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Hampton Inn managers cut the ribbon on the newly refurbished hotel in Lenox on Wednesday.
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The new approach to the hotel; the sidewalks and parking lot will be redone this summer.
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Lenox's Hampton Inn Refurbishes Rooms for Better Guest Stay

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
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The refurbishment means the addition of six more rooms to the hotel. 

LENOX, Mass. — The Hampton Inn and Suites Berkshires-Lenox was recently updated to create a much more appealing look and better guest amenities.

On Wednesday, the hotel held a ribbon cutting, inviting the business and community leaders to see some of the new refurbishments.

"It's very inspiring. Some of the things that I've heard is that many of us, if not the majority, have not ever walked through these doors. It's kind of our first time here, and once you walk in, you see how precious this is," said Sara Goodberlet, executive director for the Lenox Chamber of commerce. "It's another beautiful offering for all the visitors that come through our area. It's tucked away, and with their new remodeling and their offerings, it's a perfect addition to our local businesses."

The $4.9 million refresh includes new furniture and updated bathrooms in all of the rooms, new equipment in the gym, new furniture and redesign in the common area, a new design in the breakfast area, the appearance of the inside and outside of the hotel, and more.

"Over the past few months, we've thoroughly renovated our space with one wall in mind, creating a more comfortable, moderate, and welcoming experience for all guests to come to Berkshire County. We are incredibly proud of our transformation from the refreshed guest rooms to the updating common areas," said General Manager Steve Curley.

"Everything still reflects our commitment to quality hospitality and the charming spirit of the Berkshires. This milestone could be possible without the hard work of our team here."

Curley said the renovations took a couple of months and the pool was the only exception to the refurbishments as it was in great condition. He said Hampton hotels do refurbishments to keep up with the brand and look newer and nicer for the guests.

The hotel opened in 2008 and went through a complete remodel in 2015, part of a refurbishment of the global chain. This latest refresh is also an update of the brand Hampton by Hilton, which has 3,000 properties worldwide. The new "visual identity" was rolled out beginning in 2024.  

General Manager Laura Rummel said the hotel is basically brand new with the inside looking more inviting.

"It's a brand-new hotel when you look at it from October till now, completely different feel in the hotel," she said. "It's definitely a lighter, more airy, open feeling when you come into a hotel now, whereas before it was everything was very dark white, so it felt more enclosed, but I feel like they did a really great job with the renovations and opening things up and trying to tie some of the local features in."

The hotel also added photos of local areas to the decor.

The refurbishment is largely finished and at completion, it will have 85 rooms, a growth from 79; exterior improvement to the sidewalks and parking lot will be done in the next few months.

The hotel also remodeled rooms to make extended stays even better for guests. The hotel is one of few that allows an extended stay with no limit. To help guests they added a kitchenette and stove top so that guests won't have to eat out as much and can make their own meals if they want to.

"Today represents a new beginning for our hotel, and we are grateful for the support of the community. Thank you, Chamber of Commerce. Thank you so much for your support. We look forward to welcome guests creating memorable experiences for years to come," said Director of Sales Onicia Mends.

The hotel is located at 445 Pittsfield Road and allows pets.

 

Tags: motels, hotels,   renovation,   ribbon cutting,   

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Pittsfield Schools Finalizing Bus Routes for Fall

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The district currently has enough bus drivers for the upcoming school year, and families will know their child's transportation schedule in mid-August. 

With about five weeks left of summer vacation, Superintendent Latifah Phillips updated the School Committee on transportation for the 2026-2027 year with middle school restructuring and the closure of Morningside Community School. 

Busing is a question that has continuously been raised as the Pittsfield Public Schools approach an academic year with a couple of big changes. 

"The reason that the bus stops and times aren't shared until very close to the school year is that routes change based on every student that moves into the district and requires a bus, and so it's important for us to wait as late as possible to ensure that families are getting the most accurate timetable," Phillips explained during a meeting held at Reid Middle School on Thursday. 

"We are also continuing to explore after-school transportation for the four schools receiving Morningside, and a survey was given to students who attend the Summer Morningside 21st Century Program to assess transportation needs."

That survey found that transportation does not appear to be a big impediment to students participating in the after-school program, but funding is set aside to ensure students are able to access the same services as they were the previous year. 

The district is still planning to offer after-school programming for Morningside transfer students, and is working with the four receiving elementary schools (Allendale, Egremont, Williams, Capeless) to plan a practice bus ride. 

Phillips explained that, for someone who has never ridden a bus before, and especially a school bus, they want to ensure that students are poised for success and understand the rules and expectations before the first ride. Students will be able to get on the bus, ride the route, arrive at school, have a quick break, maybe play on the playground and have a popsicle, then return home on the bus. 

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