Dow Hotel Company (DHC), a hotel owner/investor and management company, unveiled the renovation of the Hilton Long Island/Huntington in Melville, N.Y. during grand reopening ceremonies.
The 303-room hotel, owned in a joint venture between DHC and Prudential, underwent a $16 million makeover that included upgrading hotel rooms, corridors and public spaces, as well as creating a new lobby, new restaurant and a steakhouse scheduled to open in the second quarter of 2013.
The grand reopening festivities, hosted by DHC Vice President of Operations Dave Fincannon and Hilton Hotels Vice President Gary Steffen, included a presentation by the Civil Air Patrol Color Guard, a ribbon cutting ceremony with local officials, and a presentation to Newsday Charities, a McCormick Foundation Fund, to help at risk children and families on Long Island, many of whom are still recovering from the aftereffects of Hurricane Sandy.
“We made a significant investment in the future of this hotel when we committed $16 million to its renovation,” said Fincannon. “We’re now investing in the future of our neighborhood by partnering with Newsday Charities.”
Hilton Long Island Huntington presented a cash donation to Newsday Charities and announced plans to donate 100 room nights to be used by local organizations providing Hurricane Sandy relief. The hotel’s employees also announced expanded community initiatives including two blood drives during the Red Cross’s peak need period and participation in Stamp Out Hunger in May.
“Newsday Charities and the agencies we support are very grateful to the Hilton Long Island Huntington for this generous donation, which will be put to good use helping Long Island families in need,” Paul Fleishman, vice president public affairs, Newsday.
“The transformation of this hotel has been remarkable,” said Ellen Ruane, general manager. “Similarly, we hope that we can make a meaningful contribution to the transformation of our community. Gifts to Newsday Charities are matched 50 cents on the dollar by the McCormick Foundation, and 100 percent of the monies go directly to client services. We are very grateful for their partnership and for the community stewardship they offer Long Island.”
The reopening celebration gave guests the opportunity to tour the comprehensive renovations, including the completely made over hotel lobby which now boasts a brand new front desk and state-of-the-art business center, as well as upgraded high-speed Internet service. All guest rooms, suites and corridors were upgraded, and the executive lounge, an added amenity for concierge level guests, was enhanced to incorporate a private business center, specialty coffee offerings and a fresh new look.
The hotel offers the most meeting and banquet space on Long Island with 26,000 square feet of flexible meeting rooms and the area’s largest ballroom, a two-story event space with a built-in bar and dance floor. The ballroom and meeting space have been updated completely with enhanced internet connectivity for meetings. The hotel can serve groups and social events ranging from five to 1,200 people.
In addition to the hotel’s indoor and outdoor pools and tennis courts, guests can work out in a totally revamped fitness center outfitted with state-of-the-art Precor gym equipment.
With the renovation, DHC introduced its contemporary Mediterranean, small plates restaurant, basil’s Bistro, to Long Island and soon will unveil its latest dining initiative, Masterson’s, a farm-to-fork steakhouse concept. The new basil’s Lobby Bar, a welcoming happy hour location that invites impromptu gatherings and conversation, pours world-class wines and hand-crafted cocktails daily. .
Located at 598 Broad Hollow Rd., in the heart of Melville’s business district on the Interstate 110 corridor, the property is just 45 minutes from JFK airport, with convenient proximity to New York City and the Hamptons. The full-service hotel features several resort amenities, including both indoor and outdoor pools, a fitness center, men’s and women’s saunas and tennis courts.
About Newsday Charities
Newsday Charities, a McCormick Foundation Fund, is committed to improving the lives of disadvantaged children and families on Long Island by funding local agencies with programs that help them thrive and succeed. With the support of generous donors, grants are provided to qualified nonprofit agencies focused on housing, hunger, child and youth education and child abuse prevention and treatment. The McCormick Foundation matches every donation at 50%. With all administrative expenses paid by Newsday and the Foundation, 100% of the money raised and the matching funds are granted out to help Long Islanders in need.
About The Dow Hotel Company
Founded in 1997, Seattle-based The Dow Hotel Company is a hotel owner/investor and operator of 11 first-class, full-service hotels with properties throughout the United States. The company’s portfolio of owned and managed properties consists of institutional-grade hotels, under such brands as Marriott, Hilton, Embassy Suites, Doubletree, Sheraton, and Crowne Plaza. The company aggressively seeks to acquire, co-invest with joint venture partners and/or manage mid- to large-size, first-class, full-service hotels, especially those with extensive food and beverage capabilities.
The company currently operates 14 food and beverage facilities, ranging from casual dining to upscale, bars/lounges with Starbuck and Tully’s coffee outlets. In addition to basil’s Bistro, the division’s restaurant concepts include SunSpot, BC Bistro, and Basil’s Kitchen. Additional information about The Dow Hotel Company may be found at www.dowhotelco.com.
