Cazenovia is a treat if you love 19th century architecture and this hotel fits in perfectly with…read morethe rows of quaint shops, however, it badly needs work. There are several things that could be done to help increase their rating and revenue. As they say, you have to sell the rooms. The amenities like bar and restaurant are nice but the bulk of revenue comes from keeping a hotel constantly at a high level of occupancy.
Look at the pictures, simply beautiful and the staff are welcoming...but:
The room locks are bad. They are a modern turn key lock, but you have to try to figure out how to turn the key back again after unlocking and then double check that the handle doesn't move before closing your door from the inside, or else you are not locked in (except for a flimsy chain). They need to be replaced, for guest safety and piece of mind, even though this is Caz not NYC. Even one incident of an inebriated person mistaking the wrong room in the middle of the night and scaring a guest could result in a big issue for the hotel.
The linen is rough and needs replacing. The rooms are picturesque but modern guests want modern comforts, like linens at least as soft as you would have in your own home.
The side door entrance could use a big area rug over the floor if they are not going to replace all the broken tiles.
The bathrooms are reminiscent of thruway motel bathrooms and they do an injustice to the rest of the hotel. The old English maxim "paint it white" does not serve well here, although it may have been done to make the area look larger. White and cream colors get dirty and dingy easily and the bathroom appliances are utilitarian only.
Much could be done in the bathroom to make the room look better overall. It is crowded and a man cannot stand directly in front of the toilet. Plumbing is what it is, any attempt to move the toilet even a few inches to the side is going to be a major deal. The standing sink could be replaced with a small sink basin that sets slightly nearer the door in an elongated counter that can hold toiletries. The counter could curve and taper so it doesn't overhang the toilet. The bathroom has cheap looking, unevenly hung towel racks and narrow shelves, a small mirror and cheap lighting fixtures. If these were replaced with slightly nicer fixtures and the walls painted a more pleasing color, this would make the bathroom look better. Colored, soft towels and bath rugs would also help the overall look. Even a toilet seat cover, tank cover and a bowl of potpourri or wicker tissue holder could camouflage the plain toilet.
If they were going to replace the tub though, a simple standing shower would suffice for most travelers and make the bathroom less crowded. A towel valet or shelf in the newly freed up space would improve the look. If someone was looking to put money into renovation, this is the place to concentrate on first, from a guest p.o.v.
So, a lot of criticism, but hopefully in the spirit of helping. The bulk of the hotel is charming and beautiful. I'm sure the owners would love to have this place full of bustling Dickensian good cheer, and all the year round.
The big fireplaces are showcased well, the dining rooms are breathtaking, the staircase leads to lovely wallpapered hallways, all these things are so unusual compared to a modern hotel. There are many artisan bakeries, shops, craft stores and the like to explore and they are within walking distance. In particular I would recommend the fresh baked bread at HeartStone Bakery and the locally made jams, cider, honey, jewelry, souvenirs and tchotchkes at 20 East. Cazenovia Lake is nearby, the classically beautiful Brewster Inn for more fine dining, many historical sites and relaxing country drives through the farmland or through the woods over to Cazenovia Falls.
