Saratoga Arms » Family Business

On this day in Saratoga Arms history

innkeeper — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 16:17:56 +0000

On December 19, 1997, Kathleen and Noel Smith purchased a dilapidated old rooming house on Broadway. It took great vision (and a very helpful local bank) to renovate, restore and reopen this 1870 building as Saratoga Arms a sixteen-room hotel in 1998. As we reflect upon the past 14 years, we are thankful for the changes that our Saratoga Springs Hotel has brought into our lives.

In 1999, The Preservation Foundation recognized the restoration effort as a positive contribution to the preservation of the historic downtown district.
In 2002, Amy Smith, the eldest Smith daughter, joined the family business as General Manager.
In 2005, a new addition that doubled the size of Saratoga Arms to 31 rooms was opened with an executive meeting room and workout facilities, just in time to welcome Skidmore graduation parents and families.
In 2009, Sheila Smith Sperling, the middle of the three Smith daughters, joined the family business as Group Sales Manager.
Interspersed over the years, 6 grandchildren have expanded the family, possibly assuring that the family business will continue for a third generation.
Over 60,000 guests have walked through our doors, some famous, some infamous and many not so famous guests including politicians, celebrities and horse breeders. Those who return year after year are more than just guests, they have become good friends.
We have seen the changing times from CD players to iPod alarm clocks, old tube television to flat screens, corded high speed internet access to wireless throughout, and a user-friendly interactive website with all the bells and whistles of the digital age.

Although the past 14 years have brought many changes to our Saratoga Springs Bed and Breakfast, those that have remained constant are the most important–Noel still makes the breakfast each morning, Kathleen remains the quintessential social engineer and Judy takes great pride in making every guest’s stay a special one.

Thanks to all of our guests, the Saratoga Springs community and a hardworking Saratoga Arms family for making the first 14 years such a success. Just imagine what the next 14 years will hold for Saratoga Arms.

Saratoga Arms is an award winning historic 1870 Downtown Saratoga Springs Luxury Hotel, offering intimate charm that no large Saratoga Springs hotel can match. You can read the original blog post here On this day in Saratoga Arms history.

80 years difference, but so much in common!

innkeeper — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 21:58:16 +0000

THE GUESTS WE MEET…

My 5 year old son Everett, grandson of Saratoga Arms owners Noel and Kathleen Smith, is an avid Little Rascals fan…the original series from the 1920s. He checks out the old VHS tapes from the Saratoga Springs Public Library on a weekly basis.

About three weeks ago, Kathleen called me from home to say that Dick Moore was staying at the hotel and was in the dining room having breakfast. Dick Moore played the character “Little Dickie” in the original Our Gang series. Kathleen told Mr. Moore that her grandson was a huge fan and asked if he would be willing to talk with him. He graciously obliged and Everett and I headed down to the hotel.

While in the car, I was concerned that Everett was expecting to see “Little Dickie” as a 5 year old boy (See Below). I told him that he is now a grown up and no longer a kid, now an 85 year old man. He declared with such confidence, “I know he is older Mom, the shows were in Black and White!!”

We arrive at the hotel and Everett bounds up to the table and introduces himself. It was his first “celebrity” experience and he was awestruck. Yet as he became more comfortable he began discussing the various episodes that “Little Dickie” was in. Mr. Moore remembered those episodes and they both talked about their experiences with such glee. As I stood there watching them both, I was struck that even though there was 80 years difference between the two, this wonderful common experience washed that 80 years away.

Mr. Moore was a gracious celebrity and took a picture with Everett (See Below) and signed an autograph as well. Everett was a gracious hotelier’s son and helped Mr. Moore load luggage into his car, earning a dollar for his troubles.

A Room Redo…Part III

innkeeper — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 22:16:43 +0000

It has been awhile since we updated the saga of the room renovation Kathleen embarked upon this Spring. Let’s pick up where we left off. (Hint: If you need a refresher click on Room Renovations .)

Kathleen and Pamela shop the Springfield, Massachusetts store. Lots and lots of fabric, but the place has never been sorted out. Difficult to find anything.. One of the sales clerks told them that nothing is ever thrown away. They leave without making a purchase. A few weeks later Kathleen and Noel fly to Atlanta for the newest grandchild’s christening, and Kathleen gets a chance to go into town to two wonderful fabric shops. There’s the perfect fabric, but Kathleen has never paid $20 per yard for anything. So she buys a one yard sample. Kathleen is going to meet Pamela in Delaware in two weeks to shop a fabulous discount fabric center. When she shows them the sample, they tell her that the fabric is too new and they would not have it for a year or so. Kathleen and Pamela like the fabric so much that they decide to bite the bullet and buy one hundred yards in Atlanta. While in Delaware they buy all of the coordinating fabrics. On the drive home Kathleen has a thought. Mr. Springfield has said he has the ability to best anyone’s price on fabric. Kathleen sends him a sample of the sample. When Springfield calls the next morning, they tell Kathleen that if she accepts two rolls totaling 101 yards shipped directly from the factory the price will be $12 per yard. Within the next week fabric is sent to Marked Tree, Arkansas for quilting, fabric is given to the drapery lady in Glens Falls, and the upholstery is delivered to a fellow up north. Ned (the best painter and plasterer in the world) is on the job, the carpet has been ordered, and new lamps are being sent from California. The room is rented soon, we have a deadline…are we going to make it?

A Room Redo…Part II

innkeeper — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 19:05:23 +0000

The first telephone call is made to Pamela Whitney now living in the DC area. Pamela is the decorator who worked with Kathleen on all the rooms in the addition. (www.pamelawhitneydesigns.com) She designed all the furniture and had it made in a factory in Mexico. Television armoires that also serve as dressers, desks that double as nightstands and headboards high enough on the wall that you can lean against them to read without being bothered by mouldings. Pamela has an instant and excellent understanding of what is needed. Kathleen has a formula for fabric in a room. One hundred yards of the principal fabric for quilt, drapes, shower curtain and pillow shams: thirty yards of a stripe or nubby solid for dust ruffle, pillows and trim; and ten yards of an upholstery fabric for easy chair and cushion on the straight chair. Off the two ladies go to Springfield, Massachusetts, to a shop that bills itself as the largest fabric store in America.

Stay tuned for the next installment of “A Room Redo”…

Springtime in Saratoga Springs…there is no better place to be!

innkeeper — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 17:07:18 +0000

The calendar affirms what our minds and hearts have been longing for… Spring has arrived in Saratoga Springs! The waist high snow banks are melting, giving way to brown grass and winter debris. It’s not yet green, but it is a welcome sight to see landscaping crews raking and cleaning up. Soon the crocus, daffodils and tulips will line the sidewalks and the trees will begin to shade the boulevard.

Saratoga Arms is getting a little spring spruce-up. A few rooms in “the old” section are getting a make-over…new room arrangements, a few coats of paint and beautiful new décor. The halls in the “new section” will be lined with historic photos of old Saratoga from the Bolster Collection of the Historical Society.

Kathleen is enjoying her waning days in Florida, returning home in mid-April. Noel is still in charge of the kitchen churning out those mouthwatering omelets for the hearty wintertime guests.

Amy and Kathleen will be attending the Innkeeping Conference presented by PAII (Professional Association of Innkeepers International) in Atlanta at the end of the month. It is a time of socialization, exchange of ideas and learning. They always return with some fresh thoughts and renewed enthusiasm.

With the worst of this very long winter behind us and the arrival of the vernal equinox, we welcome the busy sidewalks filled with visitors to Saratoga Springs.

Will you be one of them?

FORTY YEARS LATER

innkeeper — Thu, 01 May 2008 13:16:47 +0000

Wesley Armstrong, the best plumber in American and the second most important man in my life, was in the hotel last week getting the air conditioning operational. Wesley told Noel and me the story of one of his many brothers doing two tours in Viet Nam almost forty years ago. Warren had been wounded twice, and his family always felt grateful he came home in good health.

Recently, a Vet from Kansas made a trip to Viet Nam. While there, he visited a junk shop that offered a large tray of American soldiers’ dog tags for sale. The fellow from Kansas purchased the whole tray and brought them back to a Boy Scout troop he was involved with back home.

Warren has just received his dog tags along with a detailed letter explaining the project from the young men of the Boy Scout troop.

I hope they all earned a merit badge.

I’m Back

innkeeper — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 19:33:15 +0000

I returned to Saratoga Springs last week after a wonderful winter on Sanibel Island. I drove down in January by way of a fabric mill in South Carolina. (The sign on the door of the mill advised, “No Loaded Firearms Allowed Inside”.) I stopped in Atlanta for America’s Mart, where I ordered some wonderful lamps and furniture and rugs for the terraces. I arrived back at Saratoga Arms in time for the US Food show across the street at the City Center where I chose the new china pattern for the hotel. We have been using a service for three hundred that we purchased nearly thirty years ago when we were in the restaurant game.

Even though I get to spend my winters in sunny Florida, I try to use that time to expedite the constant refreshing that enables us to earn the title of the nicest hotel in town. It’s obvious I didn’t use my Florida time to refresh my blog.

A Child’s Eye View

innkeeper — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 21:19:52 +0000

During the Christmas holidays, I was asked by a niece to review her college applications. Such pressure on young people!

I was reminded of our youngest daughter’s application process many years ago. After much thought, she wrote an essay that could be tweaked with a sentence or two and it then worked for each of the colleges to which she applied.

When this child was six, we purchased a motel and an old farmhouse on the outskirts of town and pioneered the Bed and Breakfast concept in Saratoga Springs. To our surprise youngest daughter chose as her college application essay topic, How My Character was Affected or Developed by being Raised in a Bed and Breakfast.

Youngest daughter wrote that if a car pulled in the yard with Michigan plates, she knew that they would never share a bathroom. If a car with Canadian plates came in, they would choose the least expensive room. If people got out of their car all dressed in black, she knew they were from New York City and that they would not eat eggs for breakfast but would all try to smoke in their rooms.

Now all these years later, there are very few B & B’s that ask you to share a bath, the Canadian dollar is worth more than the US dollar and youngest daughter did not choose a career in the hospitality industry.

Remains of the Day (Part III)

innkeeper — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 21:10:08 +0000

A lady telephoned on Monday (December 10, 2007). She stayed at Saratoga Arms in early November but couldn’t remember which room. She is packing for a Christmas trip to Mexico and cannot locate her charger. Did she leave it here? Tech-savvy daughter asked what brand. “No idea”, says she. “It’s very different looking” was the only clue she could give. The computer told T/S daughter what room she had stayed in. T/S daughter went to the Lost and Found Log and found something that might have been left around the first part of November.

Now here’s where it gets to be amazing. Tech-savvy daughter takes a picture of the missing equipment and emails it off to woman packing for Mexico from her iPhone. “Is this yours?” Two minutes later woman packing for Mexico emails back with her Fedex number. And now that it is Wednesday, the charger is in the Mexico bound suitcase.

I just want to keep up.

The Remains of the Day

innkeeper — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 20:39:43 +0000

We have just finished another busy weekend at Saratoga Arms. That means on Monday morning the telephone calls start. “Did I leave my phone charger in Room 218?” “Did you find my thyroid medicine in Room 103?” “Oh…I left my favorite pillow there!” We start shipping on Tuesdays…but only after we receive an email or a call requesting that whatever was left behind be sent back. It wasn’t always this way, but life teaches many lessons.

Our first foray into the lodging industry was in 1984 when we purchased an old motel on five acres on the outskirts of Saratoga Springs. We moved our family there. The only paved area on the property was the 135 feet of concrete in front of the motel, and it was in this area that our six year old rode her bike up and down the sidewalk with our wonderful yellow Lab named Bates Motel trailing behind her. Shortly after we refurbished and opened for business, a lovely couple from western New York State checked in for a few days. The husband had business in the area and the wife stayed at the motel during the day waiting for her husband’s return. She was especially kind to little Ann and Bates as they rode up and down. She fulfilled all requirements to be a pleasant guest. When they checked out, the gentleman left behind a sports coat hanging in the motel room closet. I was so efficient and organized in those days that without being asked, I packed it up and sent it back to Syracuse. Three days later I received a telephone call from a woman who asked me exactly when her husband was at our motel.

I don’t return anything now unless someone requests that it be sent back.