WOODCLIFF LAKE, N.J.—A leading hotel and resort management company has taken over management of Hilton Woodcliff Lake, a 338-room hotel at at 200 Tice Boulevard, on 22 acres, which local officials had once feared might not reopen after the pandemic.
Pyramid Hotel Group, which manages properties internationally, took over the property and recently reached out to borough administrator Tomas Padilla to sort out local permits and paperwork needed to begin operations.
“We were very receptive and where we could help we did anything we could to to assist them,” said Padilla March 9.
Padilla said the borough was keeping the “lines of communication open” and said “we’re very happy that it’s reopened and will try anyway we can help to make it successful.”
Padilla said when the previous owners shut the hotel during the pandemic, the town lost its share of hotel tax revenues it previously received. He said prior to 2020, the borough had been averaging $210,000 to $230,000 annually from hotel tax.
Last year, Padilla said, the borough received $60,000 to $70,000. The Hilton’s annual taxes in 2020 were approximately $480,000.
For nearly a year, the hotel remained shuttered due to the pandemic. Local officials feared the property was being eyed for new development such as multifamily housing.
However, on March 6, Mayor Carlos Rendo took to Facebook to announce:
“Major news: Our Hilton is reopening. Thanks to our Borough Administrator Tom Padilla who has been working with the new management group to re-open. It’s a big relief to our taxpayers as the borough will begin to collect our hotel tax. Soon we will have a grand reopening as the Hilton will resume operations benefiting our residents and surrounding businesses,” wrote Rendo.
The hotel had a “soft opening” March 4, and may have an official opening sometime later, the hotel’s new general manager told Pascack Press.
He said several guests were staying at the hotel recently, which he hopes will continue to increase as the pandemic wanes and business travel begins to pick up.
General Manager Andrew Gajary said the newly reopened hotel “has had many inquiries already about events for over the summer” and is strictly following all New Jersey-specifc Covid-19 health guidelines for such businesses.
“There’s a lot of pent-up demand for ‘life events’ such as weddings and bar/bat mitzvahs,” said Gajary. “We want to be a good community member so we’re adhering to the same Covid restrictions as every other business.”
He said though business travel was recently picking up a little, the hotel industry has borne the burden of numerous closures and economic impacts during the Covid pandemic.
“As people start to venture out and get vaccinated, this is a great place to stay over,” he said, suggesting a “staycation” might suit area families looking for an escape close by.
He said the campus features an indoor and outdoor pool, fitness center, 33,000 square feet of meeting space, walking trails, and sports such as tennis, basketball and shuffleboard.
“It makes me feel great that we’re able to open up this hotel again and offer this beautiful campus for our visitors,” Gajary said.
He noted with commercial office space usage declining in New York City, suburban areas such as Woodcliff Lake offer a “great pivot” for firms trying to relocate workers outside of Manhattan.