In the past year, two hotels have sprung up in Yonkers ”“ and businesses have recognized the benefits of having meetings close by.
“It”™s a little slow, but this year is shaping up to be better than last year for business travel into Westchester County,” said Lisa Keppler, director of sales at the Residence Inn by Marriott at 7 Executive Blvd. “We”™re happy with our growth in Yonkers. With two new hotels here, I think people are looking at Yonkers as an alternative to Manhattan, and people who were staying in the Tarrytown-area hotels are coming back to the Yonkers area. Now they have choices.”
Keppler said although the hotel”™s weekend business is “definitely leisure travel right now,” local companies have taken advantage of the hotel”™s conference room for meetings.
“We have been developing relationships with all the local businesses in Yonkers and inviting them to come for hotel tours,” Keppler said. “I think we”™re moving in the right direction in 2010.”
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Both hotels were projects by the Yonkers Industrial Development Agency (IDA).
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Incentives provided for both hotels included a payment in lieu of real property taxes (PILOT) agreement, mortgage recording tax exemption and sales and use tax exemption for construction materials. According to the IDA, each project created at least 40 permanent jobs.
“The openings of these new hotels ”“ the first in nearly fifty years ”“ are two great boosts for Yonkers,” said Ellen Lynch, president and CEO of the Yonkers IDA. “These hotels solidify the city”™s position as a premier business travel hub for Westchester, attracting travelers from across the region, as well as generating jobs and tax revenue. They are terrific examples of how the Yonkers IDA works with businesses to enable them to grow and prosper.”
The $31 million Residence Inn by Marriott opened in October. The 144-room, four-story hotel features 117 studios, 19 one-bedroom and eight two-bedroom accommodations equipped with full kitchens. The hotel also offers a business center, meeting facilities, on-site parking, a fitness center, an indoor pool and complimentary breakfast for guests. Shuttle service to destinations within five miles is also available. The hotel was designed by Boston-based Group One Inc. and developed by an affiliate of Overland Park, Kan.-based True North Hotel Group.
The $23 million Hampton Inn & Suites, a four-story, 150-room hotel at 160 Corporate Blvd., includes nearly 40 suites and 110 deluxe rooms. Amenities include a business center, meeting facilities, on-site parking, a fitness center, an indoor pool and a cocktail lounge. Complimentary shuttle service for guests to local businesses and transportation hubs is also available. The project was developed by FSG Yonkers Hotels L.L.C., a joint venture of New York City-based RD Management L.L.C. and Manchester, N.H.-based S&S Hotels. Construction began in March 2008 and the hotel opened last June.
