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Excitement Builds Over Planned Destiny USA Hotel

Scott Willis
/
WAER News

Syracuse-area tourism officials say the proposed Destiny USA hotel is a great step for generating interest and economic growth in the area.   Destiny officials sent a letter to the county executive and mayor expressing their intentions to build a $75 million, 252-room hotel as part of their master plan.  Convention and Visitors Bureau President David Holder says Destiny as a destination appears to be coming to fruition, and there are still untapped markets.   He says the area is ready for another hotel.

 

ONONDAGA COUNTY WEIGHS IN

Onondaga County Executive Joanie Mahoney says it’s no surprise Destiny USA wants to build a hotel...it was just a matter of when.   Mahoney says  the mall is apparently attracting enough out-of-town visitors, and a hotel could be a perfect fit.  She says overnight stays translate to more eating and buying, which then generates more sales tax revenue for the county.  As for any tax break for the developer, Mahoney says there’s been no official request.  

DESTINY_HOTEL_JOANIE_FOR_WEB.mp3
County Executive Joanie Mahoney the Onondaga County Industrial Development Agency has incentives to offer, if requested, for the proposed hotel.

In their letter, Destiny officials said the plan to secure private financing for the project, but made no mention of seeking tax breaks.   Mahoney and  Mayor Stephanie Miner met for the first time to talk about the project late Friday afternoon.   

 

Scott Willis covers politics, local government, transportation, and arts and culture for WAER. He came to Syracuse from Detroit in 2001, where he began his career in radio as an intern and freelance reporter. Scott is honored and privileged to bring the day’s news and in-depth feature reporting to WAER’s dedicated and generous listeners. You can find him on twitter @swillisWAER and email him at srwillis@syr.edu.