Renovated Garden Plaza Hotel now part of Best Western chain
KINGSTON >> After a $6.2 million renovation, the Garden Plaza Hotel has completed its transition into a Best Western Plus hotel and conference center.
Located at 503 Washington Ave., the hotel features 208 guest rooms including five suites, according to a press release. Each of the rooms is equipped with a refrigerator, a microwave oven, a work desk and a 42-inch flat screen television with cable premium channels.
Hotel amenities include complimentary Wi-Fi Internet service throughout the building, a free hot breakfast, a new saltwater indoor heated pool and a natatorium with game room, and a newly designed onsite fitness center, according to the release. The facility also features a restaurant and bar, a complimentary 24hour business center and a convenience/ sundry shop. Additionally, the property has introduced more than 8,300 square feet of expanded function space, including new breakout rooms and a private dining room overlooking the courtyard.
“Best Western is proud to welcome the Best Western Plus Kingston Hotel & Conference Center to our chain,” Ron Pohl, vice president of North American development for Best Western International, said in the press release. “This property gives guests a quality lodging option when traveling to the Hudson Valley region.”
The local hotel is owned and operated by Cooper Hotels, which also owned the Garden Plaza Hotel. The facility had previously been a Holiday Inn, but changed over to the Garden Plaza in March 2013 while it underwent the makeover to a Best Western facility. The renovations were originally expected to be completed by the end of 2013, but the change to a Best Western Plus only became official on Jan. 16 of this year.
Terry Hendrix, who handles communications for Cooper Hotels, said there were no delays in the renovations, but the work took much longer than originally anticipated due to the extent of the project and the fact that the facility remained open for business.
“Quality was emphasized, so it took longer,” Hendrix said in an email.
There are currently 50 full-time and 25 part-time employees at the hotel, though, during peak times of the year, the business can employ as many as 100 and 125 people, Hendrix added. He said the hotel is still overseen by the same longtime management team it has had since it opened many years ago.