Delaware North on Thursday hosted New York state officials, local government, business and tourism leaders and representatives of Saratoga Spa State Park partner organizations for a ribbon-cutting and tour of The Gideon Putnam, which recently re-opened after renovations and restoration work.
The historic Saratoga Springs, N.Y., hotel closed Jan. 15 after major basement flooding from a water main break. The hotel reopened May 1 with new utility systems and renovated guest rooms, bathrooms, corridors, restaurant and lobby.
Delaware North, which operates the hotel for the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, determined it could use the opportunity of the hotel being closed due to the flood damage to simultaneously undertake planned guest room, corridor and other renovations.
“We could have just fixed the damage from the broken water main,” said Delaware North Co-CEO Jerry Jacobs Jr. “However, we are fortunate to have partners in New York State Parks that share our vision of continuous improvement and excellence. We therefore used this time to also renovate the hotel’s historic rooms. The end result is an enhanced visitor experience befitting this historic gem in Saratoga Springs.”
PHOTO CAPTION: Delaware North Co-CEO Jerry Jacobs Jr. (center) cuts the ribbon Thursday evening as part of the Grand Reopening Celebration for the historic Gideon Putnam Hotel in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. Pictured left to right are John Howard, general manager of The Gideon Putnam; Todd Shimkus, president of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce; state Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner; Scott Socha, president, and Paul Jeppson, east region vice president, both of Delaware North’s parks and resorts business; Jacobs; Jim Houser, Delaware North executive vice president and chief operation officer; John Lewis, deputy chief of staff to state Sen. Kathleen Marchione; Meg Kelly, mayor of Saratoga Springs; state Sen. James Tedisco; and Darryl Leggieri, president of Discover Saratoga.