SKANEATELES — Nearly 15 years ago, Curt and Toni Feldmann drove by an old motel with a “For Sale” sign. Even though neither had any hospitality experience — Toni was a controller/accountant who lost her job in a corporate buyout while her husband Curt sold hardware — the couple took the plunge and bought the […]
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SKANEATELES — Nearly 15 years ago, Curt and Toni Feldmann drove by an old motel with a “For Sale” sign. Even though neither had any hospitality experience — Toni was a controller/accountant who lost her job in a corporate buyout while her husband Curt sold hardware — the couple took the plunge and bought the former Anchor Motel.
Almost 15 years later, the Feldmanns are now headed toward their November anniversary of purchasing the motel, which they remodeled extensively and renamed Skaneateles Suites & Boutique Hotel (www.skaneatelessuites.com). Their properties include the Skaneateles Boutique Hotel, located on Fennell Street, and Skaneateles Suites, located 2 miles west of the village on Route 20. The suites are the former bungalows of the Anchor Motel, now remodeled and featuring amenities such as patios and Jacuzzis. The property also includes a house that sleeps eight and an apartment suite.
After purchasing the motel, the Feldmanns had a vision of how they wanted things to be, but learned quickly they needed to be flexible, Curt Feldmann, vice president of guest relations, says in an email. “Toni and I worked hard on writing our business plan, but the customers didn’t read it,” he says. “The customers kept wanting what they wanted and not what we planned. So, we changed what we had told the bank and gave the customers what they wanted.”
They hired architect Robert Eggleston to help remodel the old Anchor Motel, which they described as “functionally obsolete.” The six bungalows previously held two units each. Each unit was a 150-square-foot room, but the Feldmanns remodeled to combine the units so now each bungalow offers a 300-square-foot suite. Other work included adding reverse gables as well as private patios for architectural and guest appeal, as well as amenities such as cable TV, Wi-Fi, premium bedding, kitchenettes, and Jacuzzi tubs in a number of the rooms.
“We intuitively knew something about the property was alluring,” Curt Feldmann says. “But it took our architect Bob Eggleston to notice that the height of the buildings was 6 inches too short, and that was what created the four-fifths scale size that Bob based everything on. That’s what gives the property great turn-your-head drive-by appeal.”
Over their years of ownership, the Feldmanns have hosted nearly 30,000 guests, almost half of whom are repeat customers, and continue to work to provide guests the type of experience that keeps them coming back.
“Sales look strong as visitors appear to return to confidence in the economy,” Toni Feldmann, innkeeper, says of 2014’s outlook. New furniture, windows, and carpeting in the Skaneateles Boutique Hotel this year should help keep occupancy levels high, she adds.
Right now, the Feldmanns are starting their busy season, Curt Feldmann says. “Skaneateles is extremely seasonal, and it’s easy to achieve a 95 percent occupancy [rate] in the summer. In the off season, we aren’t afraid to lower rates and offer combinations of book-online discounts.”
He also credits the Skaneateles Suites 2013 Travelers’ Choice award from TripAdvisor, which noted the facility’s “friendly and charming” atmosphere, for helping draw guests.
“We take this very seriously and pay attention to customer reviews every day,” Curt Feldmann notes.
“We are a rare find,” Toni Feldmann says. “The rush to chain hotels is so people know what to expect. The Skaneateles Suites offers the quality of the chains with that extra something special.”
The Feldmanns also credit their staff, which they call the “Dreams Team,” for their success. “The Suite Dreams Team — Guest Services Manager Terri Chapman, Reservations Manager Julie Hunt, and Property Manager Keia Endres — is the reason we get rave reviews,” Curt Feldmann says. Those year-round employees are joined by four seasonal employees in the summer months to help make sure every guest enjoys her stay.
Looking ahead, the Feldmanns say their plan for success will be to continue what they are doing by keeping the facilities fresh and special, giving guests a high-quality lodging experience.
Contact The Business Journal News Network at news@cnybj.com
