Visitors to Batavia Downs in New York will soon have access to a quality accommodation option on the racetrack combined casino property, thanks to the recent decision to build a hotel on the property. According to Western OTB officials, the hotel project will include a new accommodation facility with 80 to 100 guest rooms located directly on the gaming property. 35,000 square feet of land at the Downs will be purchased by ADK Hospitality, located in Buffalo, for $605,000 to begin the project.

Michael Kane, the Western Regional Off-Track Betting Chief Executive Officer, stated that four sites are currently under consideration as the home of the hotel with the final decision of the actual location to be decided at a later date. Several entities must decide the final location including the city of Batavia, the OTB, the developer of the project and the GCEDC.

The sites under consideration include two areas north of Park Road which is the parking lot portion of the Downs’. The gaming facility also has two additional sites under consideration with locations on the southwest and northeast of the property.

Directors were shown a rendering of the hotel during the announcement of the accommodation facility which showed a five-story building with art-deco style. Specific guest rooms of the hotel would look out over the racing loop, including the first and second turns of the track. The hotel would primarily be promoted as a facility for guests of the Downs.

According to Kane, the main goal is to provide accommodations for those who come into town for gaming, racing and functions on the property. Kane believes the addition will be a tremendous asset for weddings, conventions and events to be attracted to the area.

With the construction of the hotel, the Downs will be able to stay competitive with neighboring gaming facilities including the resort casinos currently under development in the west as well as the facilities currently under construction by the Seneca Nation of Indians in another area of the state.