Track once again anchors the summertime economy
STRs becoming a bigger part of local mix, report says.
This exciting Positively Saratoga news is brought to you by our friends at Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce and Discover Saratoga.
August in Saratoga was once again defined by the Saratoga Race Course, which concluded its 2025 season on a high note, Darryl Leggieri the president of Discover Saratoga wrote in a report to the community. For the 10th consecutive year, paid attendance surpassed one million fans, while all-sources wagering handle exceeded $790 million.
“The track remains a cornerstone of Saratoga’s summer economy and reinforces the city’s reputation as a premier destination,” the report says. “Its energy and appeal extend far beyond the grandstand, fueling strong demand for lodging, dining, and cultural experiences across Saratoga County.”
Sales for groups and meetings remain strong, the report says.
“56 groups signed contracts, adding more than 9,100 future room nights and $4.6 million in projected impact, while 18 groups were serviced on site, generating close to $2.2 million. These results represent a modest but important increase over 2024, reflecting Saratoga’s continued appeal as a meetings destination even in peak leisure months,” the report says.
August 2025 Lodging Trends
August continued Saratoga’s strong tourism momentum, with both Saratoga Springs and Saratoga County reporting notable gains in Average Daily Rate (the total rooms revenue divided by the number of rooms sold in August) and in Revenue Per Available Room (the ADR multiplied by the occupancy rate).
In Saratoga Springs, ADR rose 6% year-over-year while RevPAR jumped 6.5%, reflecting sustained demand at premium rates during the height of racing season.
Saratoga County saw its ADR rise 6% and RevPAR rise 4.4% over last year.
“These results reinforce the region’s reputation for delivering exceptional lodging performance and highlight Saratoga’s continued strength as a tourism destination,” the report says.
Short-term vacation rentals, which are generally homes rented for less than one month at a time and often for long weekends or a week, have gotten a strong foothold in the community.
Overall occupancy rates for STRs are lower than hotels because owners sometimes use the properties during track season themselves and the inventory can shift since a home is often a normal residence only rented during track season. STRs often garnered longer stays than hotels, the report says.
Airbnb units reached an estimated 24,500 paid room nights, with an average daily rate of $195, or roughly $4.78 million in taxable revenue for the month.
