SYRACUSE, N.Y. —Syracuse has one more reason to be proud. Marriott Syracuse Downtown (formerly Hotel Syracuse) was recently recognized as the Best City Center Historic hotel in the nation by Historic Hotels of America (HHA).
The award was presented on Sept. 28 at a gala dinner held at the Omni Homestead Resort in Hot Springs, Virginia before an audience of owners, senior management, industry leaders and representatives of the finest historic hotels around the world. Owner Ed Riley was on hand to accept the award.
Award recipients were selected from more than 200 nominees received from historic hotels, historic preservation supporters, prior award recipients, community leaders, and leadership from Historic Hotels of America and Historic Hotels Worldwide.
“Our sincere congratulations go out to Ed and to the entire team at Marriott Syracuse Downtown. The reopening of the former Hotel Syracuse has been transformative for Downtown Syracuse economically and has touched the lives of many who have worked, stayed, and celebrated major life milestones at the hotel. Without Ed’s energy, passion, and dedication for his hometown, the restoration of this historical and architectural treasure – which for nearly a century has served as a pillar to our community – would not have happened. We at M&T are proud of our long-time relationship with Ed and his team,” said Allen Naples, M&T Bank, regional president for Syracuse.
Riley, a long-time M&T customer, was the driving force behind the rejuvenation of the former Hotel Syracuse, which opened in 1924 and served as the grand lady of Syracuse hotels for many decades before closing in 2004.
The property was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2008. Riley, of Camillus, acquired the hotel in 2014 and pledged to restore it to its former glory. Following a two-year, $80 million restoration, with support from M&T Bank, the hotel reopened to great fanfare in August 2016 as Marriott Syracuse Downtown, a full-service hotel, with 261 fully modern rooms, a meticulously restored lobby, magnificent Grand Ballroom, Persian Terrace Ballroom and other common areas and function rooms.
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M&T Bank Corporation is a financial holding company headquartered in Buffalo, New York. M&T’s principal banking subsidiary, M&T Bank, operates banking offices in New York, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Connecticut, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia. Trust-related services are provided by M&T’s Wilmington Trust-affiliated companies and by M&T Bank.
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