For over a year, the re-branded Saratoga Casino Hotel has been under construction as part of a project to unify Vapor, its casino, harness track, dining outlets, and new luxury hotel. On July 6, there was a ribbon cutting ceremony to commemorate the opening of the 117-room hotel and the wide variety of amenities it has to offer.
The $40 million luxury hotel project began back in May 2015, and it was led by Consigli Construction and Tishman Construction. About 700 construction jobs were created during that time, and almost 200,000 man hours were utilized. Over $22 million was used to hire subcontractors from the Capital Region. Overall, the 13 months of construction have had a positive effect on the local economy.
The design of the new hotel was inspired by local Victorian architecture. However, the hotel is a modern interpretation of this older style, and JCJ Architecture helped ensure the interior and exterior designs integrated with the existing casino, harness track, dining, and entertainment services.
Now that construction of the new and improved Saratoga Casino Hotel is complete, guests will have the opportunity to see what has changed at the entertainment hotspot. Aside from the addition of 117 luxury rooms, the hotel includes 13 premium suites, Morton’s® The Steakhouse, Perks Cafe, which serves Starbucks® products, an outdoor terrace, fitness center, lobby bar, an indoor resort pool with a spa whirlpool, and a grand ballroom for events and meetings.
In a press release, Saratoga Casino Hotel General Manager Tom Wiedmayer said, “we are now a dynamic entertainment destination offering something for everyone, and providing guests with yet another reason to visit Saratoga Springs all year long.”
Indeed, guests at the new hotel will have easy access to both the Saratoga Race Course and its own 75-year old harness track. From March – December, guests will be able to watch and wager on races from the comfort of their hotel room by using SaratogaBets, the Saratoga Casino Hotel’s own online betting service.
Ever since 2004, the Saratoga Casino Hotel, then known as Saratoga Gaming and Raceway, has been a prominent feature of Spa City. It has generated nearly $800 million for statewide education, and just last year, it generated $244 million in statewide economic output.
With the opening of its new expansion, the Saratoga Casino Hotel hopes to continue to establish itself as a prime entertainment venue in the region.
