The Seneca Nation announced this week that it plans to invest $47 million to renovate 594 rooms and suites in its 26-story hotel in Niagara, New York, with work slated to start this October.
Seneca Nation Announced a Major Renovation
According to officials, the project should be finished by late 2027. Work will be done on three floors at a time to meet that schedule. The new project is yet another major renovation the property will undergo since the opening of the casino in 2002 and the adjacent hotel tower in 2006.
In 2008, the property saw its first major upgrade as Seneca Gaming Corp. announced plans to expand it with additional hotel rooms and other amenities. As part of the expansion, the company acquired the adjacent Fallsville Splash Park, which had been condemned by the State of New York and transferred to the company. The property was subsequently demolished to make way for the second phase of the casino’s expansion.
The first renovation was in 2013 when the venue underwent $26 million in upgrades, including improvements to the main gaming floor and outdoor square. An additional $6 million was invested in upgrades to the casino’s HVAC system.
In 2018, the Seneca Nation and Seneca Gaming Corporation announced another $40 million renovation and beautification project for the venue. The plans included a new lobby and lobby bar, expanded registration and VIP check-in areas, and a new entrance. Given that this year marks the 20th anniversary of the hotel tower’s opening, a major renovation is not unexpected.
At $47 million, the latest investment amounts to approximately $79,000 per hotel room. Interestingly, 10 penthouses won’t be touched in the renovation. With a total of 604 rooms, Seneca Niagara had 220,460 available room nights in 2025, which means that the venue saw an occupancy rate of more than 82%.
Seneca Niagara Is Preparing for the Future
Seneca Niagara’s refurbishment comes at a time when other casinos in the broader Niagara Falls area are aiming to become the “Las Vegas of the North.” Ontario Premier Doug Ford said in December last year that Niagara needs more casino development. He encouraged major Las Vegas casino operators to consider investing in the region, calling on them to submit proposals for billion-dollar hotel projects.
If new casinos are built in the already heavily-touristed area, Seneca Niagara will need to adapt to the increased competition, necessitating upgrades to attract more visitors. Seneca Resorts & Casinos CEO Kevin Nephew explained that the company could not fall behind, saying “If we are going to be the leader, then we need to lead.”
In other news from Ontario, St8 expanded its partnership with Pragmatic Play, with the deal now covering the Canadian province, as well as Alberta.