KIAMISHA LAKE, NY Despite previous reports from the Associated Press that the former Concord Hotel here will be renamed the Westin Turnberry Golf Resort and Spa, Felix Cacciato, vp/acquisitions and development for Starwood, said the name of the property is yet to be determined.
As previously reported by HOTEL BUSINESS., Westin was selected as the management company for the resort after months of negotiations with developers, Cappelli Enterprises.
The Associated Press reported on May 18 that the redeveloped Catskills resort would be modeled after Westins well-known Turnberry golf resort in Ayrshire, Scotland. However, according to Cacciato, Starwood has decided not to use the Turnberry name.
“Turnberry was considered,” he said. “But we didn t feel strong enough about using the name from a sales and marketing perspective. We thought it would be confusing.”
Currently, the Turnberry resort in Scotland is the only Starwood property that uses the name.
Cacciato noted that Starwood and Cappelli are currently discussing a new name for the property, and the Westin Resort & Spa and the Concord Hotel names are still in the running.
When developer Louis Cappelli bought the property in 1999, he said a new resort at the site would be called the Concord.
The resort, which was built in 1937 and is located 90 miles northwest of New York City, is expected to draw significant transient business from New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey.
“We re exited about the potential of the resort and its proximity to the New York City metro area and other parts of New England and Pennsylvania,” said Cacciato. “But the real client pull will be from the tri-state New York area.” (5/30/01) Diana M. Rodriguez