Marriott Syracuse Downtown

Marriott Syracuse Downtown is a historic hotel at 100 East Onondaga Street in downtown Syracuse, New York. The property opened on August 16, 1924, as Hotel Syracuse and became one of the city's principal hospitality and social landmarks. Its design was prepared by William Stone Post of the New York architectural firm George B. Post & Sons, whose work gave the building an important place in the development of early twentieth-century American hotel architecture. The hotel was conceived as a large urban property serving travelers, civic functions, banquets, and major social events, rather than simply as a small local inn. The hotel held its formal opening in September 1924 with a dinner for stockholders in the Grand Ballroom. Its early public profile was reinforced by notable visitors, including child actor Jackie Coogan on the opening day and aviator Charles Lindbergh in 1927, when he visited to discuss his transatlantic flight. Over time, the complex expanded beyond its original configuration. In 1980 it was renamed Hilton at Syracuse Square and received an addition that included the Imperial Ballroom and a tower wing designed by William B. Tabler. The property later left Hilton, resumed the Hotel Syracuse name, and ultimately declined after years of operational and financial difficulties. The hotel, once containing approximately 790 rooms, closed in 2004 after entering bankruptcy. A settlement concerning unpaid property taxes helped resolve an immediate obstacle to the property's emergence from bankruptcy, but several proposed redevelopment schemes failed to restore the entire complex. Plans announced in the mid-2000s contemplated a mixture of hotel rooms, condominiums, apartments, banquet facilities, retail space, parking, a pool, and a gym. Ownership changed from GMUL to AMERIS Holdings in 2006, and some facilities, including the garage and banquet areas, were reopened or renovated. The property was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2008. AMERIS later entered bankruptcy, leaving the conversion of the tower incomplete. The tower, later called Symphony Tower, was separated from the historic hotel complex and sold in 2012. Its subsequent vacancy and litigation distinguished it from the main hotel restoration. A new redevelopment effort emerged in 2013 when Pyramid Hotel Group proposed rehabilitating the property as a convention-oriented hotel near the Nicholas J. Pirro Convention Center. Ed Riley acquired the hotel in 2014, and a restoration project began in 2015. The approximately $57 million project created 261 guest rooms, modernized the building's systems and accommodations, and restored major historic public rooms while preserving the property's architectural character. The property adopted the Marriott Syracuse Downtown name on June 25, 2015, while work was still under way, and reopened on August 19, 2016. The restoration shifted the principal entrance from South Warren Street to East Onondaga Street and repositioned the hotel for convention, wedding, banquet, business, and leisure use. The restored hotel was subsequently admitted to Historic Hotels of America, the National Trust for Historic Preservation program recognizing historically significant lodging properties. Its present identity combines an individual historic property with Marriott affiliation and a business model centered on lodging, meetings, events, food and beverage, and downtown destination hospitality.

Marriott Syracuse Downtown began as Hotel Syracuse, a major early twentieth-century hotel in central Syracuse, New York. The building was designed in 1921 by William Stone Post of George B. Post & Sons, a prominent New York architectural practice. Construction started in 1922, and the hotel opened for business on August 16, 1924. Its formal inauguration followed on September 18 with a stockholders' dinner in the Grand Ballroom. The scale and design of the building reflected the period's ambition to make large downtown hotels civic and commercial gathering places as well as places to sleep. The hotel quickly became part of Syracuse's public life. Jackie Coogan was among its first-day guests, and Charles Lindbergh visited in 1927 to speak about his celebrated transatlantic flight. The property was known for its extensive accommodations and grand event rooms. In 1980, it became Hilton at Syracuse Square. This phase brought an expansion that included the Imperial Ballroom and a tower addition designed by William B. Tabler. The hotel later departed from Hilton and returned to the Hotel Syracuse name. By the early 2000s, the approximately 790-room property was struggling financially. It closed in 2004 and entered bankruptcy. In December of that year, a payment by the principal creditor helped settle a dispute over unpaid property taxes and removed one barrier to further redevelopment. A series of plans followed. In 2005, GMUL proposed turning the complex into a mixed-use destination with a business hotel, condominiums, apartments, restored banquet rooms, storefronts, a rehabilitated garage, a pool, and a gym. After AMERIS Holdings acquired the property in 2006, the residential arrangement was modified and several parts of the complex returned to use. Banquet facilities reopened, the garage was renovated, and the property hosted events including the Syracuse Film Festival in 2007. The redevelopment did not reach completion. AMERIS entered bankruptcy in 2008, leaving work on the 1980 tower substantially unfinished. The tower, later renamed Symphony Tower, was separated from the historic hotel and sold to Hayner Hoyt Corporation for $1.4 million in 2012. The sale became the subject of extended litigation, and the tower remained vacant as of the source material's 2022 account. The tower's separate trajectory should not be confused with the restored main hotel. A new restoration effort was proposed in 2013 by Boston-based Pyramid Hotel Group. The proposal envisioned a reopened property of approximately 260 to 280 rooms and emphasized the hotel's proximity to the Nicholas J. Pirro Convention Center. Ed Riley acquired the hotel in 2014. In 2015, restoration work began with a reported project cost of approximately $57 million. The project delivered 261 guest rooms, updated outdated and undersized accommodations, improved bathrooms and building systems, and renewed the lobby and major ballrooms while retaining their historic character. On June 25, 2015, the property was renamed Marriott Syracuse Downtown. The main entrance was relocated from 500 South Warren Street to 100 East Onondaga Street, and the restored hotel reopened on August 19, 2016. It subsequently joined Historic Hotels of America, a National Trust for Historic Preservation program. The modern property operates as a full-service Marriott-affiliated hotel, combining lodging with meetings, conventions, banquets, weddings, food and beverage, and other downtown hospitality services.

• 2016

  Restored hotel reopens

  [1]Marriott Syracuse Downtownen.wikipedia.org

  The property reopened on August 19 after a major restoration and later joined Historic Hotels of America.

• 2015

  Marriott Syracuse Downtown identity introduced

  [1]Marriott Syracuse Downtownen.wikipedia.org

  The historic hotel adopted its current Marriott Syracuse Downtown name during restoration.

• 2014

  Ed Riley acquires the hotel

  [1]Marriott Syracuse Downtownen.wikipedia.org

  The property changed hands ahead of the restoration that ultimately returned it to hotel operation.

• 2008

  Historic-register listing

  [1]Marriott Syracuse Downtownen.wikipedia.org

  Hotel Syracuse was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

• 2004

  Closure and bankruptcy

  [1]Marriott Syracuse Downtownen.wikipedia.org

  The hotel closed after financial difficulties and entered bankruptcy.

• 1980

  Hilton-era expansion

  [1]Marriott Syracuse Downtownen.wikipedia.org

  The property became Hilton at Syracuse Square and gained the Imperial Ballroom and a tower wing.

• 1927

  Charles Lindbergh visits

  [1]Marriott Syracuse Downtownen.wikipedia.org

  Charles Lindbergh visited the hotel to discuss his transatlantic flight.

• 1924

  Hotel Syracuse opens

  [1]Marriott Syracuse Downtownen.wikipedia.org

  The hotel opened on August 16, followed by its formal opening event in September.

• 1922

  Construction begins

  [1]Marriott Syracuse Downtownen.wikipedia.org

  Ground was broken for the downtown Syracuse hotel.

• 1921

  Design commissioned from George B. Post & Sons

  [1]Marriott Syracuse Downtownen.wikipedia.org

  William Stone Post designed the hotel for George B. Post & Sons, establishing the architectural basis for the future Hotel Syracuse.

A full-service, convention-oriented historic hotel that pairs early twentieth-century architecture and restored landmark interiors with contemporary Marriott hospitality in downtown Syracuse.

• Hotel accommodation · 2016

  Guest rooms and suites

  The restored hotel provides 261 guest rooms in a historic downtown building. The 2015–2016 rehabilitation addressed outdated, undersized rooms and bathrooms while retaining the property's architectural identity and adapting it for contemporary full-service hospitality.

• Events and banquets · 1924

  Grand Ballroom

  The Grand Ballroom is one of the property's defining historic public spaces. It hosted the hotel's first formal opening event in 1924 and remains part of the restored venue portfolio for conventions, weddings, banquets, and large social gatherings.

• Events and banquets · 1980

  Imperial Ballroom

  Added during the 1980 expansion, the Imperial Ballroom broadened the complex's capacity for large meetings and events. It was included among the public spaces renewed during the later restoration.

• Business hospitality · 2016

  Meetings and convention services

  The hotel's downtown location near the Nicholas J. Pirro Convention Center supports group accommodation, meetings, conventions, and related event services. Its restoration was partly justified by the need for a nearby convention-oriented hotel.

• 2015

  Adopt Marriott Syracuse Downtown identityProduct launch

  Background

  The property was being comprehensively restored after more than a decade of closure.

  Action taken

  The hotel changed its name from Hotel Syracuse to Marriott Syracuse Downtown and joined the Marriott chain.

  Aftermath

  The renamed hotel reopened in 2016 as a restored, Marriott-affiliated full-service property.

  Source

• 2013

  Propose convention-oriented restorationStrategy

  Background

  The city sought a hotel capable of complementing the nearby Nicholas J. Pirro Convention Center.

  Action taken

  Pyramid Hotel Group proposed restoring and reopening the property with approximately 260 to 280 rooms.

  Aftermath

  Ed Riley acquired the hotel in 2014 and proceeded with a major restoration.

  Source

• 2005

  Pursue mixed-use redevelopmentStrategy

  Background

  After closure and bankruptcy, the property required a new use and substantial investment.

  Action taken

  GMUL proposed combining a business hotel with condominiums, apartments, restored event facilities, retail, parking, a pool, and a gym.

  Aftermath

  Ownership changed and the plan was revised; the overall redevelopment was not completed before AMERIS entered bankruptcy.

  Source

• 1980

  Expand and reposition the property under HiltonGeneration change

  Background

  The hotel pursued a larger branded configuration as downtown hospitality demand evolved.

  Action taken

  It became Hilton at Syracuse Square and added the Imperial Ballroom and a new tower wing.

  Aftermath

  The property later left Hilton and returned to the Hotel Syracuse name.

  Source

1. 1Marriott Syracuse Downtownen.wikipedia.org