The Chautauqua Harbor Hotel (image from Facebook)
CELORON, NY – The brand new Chautauqua Harbor Hotel is now open for business.
On Thursday afternoon dozens of local officials and community members joined the developers of the project in Lucille Ball’s hometown of Celoron, NY for an official ribbon-cutting to open the $38 million, 130,000 sq-ft facility – which features 135 rooms and large banquet room, and other amenities.
Among those on hand was Chautauqua County Executive George Borrello.
“Today we celebrate this grand opening of this grand hotel,” Borrello said. “This is the single largest investment in hospitality ever in Chautauqua County at nearly $40 million. This is a huge step forward for us. It really is a quantum leap for Chautauqua County and Chautauqua Lake when it comes to the hospitality industry.”
Joining Borrello was Krog Group CEO Peter Krog, who’s company developed the project, along with David Hart, president of Hart Hotels, which will own and operate the facility.
“We know from experience that the hotel will be a big economic generator,” Hart said. “It will significantly increase the transnational tax activities – sales tax and bed tax. It will add significantly to the employment ranks here. And if you don’t know, this will be a 365-day facility, meaning we will be open every day of the year.”
Hart also said that now that the hotel is part of Chautauqua Lake, he wants to be part of the ongoing discussion focusing on the health of natural resource.
“Peter and I are committed to using our platform with this new development to help coalesce all the various parties and the things that they think will help treat the water properly to get it to the quality that we all want and want to enjoy – whether it be fishing, or boating, or sunset watching… I think everybody’s got an idea worth listening to and we think this hotel will shine a light on those issues,” Hart said.
Celoron Mayor Scott Schrecengost was also on hand and said the opening was the culmination of years of planning by the village.
The project was supported with several local and state development incentives, including state grants totaling more than $1.9 million and a Community Development Block Award from New York State Homes and Community Renewal for $750,000. The Chautauqua County IDA also offered incentives, including waivers on mortgage tax and sales tax and a 15-year payment in lieu of taxes agreement.
Approximately 110 full-time jobs will be supported at Chautauqua Harbor.
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