ALBANY, New York— The new, 110-room Hyatt Place Albany in New York is now accepting reservations for late September 2023 and beyond. To lead the property, HEI Hotels and Resorts recently named Catlin Ptak as general manager and Mina Gagraj as director of sales.
The pet-friendly hotel is located in Quackenbush Square in the heart of downtown Albany, where visitors will find a thriving culinary scene and lush walking paths along the Hudson River, as well as easy access to MVP Arena and Palace Theatre. Hotel amenities will include 3,100 square feet of flexible meeting space, 24/7 gym, shared computers and a daily, complimentary breakfast bar.
Guests may dine at the Placery, which will serve burgers, salads, sandwiches and premium alcoholic beverages. Each of the hotel’s 110 guest rooms will be equipped with a 49-inch swiveling HDTV, coffee maker, refrigerator, iron and ironing board.
“As HEI expands its New York reach with its eighth hotel in the state, we want to ensure that our latest property benefits from superior leadership, and Catlin and Mina are the embodiment of what a successful team looks like,” said Rachel Moniz, COO of HEI. “With a combined total of more than 25 years of hospitality experience, both have spent numerous years at multiple property-level positions, giving them the first-hand experience necessary to thrive in their new roles. They quickly will lead the hotel to its rightful place as the lodging destination of choice for the greater Albany area.”
With 16 years of hospitality experience, Ptak began her career in the hospitality industry as night auditor at the Holiday Inn in Middletown, New York. Since then, she has risen steadily within the ranks, including night manager at the Hilton Albany and, most recently, the New England area manager with Visions Hotels. While there, she oversaw diverse teams at multiple hotels during concurrent renovations, focusing on elevating the guest experience through exceptional service. Catlin has been previously involved with volunteering and contributing to various LGBTQ+ organizations. She received her associate degree in liberal arts/mathematics from SUNY Orange.
“I am thrilled to bring my 16 years of hotel leadership to this new role and for our guests to experience Albany’s first Hyatt brand hotel,” Ptak said. “I can’t wait for Hyatt Place Albany to become an active member of downtown Albany, one that embodies an elevated guest experience and that actively volunteers in our community.”
As a 12-year hospitality veteran, Gagraj most recently was area director of sales with Marriott at Residence Inn and Courtyard in the Albany and Kingston market, where she oversaw both hotels and increased year-over-year revenue growth, with increased sales of 10%. She has held multiple property level positions over the years, including marketing and catering sales manager with the Double Tree by Hilton in Schenectady, New York. Gagraj is a member at Discovery Albany and the Albany Chamber of Commerce. She received her degree in hospitality from Cornell University.
“I’m excited to start this next chapter in my career at Hyatt Place Albany and look forward to building a strong sales team with a proven track record that will help secure HPA’s position as a market leader,” said Gagraj.
For more information, visit hyatt.com.
