New hotels expect sellouts for weekend

FINGER LAKES (8/3/16)--Summer is a busy time for hotels in the Finger Lakes region, and NASCAR weekend brings thousands of people to the area to see the races Thursday through Sunday, Aug. 4 through 7. Visitors will have several new hotel options this year with the completion of new hotels in the area. All of these hotels are expecting sellouts for the weekend, not just from NASCAR fans, but also for those visiting for weddings and other events.
The Hampton Inn in Penn Yan is one of two new hotels in the village. Michelle Radcliffe with the Hampton Inn said while a few rooms were still available last week, they fully expect to be sold out for NASCAR weekend. Radcliffe said the Hampton has been taking reservations for months now for Aug. 1 and beyond. The hotel has 72 rooms and is located between the Top of the Lake Restaurant and the Penn Yan Fireman's Field.
The Penn Yan Microtel along Elm Street in Penn Yan has sold out for the busy weekend, both Friday and Saturday night. Jessica Pulver said the rooms "sold pretty fast," but noted NASCAR was not the only reason. She said the sellout is attributed to weddings, with many of the guests who are booked for the weekend being part of the wedding attendance. The Microtel opened in late 2015.
The Best Western Plus in Hammondsport has only been open for less than a month, but is also expecting a sellout for Aug. 5 and 6. The new property had one available room as of Monday, Aug. 1 for NASCAR weekend. The three-story hotel has 61 rooms and is located along Route 54.
The city of Geneva has two new hotels as well, one of which is the Fairfield Inn and Suites. Jessica Grant said the hotel--which just opened this month --is currently out of standard rooms, but noted there are still a few suites left, although she expects those to be sold out as well by the time the weekend comes. Grant also attributes this to "a pretty big wedding," at the hotel, adding "we didn't expect it to sell out this quickly." She said she is glad some NASCAR fans are willing to stay farther away from the track and make the drive down Seneca Lake to Watkins Glen for the race.