Ribbon Cutting on New Fairfield Inn & Suites in Niagara Falls

Construction is now complete on the new $7 million Fairfield Inn & Suites hotel in Niagara Falls. The 46,000 square feet, 76-room hotel builds on the growing momentum in downtown Niagara Falls. The project is expected to create 14 new full-time jobs. Joined by state and local leaders, Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul today marked the occasion with a ribbon cutting on the formerly vacant lots on Rainbow Boulevard.

“Niagara Falls is one of our state’s premier tourist destinations and by adding more high quality hotel capacity in the heart of the city, we are making it easier to market all that the region has to offer,” Governor Cuomo said. “The Fairfield Inn & Suites will build on our efforts to ensure Niagara Falls’ tourism industry remains a thriving economic engine for years to come.”

“Today confirms our commitment to maintaining Niagara Falls as a world-class tourism hub and gateway to New York State,” said Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul. “The Fairfield Inn & Suites revitalizes property at the heart of the downtown business district and gives visitors more excellent options to choose from as they experience the natural wonders and attractions our region has to offer.”

“It is a pleasure and honor to open the first Marriott hotel in downtown Niagara Falls, New York,” said Sai Lodging LLC Owner Ricky Patel.

Sai Lodging is the developer of the hotel. The project site is a significant parcel in the heart of the city’s downtown tourist district and is located in close proximity to Niagara Falls State Park, the Conference & Events Center Niagara Falls, the Seneca Niagara Casino complex and a number of other downtown hospitality establishments.

The project will create new jobs, increase bed tax revenue and expand the city’s inventory of quality hotel rooms. In addition, the project will contribute to creating a dense urban corridor along Rainbow Boulevard. USA Niagara Development Corporation, a subsidiary of Empire State Development, provided a $125,000 grant for reimbursement of a portion of the capital improvement costs. Photos of the project are available here.

“With so much new development occurring in Niagara Falls, it’s no surprise that SAI Lodgings decided to build a new the Fairfield Inn & Suites in the heart of the downtown area,” said Empire State Development President, CEO & Commissioner Howard Zemsky. “We are working day in and day out to create new ways to attract visitors who want to experience the unparalleled beauty of Niagara Falls and then stay to explore the region.”

Senator Rob Ortt said, “It’s encouraging to see the revitalization of downtown Niagara Falls take shape with new development that paves the way for a renewed sense of hope for our economy. The Fairfield Inn & Suites hotel will help to bring more growth to the area, attract more tourists and allow them to stay longer, and create more jobs. I look forward to seeing the positive economic impacts of this hotel in the coming years.”

Assemblyman John Ceretto said, “Once again, we have another recent example of economic revitalization in downtown Niagara Falls. This project will create jobs in the city, enhance our tourism industry, and extend visitor stays. I cannot wait to see our city and our region benefit from this new commercial growth and new private sector investment.”

City of Niagara Falls Mayor Paul Dyster said, “We’re so happy to have yet another hotel built in our city. We want to thank Governor Cuomo, USA Niagara and Mr. Patel for their continued commitment to ensuring Niagara Falls is a world-class tourism destination. Thanks to their confidence in our city, this new hotel will offer guests another high quality lodging option as they enjoy all that our city and region has to offer.”

Including the Fairfield Inn & Suites, downtown Niagara Falls has five new hotels recently completed or currently under construction and one hotel renovation/retail expansion project, totaling nearly 600 new rooms and more than $90 million in total project costs. USA Niagara Development Corporation (USAN), a subsidiary of Empire State Development, has also acquired the historic Hotel Niagara for future development and USAN is working on a development agreement for the Wonder Falls Resort, a proposed adaptive reuse of the former Rainbow Centre Mall that has a hotel component.

New York State is also investing more than $60 million in infrastructure improvements for the Niagara Scenic Parkway (formerly known as the Robert Moses Parkway). The southern section (Riverway Project), with full completion expected in spring 2017, includes $18.8 million to enhance access to the waterfront and to Niagara Falls State Park. This will boost tourism by facilitating hiking, biking, fishing and cross-country skiing, all accessible from city streets for the first time in more than 50 years. The northern section involves removal of an underutilized two-mile segment from Main Street to Findlay Drive to be replaced with open space, scenic overlooks and recreational trails to make the waterfront more accessible. The $42 million project marks the largest expansion of green space since the Niagara Reservation was designed in 1885 and will link the Niagara River Gorge and Falls into a single destination to allow easier access to the water’s edge.