When it opens this summer in downtown Syracuse, NY, the Marriott Syracuse Downtown will be ready for groups, promised the hotel, which announced yesterday that it has begun accepting reservations for events taking place at the city's Onondaga County Convention Center -- also known as The Oncenter Convention Center -- beginning in June 2016.
Formerly the historic Hotel Syracuse, the property is currently in the midst of a massive, $70 million restoration, its first major renovation since opening in 1924. As a result of its transformation, the county government in December 2014 named it the official headquarters hotel of The Oncenter.
"The county of Onondaga and the State of New York has supported us throughout the entire restoration process, and now we're preparing to give back," said Ed Riley, hotel owner and leader of the restoration. "As the headquarters hotel for The Oncenter, we'll be able to provide visitors to our city with a premier, must-experience hotel in downtown Syracuse that has modern facilities for large corporate and social events."
Added Kelly Carr, general manager of The Oncenter, "Our partnership with the Marriott Syracuse Downtown allows us to provide even greater options for meetings planners and large associations and groups coming to Syracuse. Between the Oncenter and Marriott Syracuse Downtown, we will now be able host larger local, regional, and national conventions, trade shows, and meetings."
Pursuant to its distinction as the headquarters hotel for The Oncenter, the hotel said it plans to seek accreditation from the International Association of Conference Centres (IACC).
"The IACC guidelines are followed by the best meeting facilities in the world," said Paul McNeil, the hotel's general manager. "We're fulfilling these requirements with skilled staff members, state-of-the-art high-tech services ranging from high-speed wireless Internet to built-in video systems for presentations and videoconferences, carefully calibrated acoustics and lighting, over 41,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, in addition to what is located in The Oncenter, and dedicated food and beverage service."
Upon completion, the Marriott Syracuse Downtown will offer 261 guest rooms and 18 suites, three ballrooms, a conference center, a full-service restaurant, a sports bar, a steakhouse, and a coffee shop.
MeetingNews Minute is now 30 Seconds to Smart. Up your meetings-industry IQ now!