MANCHESTER, VT—Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants will open its newsest boutique hotel, Taconic, here on Dec. 3. Named for the adjacent Taconic Mountain range, Taconic is Kimpton’s first Vermont hotel.
“As we expand our brand, we are continuing to look to destinations that will excite Kimpton loyalists but are also natural extensions of our metropolitan locations,” said Joe Capalbo, director of operations for Kimpton Hotels in New England. “Manchester’s proximity to New York City, Boston and Montreal, coupled with the unique energy of the town and its people, made it an ideal next-destination for Kimpton to plant its roots.”
Inspired by New England’s grand inns of the late 19th and early 20th century, Taconic features 87 accommodations including six suites and three standalone cottages. Spaces such as the expansive wrap-around porch and a lobby resembling the entrance of a grand home with a double-sided fireplace are designed to encourage socializing and channel the residential feel of the surrounding village, according to the company. A vision of designer Peter Niemitz, guestrooms are classic New England style, featuring oak furniture and vintage touches, with artwork from the Manchester historical society adorning the guestroom walls. Each cottage has its own Manchester-inspired name—Worthy, Bennett and Nicklewhite—the latter selected by one of Taconic’s local Facebook fans through its #CrowntheCottage contest.
The hotel features over 9,600 sq. ft. of flexible meeting and event space, comprised of a ballroom, outdoor terrace, library, solarium and event lawn. The Trillium Ballroom, named after the nearby Trillium Trail, is 2,800-sq.-ft. and features natural light. The ballroom is divisible by three equal sections, and a wall of French doors opens out onto the Trillium Terrace. The terrace overlooks Taconic’s event lawn, The Green, with space to accommodate up to 400 guests.
Taconic partnered with local businesses and artists. For instance, the hotel has adult coloring books curated by the Southern Vermont Arts Center; handcrafted walking sticks from Manchester Woodcraft, available in-room in both adult and child sizes; and staff-picked books from Northshire Bookstore. Additionally, local photographer Les Jorgensen will lead guests on photography expeditions to under-the-radar locations in Manchester to provide instruction on how to best capture the moment, allowing guests to hone a new skill while on vacation.
Taconic is in close proximity to two award-winning ski resorts – Bromley and Stratton – and partnerships with Hildene, the Lincoln Family Home and Manchester Country Club provide guests access to each establishment’s cross-country skiing and snowshoeing courses. Warmer months bring additional outdoor pursuits such as boating, golfing, fly-fishing, hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding, as well as leaf peeping in the fall.
Guest amenities include Kimpton’s signature offerings with a Vermont touch, such as minibar options inclusive of local Vermont craft beers, complimentary morning coffee and tea service in the Living Room with maple sugar as a sweetener, nightly manager-hosted wine hour and more. Taconic provides guests with wellness options such as customized trek maps of local hiking and running trails, a state-of-the-art fitness center, complimentary use of the hotel’s PUBLIC bikes and on-property lap pool. Private en suite spa services are available. In addition, there is an on-site boutique selling a variety of locally sourced, unique specialty items.
Located adjacent to Taconic is The Copper Grouse, a new restaurant and bar serving regionally-inspired dishes under the direction of Chef Adam Raftery. The Copper Grouse will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner daily, as well as in-room dining for Taconic guests and catering service for meetings and special events.
