PARK CITY, Utah – January 20, 2015 – Gemstone Hotels & Resorts, a full-service hotel management company that specializes in owning and operating luxury and upscale urban hotels and resorts, today announced it entered into an agreement to operate Topnotch Resort in Stowe, Vt. The luxury resort looks out on Mount Mansfield, Vermont’s highest peak, and recently completed a $15 million renovation focused on guest rooms, two popular food and beverage outlets, meeting spaces and other public areas. The property is a New England icon, member of the Preferred Hotels collection, and carries AAA’s prestigious four-diamond certification.
“We believe Gemstone has a track record of optimizing complex resorts in mountain destinations while delivering excellent guest experiences and financial results,” said Michael Mohr, principal MetWest Ventures, which owns the resort. “Gemstone’s experience should help us expand upon Topnotch’s reputation as one of New England’s finest all-season resorts.”
“Topnotch Resort couldn’t be more aptly named,” said Jeff McIntyre, principal of Gemstone. “The lodging, culinary, tennis, and spa experiences are unsurpassed in the market. This is a prime example of an owner having a vision, putting up the capital, and perfectly positioning the property. It is our job to take it to the next level.”
“In addition to mountain resorts, Gemstone also has a sweet spot for resorts and urban hotels in the Northeast,” noted Thomas Prins, principal of Gemstone. “We envision tremendous operational and marketing synergies, with our other hotels including The Essex just outside of Burlington, Vt., Copley Square Hotel in Boston and Carlton Hotel in Manhattan, which all attract a similar, sophisticated guest who enjoys the one-of-a-kind, authentic experience of a unique, luxury hotel.”
Built for recreation and relaxation, Topnotch Resort’s tennis center includes four indoor and six outdoor courts, a USPTA-certified staff and more than 30 programs for all ages and levels which consistently ranks among the best in the world with Tennis Resorts Online rating it among the top 25 worldwide for 2014. Indoor and outdoor swimming pools and hot tubs, along with a recreation barn featuring a retail and rental outlet with cross country, downhill and telemark skis, mountain and cruising bikes, and snowshoes also offers guided fishing tours and horseback riding to help guests enjoy the outdoor activities that are a hallmark of the region. A 35,000 square foot spa and fitness center, winner of the Daisy Award for the best spa in Vermont, consistently ranks among New England’s best, and offers unique treatments sourced from around the world along with personal training and fitness consultations, customized facials and salon services for all ages. Two award-winning restaurants, Flannel and The Roost, offer regionally inspired cuisine prepared from locally sourced ingredients, paired with craft beer and local beverages, along with the best views of Mount Mansfield. More than 9,000 square feet of flexible indoor and outdoor venues and meeting spaces including outdoor patios, firepits and forested spaces, provide the perfect setting for weddings, meetings and family gatherings that take full advantage of the resort’s spectacular vistas. For more information, please go to www.topnotchresort.com
