Scribner’s Catskill Lodge
In our second installment of Cultivating Conversations, we spoke to the team at Scribner’s Catskill Lodge, an upstate New York hideaway packed to the brim with amenities and activities. With people seeking outdoor experiences more than ever now, Scribner’s shared how they’re working tirelessly to create memorable moments that still feel safe.
Scribner’s Catskill Lodge opened in 2016 as a new interpretation of a Catskills classic. In its revitalized state, the property now offers 38-room eclectic mountain lodge and 100-seat in-house restaurant called Prospect.
“IT’S a year-round refuge for urban explores and adventures, WHO ARE looking to enjoy the inspiring nature of the Catskills.”
Originally built in the 1960’s, today’s Scribner’s brings the Hudson Valley’s cultural renaissance together at one property, and evokes the region’s sense of exploration, nostalgia and craftsmanship through design, programming and local culinary offerings.
ARE YOU SEEING A CHANGE IN CONSUMER'S DESIRE FOR MORE OUTDOOR OR IN TUNE WITH NATURE EXPERIENCES?
“Our guests have always come to us for an escape.”
Whether that guest intends on connecting with nature by viewing the mountains from their balcony, going on a hike, or exploring the nearby waterfalls, nature plays a part in everyone’s experience. With the current climate, we’ve noticed this desire to connect with nature has grown immensely. Many of our guests travel to us from the New York City area and are looking for fresh air and open spaces. We are working tirelessly to offer a safe space for people to have the moment of calm they have been craving.
HOW DOES COMMUNITY PLAY A ROLE AT SCRIBNERS?
“Since conception, Scribner’s has strived to build a community.”
Whether that be within our local community through public forums and giving back to local organizations or with our hotel guests through programming activations on our property and providing curated guides recommending all of the amazing businesses in our area. Though these days community building looks a bit different, we find that we have been able to create an ongoing dialogue with many of our guests who have come and stayed and dined with us numerous times. It is our goal to not only unite the area in which we are located, but also to unite travelers with one another.
DO YOU SEE THE FUTURE OF TRAVEL CHANGING?
“We believe that the pandemic will have lasting effects on the travel industry and trends will continue.”
A large number of our guests during the pandemic have been first time travelers to the Catskills who have since repeated their visits and plan to do so frequently in the future. We have also seen a large shift to guests purchasing second homes in the area which will probably lead to them spending more weekends upstate in the future.
Another change will be guest’s desire to have higher levels of cleanliness including knowing that not only the surfaces are being protected but also the air they are breathing. This might be reflected in their desire to continue some form of mask wearing and taking more interest in the air filtration that exists in the hotels they stay in the future.
HAVE YOU SEEN ANY SPECIAL MOMENTS HAPPEN
THROUGH A SOCIAL MEDIA CONNECTION?
“Social media gives us a space to connect with our guests pre-arrival and post-departure.”
We’re able to not only provide customer service through our direct messages and comments but to also connect on a personal level with the couple who got engaged in Old Man Scribner’s Garden or the soon-to-be Mom on her baby-moon by sharing photos and congratulation notes!
ARE THERE ANY NEW LAUNCHES OR EXPERIENCES COMING
TO YOUR PROPERTY WITHIN THE NEXT YEAR?
“We’ve been busy reimagining how our guests experience the holidays.”
That includes activating the property throughout the winter while still providing a safe and exciting experience for our guests and the local community.
The Rink at Scribner’s opened Thanksgiving weekend for guests and opened to the public shortly after. The Rink is located on our Bluestone Patio which has picturesque views of Hunter Mountain and the surrounding Catskill mountains.
Another addition to the Lodge is Molekule Air Purifiers which use Photo Electrochemical Oxidation technology to kill viruses, bacteria, mold, allergens and chemicals in the air. They have been placed in each guest room as well as the common areas of the Lodge and Prospect.
WHAT IS THE MOST UNDERRATED PART OF SCRIBNER’S THAT YOU THINK MORE PEOPLE WOULD BE INTERESTED IN?
“Old Man Scribner’s Garden would have to be the most under
experienced part of the Scribner’s.”
Our gardener, Andrew, works year around growing beautiful flowers and a cornucopia of vegetables that our onsite restaurant, Prospect, highlights on its menu. The Garden is the perfect backdrop for a micro-wedding or that much desired ‘in nature’ selfie.
