The Otesaga Resort Hotel Reviews
Reviews
We're all about trust. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.
-
Featured
![Courtney]()
Courtney Sent on 10/24/2021The best location for a wedding!
Our 10/8/21 wedding was beautiful and magical thanks to The Otesaga Hotel! We could not have selected a better location for our event and Amanda Sittler was the most organized and professional coordinator to bring it all together. We chose to have an intimate rehearsal dinner followed by a "Welcome Reception" open to all guests the night before as well. Having all of our wedding events on site at The Otesaga made it easy for guests to stay and enjoy their time! It also allowed my husband and I to really get to talk to everyone who had traveled in for our wedding. Everyone had an awesome time and complimented us on the uniqueness and historical feel of the hotel and quality of service. We would recommend to anyone! -
![Courtney]()
Courtney Sent on 04/11/2025A Fairytale Wedding Venue with Unmatched Service
If you're looking for a venue that checks every box - stunning lakefront views, historic charm, luxurious amenities, and top-notch service - The Otesaga Resort Hotel is it! As a wedding planner, I always love coordinating here because the team consistently goes above and beyond. Brooke and Taylor are incredible to work with, helping make every moment magical for our couples. The convenience of having all your wedding events in one elegant location makes The Otesaga a standout choice. Their attention to detail and warm, professional service truly makes it a venue that I recommend time and time again! -
Samantha Sent on 10/15/2023
Just do it!
The most gorgeous venue, reasonably priced, effortless planning, and great food. I booked this as a destination wedding and put my full faith in the staff to assist with wedding planning. You are provided with a day of coordinator who took care of it all! All I had to do was show up! You won't regret it! -
-
Zack Sent on 09/19/2023
Perfect Wedding Day
My wife and I were married here in 2023. It was an amazing day and it was executed flawlessly. Our wedding planner, Megan, was great to work with. She was able to answer any question we had and was very responsive. Our day of coordinator, Felicia, was on point with every detail and checked in on us several times to make sure we were happy with everything. The Otesaga is a beautiful venue with great food and great all around service. -
-
![Mandy]()
Mandy Sent on 12/23/2022There is no place like The Otesaga
There is no place like the Otesaga. Our wedding day was magical – the views of the lake from the lawn, veranda and ballroom are stunning, and the hotel spaces are elegant and unique. Every single member of the staff was so helpful and genuine, they went above and beyond to make the whole experience special.
(The Otesaga is a perfect wedding venue for so many reasons, including a few I didn’t expect going into planning our wedding: 1 – it has a seamless indoor Rain Plan that we came VERY close to using, and 2 – nice, accessible bathrooms with plenty of stalls)
Our wedding was on 10/14/22 with around 150 guests. We held our Ceremony on the Lawn overlooking the lake, Cocktail hour on the veranda, Reception in the Grand Ballroom, After party at the Hawkeye Grill. We also held our Welcome Gathering in the Kingfisher Tower Room on 10/13.
We stayed at the Otesaga with our family and wedding party, it was amazing to be able to have the whole weekend of events in one place. Guests in our room block had the hotel breakfast buffet included in their room rate. We arranged a shuttle from the Holiday Inn Express in Cooperstown to the wedding to accommodate more guests.
Megan Chase is the Otesaga’s event manager who gave us the royal treatment from our initial tour of the venue through the wedding day. She was always so responsive along the way, and made sure all of our details were attended to. Kayla also helped coordinate the Day Of, both ladies are fantastic to work with.
The food at the Otesaga exceeded expectations. We had a Yakitori station at the Welcome Gathering, and Megan helped us curate a menu that worked for that special event, based on the banquet catering menu.
On our wedding day we had passed hors d'oeuvres and a Mediterranean station for the cocktail hour, plus 2 signature cocktails: Dirty Martinis and French 75s. We had Filet Mignon, Chicken Scallopini and Mushroom Ravioli for the entrees. Everything was cooked perfectly and the guests all gave rave reviews. Our wedding cake was made by the Otesaga’s pastry chef, who also agreed to make Beignets to serve for dessert along with chocolate-covered strawberries.
Notes:
- The Otesaga hotel rooms book very far in advance, as do many other area hotels
- We had a 50-person shuttle, it was too large to drop guests at the lobby of the Otesaga. I’d advise to ask questions around these logistics when booking so you can ensure a seamless experience for your guests and on your wedding day. -
-
![Carley]()
Carley Sent on 11/18/2022The. Best. Venue.
We recently got married at The Otesaga in October. Leading up to the event, I worked specifically with Amanda. She answered all of my questions (many of them silly, daunting, and repetitive) and provided me with assurance that everything would go smoothly, despite living out of state and being in panic mode as the countdown neared. She answered all of my questions, and even provided me with information on questions that I did not know to ask. She gave me input on the venue (taking measurements and providing feedback) and was extremely patient with my bazillion questions. She also provided me with referrals to vendors - and OMG, I HAD THE BEST VENDORS WITH MANY THANKS TO HER! When the wedding rolled around, she and the rest of the team DEFINITELY delivered! I swear my day would not have been the same elsewhere as many of the special touches were unique to the Otesaga vibe - both the picturesque of the resort, the staff that treated you like you were family, and not just guests, and the overall quaintness of Cooperstown for a wedding weekend filled with family and friends. It is worth also noting that EVERYONE was so great upon arrival. The doormen provided excellent advice on where to go in town, along with grabbing everything we needed when doing multiple trips! The staff at the front desk went above and beyond with everything, and all of my guests mirrored the same sentiment. The food was delicious and exceptions were made for picky eaters without hesitation. Amanda and Kayla had the reception room SO perfect and every one of my details worked out and displayed just as I would have wanted (literally could cry thinking back to that day and them putting my vision to life, without need for my involvement or check-ins). They had everything from the rehearsal, ceremony, to the end of the after-party, all so seamless. They even checked in after the event to make sure I was happy - both on site and over e-mail. I KNOW this is not the experience you would get elsewhere having talked to other brides and explored different venues. I am forever grateful for choosing The Otesaga to celebrate one of the best days of our lives, and the best part about the venue is that we cannot wait to go back each year and take in the views and reflect on our special day. Thank you Amanda, Kayla, and the rest of team at The Otesaga. You made my day perfect, let alone picture perfect. You are all HOF in my book!!! -
-
Katherine Sent on 10/11/2022
Highly Recommend!
This venue is absolutely stunning and provides the most amazing service! This venue really does it all from providing a place to stay on site for our out of town guest to even hosting the rehearsal dinner, welcome party, ceremony, reception, and even an after party! You really do not have to leave the venue at all which is amazing! We got married at the Otesaga on 9/3/22 after two years of planning due to the pandemic and had the pleasure of working with several coordinators – Amanda, Brooke and Felicia. Each of the coordinators were so easy to work with, responded quickly to emails, and really took care of everything on the day of the wedding for us. Even from the moment we arrived at the venue for our wedding weekend, the staff here really catered to us and made our wedding weekend feel so special. We were lucky enough to be able to check in early and the bell hops outside were able to help us unpack our car quickly and even brought all our wedding stuff to a closet to be stored for the day of the wedding. They really made the weekend as stress free as possible! As the bride, I can honestly say that I got to sit back and relax on the day of the wedding. The coordinators took care of everything for me and were constantly checking in to see if I needed anything at all. It was truly amazing and everything ran so smoothly without any hiccups.
We had the rehearsal dinner at the Otesaga outside on the veranda of the leatherstocking golf pro shop. The food and service was great! The coordinators even worked with the chef to come up with a buffet menu that our guests and us really enjoyed. We also had the welcome party located outside the Hawkeye Bar, where half the fire bar was reserved for our guests. It ended up being a colder night than expected and dipped into the low 40s, but the coordinators were nice enough to bring out blankets for our guests to keep warm without us even asking! Even the after party in the Hawkeye Bar after the wedding reception was amazing. The venue hired a DJ for the night who was amazing and our guests loved and the party continued until the bar shut down.
We also asked our guests for feedback about the wedding weekend and they could not say enough good things about the staff and service provided here, it is really top notch! Our guests said that the staff came up to the tables frequently during the reception and dinner and asked guests if they could get them any drinks from the open bar as well.
Lastly, our vendors for the wedding included DJ Vinney Vin (Non Stop Music); florist: Jackie Hull (A Rose is a Rose); Hair/Makeup: Timeless Salon; Photobooth: T&T Photobooth; officiant: Bishop Christopher Richard; photographer: Erin Camp Photography; Videography: Nostalgic Innovations; and Transportation: Leatherstocking Trolley. All these vendors did an amazing job and we also cannot thank them enough for making our dream wedding come true!
-
-
![Alicia]()
Alicia Sent on 11/11/2021Gorgeous venue, flawless day
We loved working with the Otesaga from start to finish. We worked with Gordon as our coordinator and we was exceptional - hugely professional but very personable at the same time. The lake views here are unbeatable. The food and beverages were incredible. Staying on site made everything so easy for our wedding party. Could not say enough great things! We will be taking many anniversary trips back here. -
![Alexis]()
Alexis Sent on 09/28/2021Magical day with the best events team!
We got married at Otesaga on 9/5/21. And it was nothing short of amazing. The grounds are breathtaking. Feels like it's stuck in time. The events manager, Gordon Clarkson, is the absolute best. I knew I didn't have to worry because Gordon and the team at Otesaga knew exactly what to do. The decorations were set up perfectly. The memory table was beautiful. It rained but we pushed forward with Gordon's encouragement and I'm so glad we did. The ring bearer didn't have the rings and Gordon quickly pivoted and got the rings to the altar without anyone noticing the mix up. We would get married at Otesaga every year if we could. It was the best wedding and weekend we could have imagined. Look no further, Otesaga really is the perfect venue. -
-
![Kayla]()
Kayla Sent on 06/24/2021Beautiful Day, Beautiful Venue
While this venue was our dream, it would not have happened without Amanda Sittler (event planner/ manager). She made sure ever detail was planned and correct through the entire day. I don’t have enough kind words to say about her and the way she runs this place. I know i will look back forever and cherish these amazing memories this venue created. -
Alex Sent on 09/21/2020
The PERFECT Wedding Venue
Having our wedding at the Otesaga was the best decision we could have ever made. It is HANDS DOWN the most magical place for a wedding in the upstate NY area, and the only thing more beautiful than the venue is the unbelievable team that works there.
Working with Megan Chase, the Event Manager at the Otesaga, was such an amazing experience. She was the definition of “calm, cool, and collected” no matter what, and made even the most stressful moments of wedding planning feel like a piece of cake. From beginning to end she was helpful, caring, communicative, hard-working, and an absolute pleasure to coordinate with.
The food, the staff, and the venue itself are all exceptional and exceeded every expectation — they truly allowed us to have the wedding of our dreams. I could not recommend the Otesaga more! -
-
![Katie]()
Katie Sent on 07/20/2019The PERFECT Wedding Venue!
There are no words to express how truly wonderful the Otesaga Resort is as a wedding venue. My husband and I had our welcome event, ceremony, reception, after party, and morning-after breakfast at the Otesaga, and we could not be happier with how amazing everything was! The staff were incredible, the service was impeccable, and the views were breathtaking. Brooke was wonderful to work with and made our wedding vision come true. The decision to have our wedding at the Otesaga was the best decision we could have made and could not recommend it more highly to other couples. Look no further for your wedding venue, as the Otesaga is the perfect place to have your dream wedding! My husband and I look forward to celebrating our anniversary at the Otesaga in years to come! -
-
![Elizabeth]()
Elizabeth Sent on 04/30/2019One of the best decisions we made.
Megan and the team at the Otesaga are amazing. First class service and an amazing venue. Our guests loved the hotel too. We can’t wait to go back for years to come. -
![Eleanora]()
Eleanora Sent on 01/31/2019Such a beautiful venue and the best experience ever!
We cannot say enough nice things about our experience with The Otesaga. We, and all of our guests were treated like royalty during our wedding weekend and it was wonderful. They made the experience seamless and truly the best day ever. We worked with Brooke, and she came onto our account two months before our wedding due to some personnel changes and she was a rockstar! She handled all questions and issues and especially during the wedding day she directed our families and wedding party to come to her with any questions which was such a relief for us! We love The Otesaga and can't wait to go back to celebrate our anniversaries! -
-
![Melissa]()
Melissa Sent on 11/26/2018Excellent Experience!
Megan was our Event Manger and she was great to work with. The wait staff was amazing. The food was superb. We couldn't have been happier! -
![Lucille]()
Lucille Sent on 06/23/2018We got married at the Otesaga a few months ago and it was nothing short of spectacular! From the food, to the service and incredible scenery, our guests have told us it was the best wedding they’ve ever been to. Our day of coordinator, Megan, was absolutely wonderful. She didn’t miss a beat or forget one tiny detail over the 1.5 years of planning. Thank you so much for everything!!!! We couldn’t be more happy about how everything turned out. -
![User1460989]()
User1460989 Sent on 12/03/2013The Otesaga Hotel was beautiful and we had caterers coming up to us(the wedding party) as we were wandering the grounds with the photographer so that we wouldn't miss out on the hor d'oeurves and wine my husband and I chose for the cocktail hour. They worked with us on what we wanted and were very detail-oriented, attentive, and helpful. -
![Kristin]()
Kristin Sent on 10/14/2011Our wedding planner, Brooke Tallman, did an absolutely fantastic job over the last year! We could not have been more happy with how everything turned out! She was always available by phone and email to answer a multitude of questions, offering advice, and keeping everyone VERY happy! We absolutely loved her!! The Otesaga staff are very friendly and attentive, the food was amazing, and everyone's drinks were always full! Absolutely fantastic day!! -
![Kate]()
Kate Sent on 11/10/2012We loved having our wedding at the Otesaga and wouldn't change a thing! The hotel and location are gorgeous, and some of our guests said this was the best food they had EVER had at a wedding. The staff was amazing as well: nice, professional and very organized. -
![Jordan]()
Jordan Sent on 06/29/2016The Otesaga is an amazing venue and the perfect place for us to live out our dream wedding! Breathtaking lake views, professional staff, and luxurious atmosphere! After meeting with Gordon (Event Coordinator) and touring the hotel and grounds, we immediately knew this was where we were going to get married!
Gordon is a consummate professional, who is knowledgable and experienced in coordinating weddings. He's easy to work with, humorous at times to lighten the pressure and mood, and highly organized with wedding preparations.
The food, drinks, and service were top notch! They excelled in making our guests comfortable and delivered impressive service!
Since the Otesaga is a popular venue, their availability becomes limited, especially during the summer. We had to book our wedding over a year in advance to get the date we wanted.
Our reception was only allowed to go until 10pm, due to hotel policy, with respects to the other guests who are staying above the ball room...which is a little disappointing. BUT, their fire pit bar was a great place to continue the after party.
Unfortunately, afew of our guests who stayed at the hotel, complained to us about charges that were mistaking added to their bill. We had a similar problem, to where we were charged for dinner and drinks at 8:30pm, which was during the time of our wedding! Simple fix, but not a mistake that you expect the Otesaga to make.
We highly recommend this venue and Gordon, for anyone to have a beautiful wedding!
-
![Lisa]()
Lisa Sent on 01/22/2012The Otesaga Hotel was a wonderful venue for our winter wedding in upstate NY! It was beautiful and everyone there was amazing in making our special day that much better. Brooke, who was our contact there was more than helpful with anything we needed. The staff was friendly and professional and I have had so many compliments on how wonderful the wedding was from all my guest! If you are looking for a winter wedding in upstate NY, this is the place to do it! -
Victoria Sent on 11/14/2017I recently had my wedding at the Otesaga in July 2017. Brooke and her team were so helpful through the entire planning process. She was extremely accommodating when it came to planning my wedding long distance, going out of her way to take measurements of specific things, or areas for me. She really helped me pull my dream wedding together. The only reason I would have to deduct stars from all 5s would be because of the pastry chef. We had a meeting with him about a year before the wedding, at which I gave him the photo of the cake I wanted. About a week before the wedding we were finally able to get a hold of the pastry chef, and he said he hadn't figure out how to achieve what i wanted because he didn't know what i wanted, even though I had given him a picture. I spent the last week before my wedding tracking down edible glitter online ordering and testing out all the different kinds, and had to figure it out for him. The cake itself was yummy, but i wasn't impressed with the decoration of it. But I also didn't have a typical wedding cake. The Flowers on the cake are hideous but i think that had to do with the florist and no the pastry chef.
-
-
![User972138]()
User972138 Sent on 11/21/2012The wedding was beautiful! They allowed me to have the ceremony outside even with the approaching storm. Everything worked out perfectly! -
![Gigi]()
Gigi Sent on 09/30/2022Beautiful venue, but too many mistakes
Four months after our wedding, my husband and I remain disappointed by the Otesaga. The wedding planning process was plagued with errors – we were sent incorrect contracts, our emails would go unanswered for weeks, and we weren’t ever told that our event coordinator had quit (we eventually discovered it from an email auto-reply). We could forgive the planning mistakes if the Otesaga had nailed the actual wedding weekend, but the wedding weekend was also full of mistakes.
First, the Otesaga set up our reception incorrectly. They didn’t use the chairs we paid extra for, but the hotel’s own brown conference chairs. My husband and I noticed this mistake 45 minutes before our reception started and told the events team. They said they couldn’t switch the chairs without permission from our event coordinator, who was nowhere to be found. 45 minutes later, our guests were ushered into the ballroom before our coordinator was found and before the chairs were changed. We're still annoyed every time we see a picture of those chairs!
Second, we reserved the Otesaga’s porch for our wedding breakfast. When we woke up and looked out the window, we saw that no tables were set up. Again we tried to contact our event coordinator, to no avail. And when we went down to the ballroom and asked the events team to relocate our tables, we were told it was impossible as there was not enough staff on hand. Our wedding breakfast ended up taking place alongside the buffet breakfast for hotel guests.
Third, many of our guests reported problems with the Otesaga’s reservations team such as getting yelled at by staff and getting quoted wrong room rates. For example, the sister of the groom was told (with an attitude that has no place in the hospitality industry) that she had to pay for two rooms (the Otesaga cited a double booking) until she pointed out she had only ever received one confirmation email and the Otesaga admitted their mistake.
On the morning after the wedding we were asked to spend an hour detailing these errors to our event coordinator, who had finally appeared. To their credit, they were apologetic and promised us a $1,500 refund as an apology for their mistakes. We never received that money.
The Otesaga is beautiful, the rooms are lovely, and food was delicious. But long story short, the events coordinators (Gordon, Erica, Latoya, Felicia) were not on site for our wedding and details outlined explicitly in our contract were not delivered. The events team did not provide the service we’d expect for the amount of money we paid. While the Otesaga remains a beautiful place to get married, based on our experience, we can’t recommend that future couples rely solely on the events team. Get an outside planner that can keep them in check! -
Are you interested?
Are you interested?