them come back to stay. We got very positive feedback from our guests.”
Until Milano”™s Hampton Inn opened, there were limited options for visitors to the Central Valley/Monroe area, particularly those who travel from as far away as Japan or South America specifically to shop one of New York”™s most popular tourist attractions. One choice was to take a bus up from New York City, shop and then get back on the bus. Now, shoppers can spend a few days in the area and take advantage of visiting other sites in the Hudson Valley between shopping sprees.
“The great thing about being manager here is that I am familiar with most of the designers who have stores there and I find it easy to work with the marketing team from the Common ”“ I am putting a little bit of my fashion background to use as well as helping our visitors get around. We run a shuttle bus all day that goes back and forth to the Common, and it”™s always on the go.
“Rather than coming up for the day and struggling with buses or sitting in traffic, visitors have a nice hotel to stay in that offers all the amenities today”™s travelers want ”“ wireless Internet throughout the hotel, a business center, an indoor pool and jacuzzi, along with an exercise center. We are planning a beautiful walking trail behind the hotel, which is wooded and private. It”™s very relaxing for guests, especially after a hectic shopping day.”
While the Hampton Inn is not a full-service hotel, it does offer a full breakfast every morning, said Miranda. “By the time our guests arrive back in the afternoon, they are ready to just relax; many of the local restaurants partner with us to offer specials for our guests. There are two restaurants within walking distance, Chicago Grill and Friday”™s, and both of them offer delivery service for our guests.”
Businesses can make use of the hotel”™s meeting space: one conference room can accommodate up to 40 people and can be opened up to include the dining and outdoor seating area. “We had one event here with 100 people, and it worked out nicely,” said Miranda. “We have a smaller meeting room on the third floor that accommodates 20 people and has a spectacular view of the mountains.”
In addition to the new Central Valley location, Milano also owns the Hampton Inn and Hilton Garden Inn in Newburgh near StewartAirport. “If someone calls and needs a room or perhaps a full-service hotel, which is available at the Hilton Garden, we can always accommodate them,” she said Miranda.
