Summer was hot for downtown businesses. Dry weather, along with a record 49 days of racing at the Saratoga Race Course, contributed to a bump in customers at shops, hotels and restaurants from June through August in the Spa City.
President and CEO of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce Todd Shimkus said during the first seven months of the year, which included the Belmont Stakes and Fourth of July Festival at the track, as well as several concerts at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, sales tax revenues were up by 4.7%. August figures are not in yet. County sales tax revenue also rose from $98.64 million in 2024 to $99.98 million this year. “The weather in July and August also helped drive visitation not just to the track, but to SPAC Live Nation, our parks, golf courses, outdoor dining facilities, etc.,” Shimkus wrote in an email on Tuesday. “I’m told parking fees paid to the city were the highest July 4th and Labor Day weekend, which I think is the case as locals and visitors both enjoyed our downtown simultaneously.”
President of Discover Saratoga Darryl Leggieri said hotel occupancy in Saratoga Springs in July was also up. He shared data that indicated there was a 2.3% increase in bookings and a 13.5% rise in per-room revenue. Occupancy and revenue were also up throughout Saratoga County, by 2.4% and 14.6%, respectively.
More in the Times-Union.