Hotel Charlotte named business of the year

This was an exciting bit of news to cross my desk this morning! We were recognized at the annual gala, but hadn't received a press release. It makes us feel big time!


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 30, 2008

CONTACT: Jeannie Tasker – (209) 962-7163
Yosemite Chamber of Commerce


HOTEL CHARLOTTE NAMED 2008 BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

The Hotel Charlotte in downtown Groveland, CA was recently named the 2008 Business of the Year by the Yosemite Chamber of Commerce. In the Chamber’s first ever members’ choice recognition program, the Hotel Charlotte received the greatest number of votes over a seven month period, a testimony to the welcoming atmosphere of the hotel and delicious offerings of its restaurant. The honor also acknowledges the contributions to the community made by the owners of the Hotel Charlotte, Lynn Upthagrove and Victor Niebylski, who give selflessly of their time and resources to Groveland Art Strolls, Chamber marketing efforts, 49er Festivals and Chili Cook-offs, Pine Cone Singers, Tuolumne County Visitors Bureau, and Yosemite Gateway Partners, among others. Noted among the creative contributions, the Hotel Charlotte hosted a summer luau at Camp Tuolumne Trails which raised over $2,400 for Groveland Soroptomists, and, Goose, the hotel dog, ran for honorary mayor of Groveland in 2008, raising $1,200 for his sponsor, Camp Tuolumne Trails, and $2,800 for the Yosemite Chamber.

Lynn and Victor hit the ground running when they purchased the Hotel Charlotte five and a half years ago. Virtually newlyweds at the time, Lynn worked for a company which wrote travel guides, and Victor was a chef at Stanford University. They literally had searched the world for just the right small hotel with a restaurant, before discovering the Hotel Charlotte and its proprietors, Ruth and Jim Kraenzel. Ruth and Jim sought buyers who would continue their tradition of friendly hospitality, good food, and community service. Lynn and Victor were the perfect prospects, and the sale between the couples initiated a new friendship.

Lynn’s development of the “Hotel Charlotte, On The Way To Yosemite” website launched the hotel worldwide and dramatically increased the demand for its hotel rooms. Chef Victor’s delectable entrees immediately attracted a loyal following of regular diners to the restaurant, as well as the hotel’s out-of-town visitors. In response to an increasing need, Lynn and Victor now offer additional lodging, complete with maid service and breakfast at the hotel, in several off-site homes and condominiums.

The Hotel Charlotte hosts the weekly meetings of the Rotary Club, the board meetings of the Yosemite Chamber of Commerce, monthly card stamping parties, and birthday clubs. Lynn has developed a series of special events from cabaret nights showcasing Dennis Brown and Friends from the Pine Cone Singers, to winemaker dinners showcasing local sommeliers, to classic holiday dinners such as Valentine’s, Mother’s Day, and New Years. So much in demand are Lynn and Chef Victor, with a staff known for good service and warm personality, that the Hotel Charlotte was contracted to cater several offsite events over the last year, including the Camp Tuolumne Trails New Year’s Eve fundraiser and the Yosemite Chamber’s Annual Gala.

The Hotel Charlotte is located on Main Street in Groveland, and may be contacted at (209) 962-6455, or at HotelCharlotte@aol.com, www.HotelCharlotte.com.