SYRACUSE, NY–The Marriott Syracuse Downtown, formerly the Hotel Syracuse, is nearing the final stages of its $70-million restoration.
Over the last 20 years, the hotel fell into disrepair until it was purchased in 2014 by Ed Riley, a local resident, hotel developer and leader of the project, with the assistance of the Syracuse Industrial Development Agency. In 2015, Riley entered into a licensing agreement with Marriott International and selected Crescent Hotels & Resorts to be the manager, changing the name from Hotel Syracuse to the Marriott Syracuse Downtown.
“This hotel is a huge part of the city’s history, but it was in such bad shape,” said Riley. “Not too many people would take on this project, but I had to help rescue it.”
Some of the high-profile guests that spent time at the hotel included President John F. Kennedy, President Dwight Eisenhower, Elvis Presley, Bob Hope, Charles Lindbergh and John Lennon.
As the hotel restoration nears its completion, Riley and his team have uncovered a barbershop, covered windows and balconies, and the original terrazzo floors of the Rainbow Lounge. The restored property will feature 261 guestrooms and 18 suites, three ballrooms, a conference center, full-service restaurant, sports bar, steak house and coffee shop. Terrazzo floors and 20-ft. columns adorn the lobby along with murals on the ceilings and behind the front desk and restored original 1924 chandeliers. The rooms will have been renovated and updated, but the original servidors will remain on the guestroom doorways.
Event spaces include a completely modernized Imperial Ballroom, now called the Finger Lakes Ballroom; the Persian Terrace; and Grand Ballroom. In addition, there are eight meeting rooms in the conference center. Meetings and events will be staffed by meeting specialists and supported by state-of-the-art services ranging from high-speed wireless Internet to built-in video systems for presentations and videoconferences, ergonomically outfitted conference rooms, and carefully calibrated acoustics and lighting. Overall, the Marriott Syracuse Downtown will offer 43,000 sq. ft. of flexible meeting space and dedicated F&B service.