The planned Sugarhouse Hotel, a Tribute Portfolio property, is putting an emphasis on sustainable hospitality development in preparation for a late summer or early fall opening in the Greater Burlington area.
The Vermont hotel project is being developed through a partnership between Nedde Real Estate and Chicago, Ill.-based Lodging Capital Partners. The 115-room hotel—which will be managed by Portland, Maine-based Fathom Companies—is expected to become Marriott International’s first all-electric property designed to achieve both net-zero energy performance and LEED Platinum certification. The project will join Marriott Bonvoy’s Tribute Portfolio collection.
Located in downtown Winooski, the hotel will also mark the city’s first hotel development. Positioned adjacent to a 104-acre nature preserve and near the Winooski River, the property is designed around a “nature out back, city out front,” according to the companies.
“Having a nature-focused property here in downtown Winooski will be pivotal for the region,” Jim Brady, president and director of Fathom Companies, said in a statement. “Sugarhouse Hotel is a place shaped by the rhythm of the land and the rugged spirit of Vermont, creating a destination where wellness, nature and community are discoverable less than 5 minutes from downtown Burlington.”
“Our goal was to create a building that wasn't just in Vermont, but of Vermont,” said Doug Nedde, principal of Nedde Real Estate. “By pursuing LEED Platinum and net-zero energy status, we are working to prove that the future of hospitality can be both luxurious and sustainable.”
The hotel’s design draws inspiration from Vermont’s maple sugaring traditions and incorporates reclaimed materials alongside work from regional artisans, including woodworkers, metalworkers and glassblowers. Planned public spaces include Moss Café + Bar, a farm-to-table dining venue; Tree Tops Restaurant, a rooftop restaurant; and Rise, a rooftop event space overlooking the surrounding mountains and riverfront.
Guestroom interiors will include timber detailing and will be named after local sugarhouses. Additional experiential programming tied to agritourism and environmental stewardship is expected to be announced closer to opening.