O’Mara and Palmesano cheer selection of Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel as ‘America’s Best Waterfront Hotel’ in USA Today contest ~ 'Thank you to all of the loyal regional voters who once again rallied behind one of our own!'

Watkins Glen, N.Y., August 5—State Senator Tom O’Mara (R,C,I-Big Flats) and Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C,I-Corning) today cheered the victory of the Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel in USA Today’s online competition to choose “America’s Best Waterfront Hotel.”

Throughout the month-long contest, the Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel in Schuyler County held the lead out of 20 nationwide finalists for the 2016 designation.  The competition closed earlier this week and the victory was announced today. The Ritz-Carlton on Florida's Amelia Island and Lake Placid's Mirror Lake Inn Resort & Spa rounded out the top 3.

In a joint statement, O’Mara and Palmesano said, “What a great victory for the Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel, the Finger Lakes region and all of the loyal regional voters who once again rallied behind one of our own!  Finger Lakes and Southern Tier voters kept the Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel in the lead all the way among this truly impressive collection of America's best waterfront hotels.  It's been an outstanding effort and a true testament to how the people of this region pull together to achieve these worthwhile victories!  Great job!”

O’Mara and Palmesano said that the “America’s Best Waterfront Hotel” designation will be an effective marketing tool for local leaders and help boost tourism throughout the entire Finger Lakes region.

According to USA Today, the nation’s 20 finalists were selected by a panel of luxury travel experts together with USA Today’s 10Best editors who, in addition to their own analyses, reviewed industry awards and guest reviews.

Schuyler County attractions have fared well over the past year in USA Today’s Readers’ Choice competitions.  Last March, Watkins Glen State Park was selected as the 3rd Best State Park in America.  And last June, Watkins Glen International (WGI) was chosen as “America’s Best NASCAR Track.”