ITHACA, NY — Starting Thursday, March 2, valet parking is coming to Downtown Ithaca.

The Downtown Ithaca Alliance (DIA) announced that the city will be testing a pilot valet parking program during the month of March.

The pilot program will operate on Downtown’s busiest days — Thursday through Sunday between the hours of noon and 10:00 p.m. The valet parking program is made possible through the assistance of two major Downtown hotels — the Ithaca Marriott and the Hilton Garden Inn. Both hotels operate valet parking services for their own patrons but have agreed to work with the DIA on a community valet parking program for anyone using Downtown.

The price for this special service is $3.00 per hour. Each hotel has its own all day or overnight rate.

 Using the valet parking program is easy. Simply drive up to the curb at the entrance of either the Ithaca Marriott on Aurora Street or the Hilton Garden Inn on Seneca Street. Valet staff from the hotel will ask if you are a hotel or community guest and take your car from that point. When you return, simply come to the same drop off place with your valet stub and staff will retrieve your vehicle.

DIA Executive Director Gary Ferguson noted that “there has been a request for valet parking service here in Downtown for some time. We are grateful to the Ithaca Marriott and the Hilton Garden Inn for making this program possible.” Ferguson also reiterated that “some people will want to use valet parking while others will prefer to self-park. But now we have a choice for folks.”

The pilot program will last the entire month of March and continuation will be evaluated at that time.

Have questions? Contact the Downtown Ithaca Alliance at (607) 277-8679 or visit http://www.downtownithaca.com.