A Hotel That's Just Not For Sleeping
12/09/2024 05:20PM ● By MERYL SIEGMAN
We recently visited the hotel to find out what’s new and how the staff is working to make the property truly stand out. Here is what we discovered.
The hotel's newly designed entrance. Hotel amenities include an indoor pool, pet-friendly rooms, and serene garden spots.
AN EXTRA LEVEL OF AMENITIES
In June 2024, Hotel Champlain became part of Hilton’s Curio Collection, a constellation of one-of-a-kind hotels around the world that offer guests outstanding experiences. Hilton carefully selects each hotel for its unique character and local touches, world-class food, and distinctive architecture and design while offering the benefits of the Hilton name and its popular guest loyalty program, Hilton Honors.
Curio is the highest level of any Hilton brand. Participating hotels must maintain certain standards to qualify, such as having a signature restaurant and a fitness center that meets minimum square footage requirements. The concept behind this lofty tier level is that guests enjoy a unique stay at each hotel, depending on its location. Guests who book a stay or have dinner at Hotel Champlain have a very “Burlington” experience because the local community and surrounding landscape are so much part of the adventure. Thanks to the relationship with Hilton, the Hotel Champlain provides all the signature Hilton services and amenities while maintaining the freedom to create and retain its own individual branding.
WHAT’S NEW AND DIFFERENT
Besides recently becoming part of the Curio Collection by Hilton, the hotel has undergone exciting changes, including the addition of an 1,800-square-foot gym with an outdoor sauna. There’s also a new entryway and valet service that elevate the arrival experience. Plus, the property has created three outdoor areas: the Garden Terrace, a serene space with hammocks from which to enjoy sunset views; the Clover Lawn, a game space featuring cornhole and a giant Jenga; and Hops & Harvest, a beer garden with a life-sized chess board.
A DESTINATION RESTAURANT
The hotel has partnered with Heirloom Hospitality, owned by James Beard Award nominee and restaurateur Eric Warnstedt, founder of the acclaimed Hen of the Wood in Burlington, to create a new casual seafood restaurant, Original Skiff Fish + Oyster, with a menu overseen by Chef de Cuisine Kevin Sprouse.
Hotel Champlain's oyster bar and
tavern captures the love of camp and coast, and
the quintessential dockside hideaway somewhere
between Bar Harbor and the Florida Keys.
Launched in June 2024, Original Skiff Fish + Oyster has the casual ambience of the dockside oyster bars and coastal taverns that dot the Atlantic seaboard. The menu offers sustainable, authentic cuisine, including a raw bar, a wide array of fish dishes and specials, and such local favorites as Vermont chicken, New England smoked bluefish chowder, and Old Bay fries.
For a private dining experience, groups can book the Commodore’s Table, which seats 12 to 18. Lily May’s, on the hotel’s mezzanine level overlooks the lake and offers a range of options for breakfast and lunch, from fresh- baked goods to hearty soups and sandwiches.
ENJOYABLE THINGS TO SEE AND DO
Art displays featuring local artists, live music in the lobby, and weekly yoga classes with Laughing River, Burlington’s acclaimed yoga studio and school, are just some of the things the public can enjoy or take part in at the hotel, and special events, like last summer’s Movie Under the Stars series, Whiskey & Wisecracks stand-up comedy show, and Princess Pool Party featuring kids’ games and activities, make the hotel a must-visit for everyone, tourist or local.
Lily May's, a casual lunch spot.
Hops & Harvest beer garden.
STILL WANT MORE?
Hotel Champlain has associated itself with Local Maverick, which offers a curated marketplace for quality Vermont products by Vermont entrepreneurs, farmers, artists, and producers, most of whom are women and whose businesses are family-owned and operated. Not your typical hotel gift shop, the marketplace offers an elevated shopping experience you won’t want to miss.
WHAT’S AHEAD
Although its private event spaces can accommodate up to 650 guests, plans are in the works to expand the hotel in 2025. However, Hotel Champlain is committed to maintaining its authentic, curated feel. In other words, guests who stay here will still say to themselves, “I know I am in Burlington, Vermont, and at the venerable Hotel Champlain.”
PHOTOS COURTESY OF HOTEL CHAMPLAIN
HOTEL CHAMPLAIN
60 Battery Street Burlington, VT
