Genetti Hotel Celebrates $2 Million Renovation Grant

Williamsport, Pa. — State Sen. Gene Yaw (R-23) made a stop at the Genetti Hotel in Williamsport after the state budget awarded the hotel $2 million for an extensive renovation project.

The funds were awarded to Genetti through the “Tourist Attraction Marketing Program” included in the 2023-2024 state budget.

“Thank you very much for supporting our hotel,” said Gus Genetti Jr., the hotel’s owner and president, as he shook Yaw’s hand.

The renovations will focus on the back of the hotel facilities, namely the pool area, the parking lot and the section of the building dedicated to motel-style rooms. The aim of the project is to give these facilities a more modern look, as well as to update some of the facilities in the main part of the hotel.

Anthony Visco sat with the owner, Yaw, and Phillip Murray, the hotel’s general manager, and unfurled large scrolls of paper outlining plans for the project. Visco’s firm, Anthony H. Visco Jr. Architects, was commissioned to design the plans for the renovation.

Mr. Genetti took the time to tell the senator some of the hotel’s history and significance. Before the hotel opened in 1922, the Williamsport community helped raise $680,000 to establish what would then be called the Lycoming Hotel, he explained.

Mr. Genetti added that this upcoming renovation would be the biggest transformation the hotel has undergone since the motel’s cabana and pool were built in 1968.

Speaking of the motel rooms at the back of the hotel, Mr Visco said: “What we’re doing is trying to create some vertical elements, put some gable ends here to help break it all up. Changing the modern aluminum look to a more traditional look and we’re going to create some handicap accessible rooms here on the ground floor and here at the Motor Lodge.

“We’re trying to at least give it a more updated look.” Mr. Visco added.

Mr Murray said: “And in some of the funds, we will use to improve the security of the hotel … and then we will also work on the lobby area … and some of the other guest rooms.”

The grant-funded project is scheduled to be completed in March 2025. Additional projects will follow after that, which, in addition to the $2 million project, will total about $6 million in expenditures, according to Mr. Genetti.

A “grand reopening” of the hotel will take place “in about two years” when each renovation project is completed, Mr. Genetti said.