Back in the early 1900s, Frank C. Reikart and his wife, Dolly, were the “it” couple of Amherst, a town in Western New York State about 12 miles from the Erie Canal. Reikart was the local everyman—a musician, entertainer, inventor, barber, photographer and ice cream man—and he could be found around town with his capuchin monkey Jacko. The couple were known for their hospitality, entrepreneurship and colorful personalities, and were the inspiration for Reikart House, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel.
Originally built as the Lord Amherst Inn, an exterior-corridor motor lodge, in 1962, the property was purchased by Iskalo Development Corporation in 2015 and underwent a conversion that was completed in 2018. The property reopened under its current name on July 20, 2017.
Greenwood Hospitality, an affiliate of Hotel Equities, was chosen to confirm the franchise, complete underwriting, and create the programming and scope of the project while curating the brand story and concepting the food and beverage experiences.
According to Greenwood, which manages the property, the hotel immediately saw significant performance increases after reopening in 2018, with a 106.8% Increase in total revenue from 2018-2019 and a 211% Increase in RGI from 2018-2019.
“The property has received Hotel of the Year in the distinctive full-service sector segment of Marriott for three consecutive years,” said Tom Conran, founding principal, Greenwood Hospitality.
The hotel has 92 guestrooms, each adorned with classic themes and custom finishes and furnishings. Jacko the monkey, whose image is within the hotel’s logo, makes a few appearances in the decor. The Gettys Group designed the new interiors.
For those guests looking for an Instagram-worthy location, a circular millwork sitting area upon entry into the hotel provides a unique backdrop for picture taking.
Amenities at the pet-friendly hotel include breakfast, lunch and dinner served in the hotel lobby, a fitness center, a business center, complimentary WiFi and an electric vehicle charging station.
Jazzoline restaurant is next door to the hotel offering three meals a day and brunch on the weekend.
The hotel is near several attractions in the area including Amherst State Park (two miles away), downtown Buffalo (10 miles), Niagara Falls State Park (21 miles) and Buffalo Niagara Convention Center (nine miles). The University at Buffalo is within four miles and Buffalo Niagara International Airport is five miles away.
The property has continued to perform well since its debut as Reikart House, especially this year, as 2023 results have exceeded 2019 levels in terms of revenue and competitive positioning.
According to figures from Hotel Equities, the hotel so far this year has reported RevPAR growth of 11.1%, food and beverage revenue growth of 34.5%, gross operating profit (GOP) growth of 13.1% and a current intent to recommend score year-to-date of 84.4. It has also recorded a Marriott Bonvoy penetration rate of 82.2% year-to-date, which is the highest figure in the Hotel Equities portfolio of Marriott properties.
