WEST POINT, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Tomorrow, The Historic Thayer Hotel at West Point will celebrate 90 years of hospitality and service to presidents, leisure travelers, dignitaries, military members, celebrities, along with international corporate and government leaders.
The Thayer Hotel opened its doors on May 27, 1926, and would replace the original West Point Hotel (est. 1829) located nearly a mile down the road at what is now known as Trophy Point. Today, the original lantern from the West Point Hotel hangs in the foyer of The Thayer. The hotel tells the story of West Point and the Nation with museum pieces hanging throughout the hotel as well as having guest rooms that are dedicated to inspirational West Point graduates. Weaving the impact of West Point into America’s story are a broad cross-section of contributions in the hotels’ actual guest rooms dedicated to the likes of medal of honor recipients, an astronaut, the first woman West Point grad to achieve the rank of general officer, the first African-American graduate of West Point, ground-breaking physicians, captains of industry, and great military leaders. Through the Room Dedication Program, honorees, or their heirs, select the pictures and memorabilia that represent his or her life and legacy to be displayed in the room.
Perched on a bluff with commanding views of the Hudson River and the United States Military Academy, The Historic Thayer Hotel at West Point is a national historic treasure located just 50 miles north of New York City. Rick Minicozzi, Managing General Partner of the Thayer Hotel, graduated from West Point in 1986, and describes the unparalleled experience that guests can enjoy, “This is the only full service hotel on any military base in all of the world. And we recognize that we have a very large mission and obligation to the public to ensure that when guests come here to the Thayer Hotel they have a West Point like experience. West Point in and of itself is certainly a world-class destination as is the Hudson Valley, which was recently named by the National Geographic Magazine as one of the Top 20 places in the world to visit. And we have the great fortune to have our hotel in this unbelievable venue.”
When the new ownership group started the revitalization of the hotel in 2009, the business plan included increasing weekday occupancy. Thayer Leader Development Group (TLDG) was part of the plan developed to drive corporations to West Point for offsite corporate business meetings. TLDG provides executive level education based on the United States Army leadership philosophy of “Be, Know, Do” and the United States Military Academy values of “Duty, Honor, Country.” Over 26,000 executives from 550 corporations from over 30 countries have been trained by TLDG at The Thayer Hotel over the past six years.
In 2016, The Historic Thayer Hotel at West Point became member of the prestigious International Association of Conference Centres (IACC) and one of only nine conference centers in the state of New York who are members of this elite organization.
Currently, the hotel couples modern amenities, like the Zulu Time Rooftop Bar and Lounge and state of the art technology in conference and guest rooms, with the old-world charm of the famous Sunday Champagne Brunch in MacArthur’s Riverview Restaurant that is the original restaurant in the hotel.
One of the most famous meals eaten on premises was on January 25, 1981, by the 52 American hostages who had been held for 444 days in Iran upon their arrival back to the United States. The hostages signed the menu from their meal, which is on display today at the hotel.
The hostages arrived at the Historic Thayer Hotel and stayed for three nights with their families and watched the Super Bowl from Patton’s Tavern. The hostages and their families returned to watch the Superbowl and celebrate the 30th anniversary in January 2011 and again in 2016 in honor of the hotel’s 90th Anniversary.
Carlys Lemler, the General Manager of the hotel, and West Point graduate of 2001, explains that “Visitors from the local region, across the country, and around the world can still feel, see and hear about the history of the Nation in the hotel that is home to 151 beautiful guestrooms including 23 executive suites, 10 elegant event venues, perfect for meetings, weddings and special events, and three on-premises dining options. Each visitor becomes a part of the story, echoing the hotel’s motto of 'Make History.' We invite guests to make their own memories and history while becoming a part of the hotel’s 90 year history.”
