Nine months ago, when the coronavirus pandemic struck every facet of life, the Mirror Lake Inn Resort and Spa in Lake Placid decided to close its doors for three months to mitigate the spread. But while no guests came through their entries, behind those doors, owners and managers were planning the Inn’s return. That occurred on June 26 and after spending some $500,000 on COVID-19 health and safety protocols, and seeing the faces of comforted visitors, the Mirror Lake Inn’s new mantra was born: Safety is the new luxury.
The resort in Upstate New York integrated hospital-grade Ultraviolet C (UV-C) light disinfection and cleaning equipment, along with state-of-the-art electrostatic sprayers into their already extensive cleaning protocols. The Inn also launched a new app allowing for remote check-in and check-out capabilities, upgraded their door locks to RFID technology allowing for keyless entry via smart phone, installed touchless hand sanitizers around the property and at all points of entry, redesigned and renovated its upscale restaurant, “The View”, to enhance social distancing, expanded outdoor seating capacities around the hotel and restaurants, added thermal imaging cameras so that all staff are screened prior to the start of their shift along with all patrons in the restaurant and Spa.
By autumn, though, there was more. Recognizing UV-C technology is the gold standard in air sanitization, ownership recently procured Haiku UV-C ceiling fans and HoMedics standing air sanitizing units which employ UV-C, ionization and HEPA filtration technologies. Haiku ceiling fans are billed as the world’s first smart fan with built-in automatic adjustments, while HoMedics is a known innovator in health and wellness technology.
Then, in its most creative move in this pandemic era, the AAA Four Diamond Mirror Lake Inn acquired gondola cabins for its hip, lakeside Cottage Café. When Whiteface Mountain replaced its original cabins this fall with a brand-new fleet, the Olympic Mountain announced that the gondola cabins circa 1999 would be available for sale. That’s all the Mirror Lake Inn had to hear as it recently purchased two such units for the Cottage Café. The lakeside pub offers indoor and outdoor dining in the warmer seasons, but with these heated cabins now in play, diners will enjoy a very unique experience in a socially distanced manner on the deck of the establishment. The concept has opened to rave reviews – the cabins are perfect for families and parties of up to eight guests who can remove their jackets in 72-degree indoor comfort. The units are available for private rentals. Complete cleaning and sanitizing processes follow each use of the Whiteface/Cottage Café gondola cars.
On the opposite side of The Cottage, a new heated tent offers guests comfortable outdoor dining with full views of Mirror Lake and the Adirondack High Peaks.
“We have incredible protocols in place which I would say are second to none, and we can come as close as possible to guaranteeing a safe environment for our staff and our guests,” remarked Ed Weibrecht, owner of the hotel. “The reason we’ve put all these protocols in is that we don’t want our staff to be at risk and we don’t want our guests to be at risk.”
About the Mirror Lake Inn
The AAA Four Diamond Mirror Lake Inn Resort and Spa is a luxury lakefront resort offering an authentic Adirondack experience. The Inn, Four Diamond-rated for 36 consecutive years, also offers both Four Diamond cuisine and casual dining options, with impeccable service amid awe-inspiring views. No property in New York State, outside Manhattan, has maintained the Four Diamond designation longer than The Mirror Lake Inn. It is the only property in Lake Placid that combines Four Diamond lodging and dining. The Inn’s renowned Lake Placid spa pampers the body and refreshes the mind with a comprehensive menu of services. The inn is conveniently located one block from the unique shops found on the village’s Main Street.
