Jeff Shipley, CEO of the Seneca County Chamber of Commerce, joined FLX Morning to discuss a packed agenda including the grand reopening of the Lux Hotel, major Medicare changes for 2025, small business workshops, and a remarkable tourism season that saw the Finger Lakes region shine on a national and international stage.
The Lux Hotel, long known to locals as the Holiday Inn property, has undergone a significant renovation under new ownership and rebranded as part of Choice Hotels’ Ascend Collection, a boutique, upscale line. Shipley described the transformation as stunning, noting that all guest rooms, common areas, the banquet facility, and the Woody’s bar and restaurant have been completely redone. A ribbon cutting celebration is scheduled from 3 to 6 p.m. and will include property tours so the community can see the improvements firsthand.
On the economic development front, the Chamber is partnering with the Small Business Development Center to offer Fast Track to Business Startup workshops for just $125. The multi-day series covers marketing, bookkeeping, lending, HR, payroll, and regulatory essentials, making it an exceptional value for entrepreneurs at any stage. Shipley himself led the marketing session on the day of the interview.
Medicare open enrollment runs October 15 through December 7, and Shipley emphasized that 2025 brings some of the biggest changes in years, most notably the elimination of the so-called donut hole in prescription drug coverage. The Chamber, which has operated as a licensed health insurance brokerage for over 40 years, will host free educational seminars every Tuesday beginning October 8 from 10 to 11 a.m.
Tourism numbers continue to impress across the region. Short-term vacation rentals grew 15 percent in the first and second quarters of 2024, spiking 33 percent during the solar eclipse weekend, when Seneca County reached a remarkable 98 percent hotel occupancy. Shipley also highlighted a busy season of hosted travel writers and social media influencers, with several compelling articles expected to appear in national and international publications soon.
Fall events worth noting include the Deer Haven Park Fall Festival, the Dog Wine Country Circuit at Sampson State Park, and cider releases at Three Brothers Winery. Visitors and residents alike can track fall foliage progress at discoversenecocounty.com, which now features an interactive leaf-peeping map in partnership with I Love New York.