Dolce to Manage The Thayer Hotel

The management company will run the historic hotel at a U.S. Military Academy.

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. December 01, 2009

NOVEMBER 30, 2009 - Expanding its unique destination product portfolio and building on its longstanding association with educational institutions and historic properties, Dolce Hotels and Resorts has become manager of The Thayer Hotel, a 149-room, historic hotel and meeting center on the grounds of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y.

Constructed in 1926 to accommodate Military Academy personnel and their guests, The Thayer today is open to the public and features 10 function rooms totaling more than 15,000 square feet of space that can accommodate groups of 15 to 300 for corporate retreats, training, seminars, team-building and weddings.

“We are honored to partner with The Thayer Hotel, which becomes the 25th property in our growing system of upscale hotels, resorts and conference hotels in North America and Europe,” said Steven A. Rudnitsky, Dolce president and chief executive officer. “We look forward to collaborating with the owners to achieve their vision for this historic treasure.”

Rick Minicozzi, president of the group of West Point graduates who own The Thayer, said Dolce was selected to manage the property based on its expertise in operating conference centers, its affinity for facilities that serve specialized audiences and its commitment to “consistently providing the high standards of service that our guests deserve and expect.”

The hotel's amenities and services include a full-service restaurant, an elegant sports lounge, room service and a fitness room. The hotel has been a popular wedding venue for nearly 100 years, and its Sunday Champagne Brunch has been honored as "The Best Brunch in the Hudson Valley" by Hudson Valley magazine for the last seven consecutive years.

“The Thayer's rich history and timeless architecture add glamour and prestige to every event,” Minicozzi said.

The Gothic Revival-styled building, designed by Caughey and Evans of New York, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Its granite, crenellated facade and towers give the impression of a medieval fortress rising from the hillside. The interior carries on the theme with polished wood, leaded glass, and marble and stone ornamentation.

The Thayer's guests are welcomed in a lobby that is bathed in the glow of circular chandeliers and festooned with flags from several nations and portraits of prominent military leaders. The hotel, which underwent a $26 million restoration in 1999 and additional renovations in 2003 and 2004, is named for U.S. Army Col. Sylvanus Thayer, "the father of the Military Academy," who served as its superintendent from 1817 to 1833.

The Thayer is Dolce's sixth property to be affiliated with an educational institution, joining the IVEY ING Leadership Centre, Toronto; the IVEY Spencer Leadership Centre, London, Ontario; the IBM Learning Center, Armonk, N.Y.; the GE Leadership Development Center, Ossining, N.Y.; and Aspen Meadows Resort, which serves as the Colorado campus of The Aspen Institute.