Operators of the new Marriott Syracuse Downtown opened the former Hotel Syracuse to the public last week, and are looking forward to their first full house this week.
Cheryl and George Ghindia of California were the first people to check in to the former Hotel Syracuse when it opened to the public on Friday.
"We just got our daughter over to LeMoyne. She’s a freshman in college. And we are about ready to say ‘so long’ to our oldest kid, so we wanted a special night here before we take off,” said George Ghindia.
The beginning of the fall semester at local colleges is also the reason the first no vacancy sign goes up at the hotel this week, according to hotel manager Paul McNeil.
"The first major day is next Wednesday is Syracuse University move-in day, which I’m learning about. And we are sold out," said McNeil.
Beyond that, McNeil says the hotel is getting a lot of wedding business, with 120 receptions already booked. And visitors like the Ghindias say they’ll be back. Cheryl Ghindia is from Chicago and she couldn’t stop admiring the restored chandeliers, and the historic mural that graces the check in desk.
"When I first drove into town, because I’ve never been to LeMoyne, or Syracuse, it just brought me back to Chicago, because I miss the buildings, and the architecture and the history, and Syracuse is just filled with it.”
