“It’s been an uphill battle for us, but we’re excited to be here,” says Randy Nogueira, general manager of the new Hampton Inn by Hilton that recently opened at 4 South Putt Corners Road in New Paltz. “We want to be a part of the local community, and we want the community to be a part of us.”
Hampton Inns in general are all about reflecting the character of the towns they’re in, he adds, but that philosophy is being attended to perhaps even more than usual in New Paltz. In their efforts to be a good neighbor, they’ve even cleaned up the cemetery located adjacent to the hotel — clearing out five feet of overgrown weeds and having a mason fix the walls — to preserve that part of New Paltz history.
The hotel décor features photographs of local sights, and the 24/7 snack bar behind the front desk carries items produced locally. “We encourage our guests to frequent the local shops and restaurants, and we visit those ourselves so we know where to send people,” says Nogueira. “We’re also interested in hearing from any of the restaurants that do local deliveries, because sometimes businesspeople staying in a hotel don’t want to go out again after working all day and they’d rather eat here.”
The main floor features a large, open communal space with plenty of tables and chairs to dine at. There’s also a television and a breakfast bar at the far end where guests are served a complimentary breakfast buffet from 6-10 a.m. The Hampton Inn does not have its own full service restaurant, but it is located next door to Novella’s catering facility, with their restaurant, The Grille at Novella’s, and it’s not far from the village with all of its restaurants.
Located a mile north of the SUNY New Paltz campus, the hotel opened on December 19. The three-story structure with 86 rooms has many energy efficient features, including rotational air vents that filter fresh air throughout the building, thermostats on Wi-Fi so the front desk can close off heat to empty rooms and a water filtration system located underground that separates rainwater and melting snow into a separate well to be used for gardening and landscaping purposes. All of the light fixtures inside the building as well as the outside parking lights use energy efficient LED bulbs. The saltwater heated swimming pool, too, off the lobby, has efficiency features and uses a minimal amount of chlorine for sterilization.
“We care about the environment, and we want to go above and beyond with that,” says Nogueira. “Everything has been designed to make it as eco-friendly as possible. We know that’s what New Paltz wants from us. We’re big on recycling, too, and don’t want to waste anything.”
Even the leftover food from the breakfast buffet goes to the staff so it doesn’t get thrown out.
The Hampton Inn by Hilton offers visitors a mid-range option for hotel stays that has not been available in New Paltz before. They’re a family-friendly operation, says Nogueira, that will cater to the families that come to town to visit their children attending SUNY New Paltz, as well as tourists attending the various events held in the region. The college has guest speakers and lecturers, too, who travel to make presentations at the campus who will now more easily find local accommodations.
The lobby is equipped with a gas fireplace, adding a welcome bit of warmth on a recent visit after a snowstorm. The main floor has a 24/7 fitness center with all the gym equipment most people would expect — treadmills, bicycles and lifting equipment — and visitors can get headphones to watch the televisions while working out.
Down the hall is a conference room that seats 92; it can be rented out for small private parties, as well. There is also a small boardroom with a long table seating 12 that contains up-to-date audio/visual equipment and a quiet “business center” available 24/7 with several computers where guests can shut the door and go online to work peacefully.
Guest rooms offer free Wi-Fi along with a 46-inch HD television, microwave, mini-refrigerator and coffeemaker. There are handicapped accessible rooms with roll-in showers and hearing-accessible rooms are also available.
Future initiatives include offering bicycles for guest use and working with local food kitchens and pantries. “Part of Hampton Inn’s drive to be a part of the communities they’re in is giving back,” says Nogueira. “Reaching out and helping others in need, when needed. We have one campaign where we save all the unused bars of soap and beauty products to ship to an organization that recycles them and distributes them free to third world countries.”
The hotel has provided approximately 35 local jobs, according to Nogueira, with most of the employees based in the New Paltz area. “Everyone on our staff was handpicked for a reason, chosen for their character, and they will bring that to our guests, and make sure they always leave happy. They also all have that drive to be part of the community, and want to be involved with reaching out and helping. We haven’t had the chance yet, but we’re looking forward to working with everybody.”
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