A community campaign that began with one resident’s complaint to Choice Hotels has evolved into a broader effort to restore one of Seneca Falls’ most recognizable landmarks, with visible improvements underway at the Gould Hotel but concerns over the property’s long-term future continuing to mount.
After nearly two weeks of public pressure, hotel owner Sam Patel and Choice Hotels have taken initial steps to address maintenance issues at the downtown property. But local resident Mario Agnello, who launched the campaign earlier this month, says the work completed so far represents only the beginning of what needs to happen.
In a social media update over the weekend, Agnello said he has decided to continue organizing community support rather than end his efforts.
“I’ve spent 71 years living and working in Seneca Falls,” he wrote, adding that he considers the Gould Hotel the centerpiece of the town’s business district and is unwilling to “sit back and allow” the property to become an embarrassment for the community. He encouraged residents to continue contacting both Choice Hotels executives and Patel directly in hopes of maintaining pressure for additional improvements.
Campaign draws corporate attention
The latest appeal follows a series of developments that began after Agnello publicly shared an open letter to Choice Hotels in mid-June detailing what he described as deteriorating conditions inside and outside the Gould Hotel.
His complaint alleged extensive deferred maintenance, deteriorating concrete steps, damaged exterior features, dirty windows, overgrown landscaping and a lack of basic upkeep surrounding the historic building. Inside the hotel, he cited guest reviews describing musty odors, damaged common areas, malfunctioning room amenities, limited housekeeping, staffing shortages and reduced guest services. He also noted that the property’s restaurant and bar have remained closed since Patel purchased the hotel approximately one year ago.
Agrello asked Choice Hotels to conduct a formal quality assurance inspection and determine whether the Gould continues to meet the standards required to remain part of the Ascend Hotel Collection franchise. He argued that if those standards cannot be met, the hotel should lose its affiliation with the brand.
Several days later, Choice Hotels responded, telling Agnello that his concerns had been documented, escalated and forwarded to the appropriate internal teams. The company said issues involving property conditions and guest experience were being taken seriously and would be addressed through established review channels, while cautioning that visible improvements could take time.
Initial improvements underway
According to Agnello’s updates, Choice Hotels followed through by sending a district manager to inspect the property.
Since that visit, crews have cleared weeds, debris and overgrown grass from much of the parking lot, while masonry contractors have inspected the deteriorating front entrance steps to prepare repair estimates. Agnello also said he supplied hotel representatives with contacts for contractors specializing in landscaping, painting, masonry, window washing and janitorial work, along with names of people interested in housekeeping and hotel support positions. He believes some hiring could begin soon.
He described the initial work as encouraging but incomplete.
The landscaping bordering State Street still requires attention, he said, and he unsuccessfully asked town officials to address weeds on nearby municipal property, where highway crews were occupied with road repairs.
Agnello also said Patel has no plans to reopen the hotel’s restaurant or bar, instead seeking a tenant interested in operating the food and beverage space independently despite those amenities continuing to appear on Choice Hotels’ booking platform.
Community pressure continues
While acknowledging the progress that has been made, Agnello says sustained public attention remains necessary until more substantial restoration work is completed.
He has urged residents to continue contacting Choice Hotels and hotel ownership, arguing that community involvement played a significant role in prompting the initial response. Earlier in the campaign, he also indicated he planned to contact Seneca County code enforcement, the county health department and local police regarding additional concerns, including questions about emergency exits and overall property conditions.
The Gould Hotel has long served as one of Seneca Falls’ signature downtown destinations following its redevelopment more than a decade ago. Its location near the community’s historic attractions has made it a focal point for visitors, weddings and tourism.
Whether the recent maintenance marks the beginning of a broader turnaround or simply a temporary response to public scrutiny remains to be seen. For now, Agnello says the campaign will continue until the Gould once again reflects the standard that residents expect from one of the town’s most prominent historic landmarks.
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