SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) — “You watchin’ Channel 9?” Douglas Russell was asked over the phone by his sister and brother-in-law.
“They says: ‘You better turn it on right away,’” Russell recalled, “‘You don’t have a hotel for your party anymore.”
His relatives were referring to the sudden closure of the Crowne Plaza , the latest name of the cylinder-shaped hotel standing from Syracuse’s skyline.
Guests staying overnight Tuesday into Wednesday were the last of business, as the building is converted into much-needed apartment units.
Emails to CHA Consulting, part of the building’s redevelopment plan, weren’t answered.
Even the company that owns the Crowne Plaza brand, IHG, didn’t know the local owners were closing the hotel.
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In a statement, an IGH company spokesperson said: “The owner of this independently owned and operated hotel made the decision to close unilaterally without prior notice of the closure date to IHG. Any more specific questions are best directed to the hotel’s owners. At this time, we are working diligently to assist with relocating guests.”