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BOUTIQUE GASTRONOMY The team behind the Adelphi Hotel in Saratoga Springs , New York , want to make history of their own .
Adelphi Hospitality Group , backed by the firepower of hospitality real estate investors and developers Richbell Capital and Blue Skies Forever , are giving the 1877 grande dame a lovingly laborious facelift that will restore its former glory and then some , but they aren ’ t stopping there . “ If you look at the team we ’ ve been able to assemble ,” says Richbell President Toby Mildé , “ this team of top-notch talent wouldn ’ t be assembled for just one project .”
That includes luxury hospitality veteran Michel Ducamp as chief operations officer and respected chef and restaurateur Gray Kunz as partner .
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What Mildé calls the “ surgical mending ” of the Adelphi is taking private investment and federal and state tax credits totaling US $ 35 million to add steel framing , use hydraulics to lift sagging floors and preserve details down to the spindles on the grand staircase . Thirty-two rooms , plus the courtyard , will complete phase one in time to reopen in May 2017 . Phase two will take a year and add a ballroom for 250 people , an 8,000-squarefoot spa , a swimming pool and 30 rooms .
On equal footing will be F & B : Brasserie Kunz , a lounge with a full menu focusing on raw seafood , and the Blue Hen . AHG has shown its hand with Salt & Char , a well-received steakhouse that opened next door to the Adelphi in July .
“ We ’ ve focused very carefully on not only farm to market but supporting our local farmers ,” Ducamp says .
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The Adelphi ’ s lobby
“ Everything is locally sourced and locally produced .”
AHG is fine with growing organically , too . It ’ s backed by “ real estate guys ,” using Mildé ’ s shorthand , who will invest in properties opportunistically and to complement their portfolio . They ’ re looking in Boston , Miami , New York City . “ The Adelphi will define us in luxury and F & B , but it won ’ t define us as far as location and the types of hotels that our company will purchase and create ,” Mildé says .
“ We want to compete in terms of the attention to detail and sense of arrival and wonderful community feel that you would see in a boutique hotel ,” Ducamp adds . “ You don ’ t have a feeling that it ’ s arrogant or pompous or distant . We want to engage our local producers and vendors and our guests to feel like we are part of their community .”
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West Elm sells furniture . Now it ’ s putting walls around it . The Brooklyn-based retailer is partnering with hotel manager and developer DDK to expand its “ new modern ” aesthetic with West Elm Hotels .
Management agreements with five properties – in Detroit ; Minneapolis , Minnesota ; Savannah , Georgia ; Charlotte , North Carolina ; Indianapolis , Indiana – are in place , each with separate owners and partners , and properties are slated to begin opening in late 2018 . Each city has interesting neighborhoods , energetic arts-and-crafts communities and is underserved by boutiques , says DDK co-founder David Bowd .
The hotels will feature West Elm furnishings , but “ we really want to make the point that we are creating a hospitality brand and not just an extension of the retail brand ,” says Peter Fowler , vice president of hospitality and Workspace at West Elm .
Other retailers have taken runs at hotels – most recently , Restoration Hardware ’ s plans for a 12- room hotel in New York City . What ’ s different ? “ This is not West Elm waking up one morning and saying , I want to play a hotelier today . This has been a very strategic , planned move that ’ s been in the works for two years . I think the future of boutique hotels is about a beautifully designed , natural space ,” says Bowd , adding , “ There are still many , many cities around the world that don ’ t have beautifully designed lifestyle hotels that are true to the local environment . I don ’ t think you ’ re ever going to feel like you ’ re sleeping in a showroom .” “ We see ourselves as the next evolution of quote-unquote lifestyle brands ,” Fowler says .
A guestroom design for West Elm Hotels
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