New managers of Trenton's only hotel report unpaid bills, fewer reservations than anticipated

TRENTON, N.J. — Trenton's only hotel is facing more financial challenges.

The management company that took over operations last month says the hotel is saddled with more than $300,000 in bills that are more than a month overdue.

Michael Getzey of Marshall Hotels & Resorts told a meeting Monday of the public board that oversees the hotel that his company also found far fewer reservations than anticipated.

Getzey said he had been under the impression that the previous managers were leaving with all bills paid up. But they denied having made such a promise.

The hotel has struggled for years to fill rooms, and the city of Trenton is spending $1.4 million a year to pay off the costs of building it a decade ago.

The hotel was a Marriott but now is the independently run Lafayette Yard Hotel & Conference Center.

The Lafayette Yard Community Development Corp., which oversees the hotel, was also surprised by the outstanding bills, said Joyce Kersey, the chairwoman.

She said the board has begun a review into the late bills and other discrepancies.

The board is short of money itself, and is consulting with city and state officials about how to pay outstanding bills, Kersey said.