Renovated Crowne Plaza ready for debut

New entrance to former Holiday Inn

The former Holiday Inn in Suffern was supposed to open its renovated  doors to its  newly named and renovated hotel and conference center March 1.  Like many construction projects, there”™s always the chance it might not be completed on time.

That”™s the case with Rockland”™s new Crowne Plaza, which has been undergoing a $15 million makeover since August 2010. But it”™s  ready now, putting on last minute touches to open the hotel on Friday, April 1.

For those who remember the former Holiday Inn at Exit 14B off the Thruway, the new hotel is going to be a superior  addition to the region”™s conference and meeting space. When the former Holiday Inn was in its heyday, the hotel was popular for its indoor swimming area, “but times changed and so did the needs of the clientele,” said Josh Goldstein, one of the family members that owns the new hotel while touring the building  in January. (See HV Biz  Jan. 17, 2011 edition)

Gone is the swimming pool, replaced by a sizable and stylish koi pond with a 15-foot waterfall and a new bar with seating area. Comfortable lounging and “quiet areas” in the spacious lobby are complemented by a new full-service restaurant.

For businesses looking for a conferencing spot or to hold an event ”“ even one that can fit up to 800 people ”“ the new Crowne Plaza will meet that requirement.  Its conferencing areas can be partitioned off or opened to create one large space, and three small executive suites are available for private business meetings, adding up to a total of 25,000 feet of new conferencing space for the mid-Hudson region.

The Goldstein family, which has been involved in Rockland real estate for more than five decades, hoped to have the new Crowne Plaza open and ready for business by March 1. Now, it”™s been pushed back to April 1, but this time, expect no delays.

“Holidome”™s” former enclosed swimming area is now upscale lounge/bar/restaurant area for hotel guests.

Wi-Fi throughout, teleconferencing and 229 new guest suites are part of the full-service hotel, which offers a complete  business center and  same-day valet service, all in a 100 percent “smoke free” environment.

To visit the new hotel and plan your next event, the sales director, Naji Salibia, is available at dos@cpsuffernhotel.com or (845) 357-4800. The hotel”™s new website, cpsuffernhotel.com, is under construction but expects to make its debut the same day the hotel officially opens its doors. Pacrim International, which oversaw the entire  renovation, will continue to operate the hotel on a day-to-day basis.