UB Planning Students to Present Report on Need for Hotel Development in Niagara Falls

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Graduate students in the University at Buffalo's Department of Urban and Regional Planning will present a report on the need and opportunity for hotel development in Niagara Falls, N.Y., at a presentation to be held at 6:30 p.m. today (Dec. 10, 2008) in the first floor Council Chambers of Niagara Falls City Hall, 745 Main St.

Titled "A View of the Falls," the project was conducted to show how Niagara Falls can better capitalize on the tourism market through the strategic development of hotels.

The project illustrates how current entertainment attractions and hotel stock do not actively encourage overnight stays, and suggests there is opportunity for Niagara Falls to develop both its entertainment venues and hotels as part of a two-pronged strategy.

Analyses suggest the majority of the city's 4.5 million annual visitors do not stay overnight.

"With increased entertainment selections, however, Niagara Falls can both increase the number of visitors it attracts each year and increase the number of visitors staying overnight," says Dan Bellgraph, one of the UB students who conducted the research.

Additionally, a hotel room rate analysis shows the potential for the city to greatly capitalize on developing hotel rooms that provide views of the natural surroundings.

Hotel development in Niagara Falls should be focused on providing overnight guests with views of the surrounding landscape from hotel rooms, says Bellgraph.

"Strategically placed hotels can provide visitors with amazing views of the landscape -- views of the Falls rivaling those from Niagara Falls, Ontario," he said.

The project also includes cityscape and streetscape models of how Niagara Falls will look following the comprehensive development of hotels.

Despite decades of economic decline, Niagara Falls remains one of the greatest tourist destinations in the United States; the UB student project was conducted to illustrate the great potential that exists in developing hotels in the municipality.

Students involved in "A View of the Falls" developed the plan under the direction of Ernest Sternberg, UB professor of urban and regional planning, and Thomas DeSantis, senior planner for the City of Niagara Falls. For more information about the project, contact Bellgraph at 704-3699 or John Kordrupel at 462-8383, or email aviewofthefalls@gmail.com.