Genetti Hotel has ‘weathered many storms’ over its 100-year history

Williamsport Sun-Gazette; Williamsport, Pennsylvania; published June 25, 2022; by Seth Nolan

As the Genetti Hotel enters its second century, its status as an integral piece of the community was on full display at an event celebrating its centennial Thursday.

Taking a step back to 1922, attendees at the hotel’s 100 year anniversary experienced life as close to the Roaring 20’s as they could. The Genetti was decorated in, and hosted people completely dressed in, the styles of the early ’20s.

“There will never be another hotel in the area that can compare,” owner Gus Genetti said. “It has the soul of the people in it.”

Genetti spoke about the history of the hotel, but included interesting aspects about the building that gives it its unique atmosphere.

“Many of these stories involve the paranormal,” Genetti said. “I don’t believe in ghosts or anything like that, however I never ride any of these elevators,” he joked.

In the early 1920s, “this was the most exciting place to be,” Genetti said. In the 1930s, the hotel experienced the hardships of the Great Depression with the rest of America. “In the ’40s a man by the name of Carl Stotz decided there would be a World Series for Little League, changing the hotel and the town forever,” Genetti said.

Genetti’s main point during his speech was how integral the hotel is to the community, but also how integral the community is for the hotel.

“I don’t think of myself as the owner, but the steward,” he said. “We are just stewards of this place … some of you here, your parents bought stock in the hotel. Your families have made memories here. All of this belongs to you.”

Although the hotel has been through many highs and lows, Genetti carried the building into the next century with an optimistic note.

“We’ve weathered may storms and we’ll be here for another hundred years,” he said.

Kathy Taylor, the hotel’s general manager, began her close relationship with the Genetti in 1985 when her friend told her about a good job opportunity for young workers helping serve weddings over the summer.

“I thought, ‘this’ll be fun,'” she said. “And it was. It was a lot of fun. I came back a few more times.

“What a thrill and an honor to be asked to come back now to be the general manager and to be able to celebrate 100 years of this place,” Taylor continued.