Renovated rooms checking into Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino

Niagara Falls, N.Y. (WBEN) - Believe or not, but after 20 years of operations and a steady flow of guests, the hotel rooms in the Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino have never had a complete, top-to-bottom makeover.

But come October, that is going to change.

In what is the largest, privately-driven regional tourism and hospitality investment, the Seneca Gaming Corp. will be investing more than $47 million to renovate and upgrade 594 rooms in the opulent Niagara Falls hotels. Seneca Gaming has already upgrade the 10 penthouse suites.

"We couldn't let this languish," said Kevin Nephew, Seneca Gaming president and CEO.

Nephew conceded that will while the hotel rooms were still in good shape, it was, perhaps, overdue to undertake a full scale renovation.

"If we are going to be the leader, then we need to lead," Nephew said.

Work will begin in October and be done in phases - three floors at a time. The project should be completed by late 2027.

Nephew said every detail - not matter how minute - will be addressed including new furniture, Seneca-themed bed spreads and Seneca-created artwork.

"This is the next evolution of Seneca Niagara," said Allie George, Seneca Gaming chairman.

The hotel has been busy since the day it opened in April 2006.

At 604 rooms, it is the largest hotel in the region and, at 26 stories - the tallest.

Last year, it saw the equivalent of more than 181,000 occupied room nights and this year, it has already topped 141,000 occupied room nights and on pace to top 2025's mark.

Suite rates at Seneca Niagara begin at $350 on weekdays and $189 for rooms, depending on the season and other factors.

The project is the latest in a series of renovations that Seneca Gaming has under taken in its three local properties - Seneca Allegany Resort & Casino in Salamanca, Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino in downtown Buffalo and Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino in Niagara Falls.

Both George and Nephew said more projects are in the offing.