COLONIE — Pity the poor traveler who's booked on a 5:30 a.m. departure from Albany International Airport and lives more than an hour's drive away.
That's one market airport officials hope to serve with a hotel that would be developed on site. How would that help?
Albany County Airport Authority CEO Philip Calderone says an on-site hotel, just a short stroll from the security checkpoint, would be "a convenient option" for passengers who travel long distances to catch early-morning flights.
The hotel, of course, would offer other advantages. Meeting rooms might serve business travelers flying in from several different cities. A high-end restaurant would offer travelers a place to have a comfortable meal, either before or after a flight. After all, onboard meals are becoming a rarity.
There's no shortage of places to stay that are near the airport. American Airlines and developer John K. Desmond Jr. may have started the trend at Albany in 1974 when they jointly developed The Americana, now the Desmond, a short drive down Albany Shaker Road. American left the hotel business the following year to concentrate on its airline business.
In the years since, hotels have sprung up along Albany Shaker and Wolf roads, all within a short distance of the terminal.
But this would be the first on airport property.
"An on-site brand-named hotel would provide convenient access to the terminal while offering meeting rooms and a high-end restaurant to meet the needs of our region's business and leisure travelers," Calderone said in a press release.
The authority will look for qualified professional firms to conduct a feasibility study. Interested firms are asked to submit their qualifications to the airport authority by March 26. The chosen firm will examine various issues including the ownership structure, ground lease options and who might manage it.
If it's determined an on-site hotel is feasible, planning and development could proceed. The project would need the Albany County Legislature's approval.
The tentative site for the hotel would be what is now a triangular-shaped parking lot just north of a bend in Albany Shaker Road and west of the parking garage. Key would be a connection to the terminal and likely the parking garage as well.
Architects would likely want to provide rooms with a runway view, which typically command a premium at other airport hotels, including the Hilton at O'Hare and the new TWA Hotel at Kennedy. (The latter also provides a cocktail lounge in a retired Lockheed Constellation on the tarmac).
Maybe that early-morning flight with a night-before sleepover will be a hit with travelers after all.
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