Chapter House is Baxter Hospitality’s second renovation project in New England. The group also owns and operates Sesuit Harbor House, a boutique inn that seamlessly blends the warmth and charm of a B&B with the upscale amenities and guest services of a modern resort. Baxter carefully selected the location of its second property, just seven miles from Sesuit Harbor House, to ensure the brand’s personalized, high-touch approach to hospitality is maintained across its growing portfolio.
“At Baxter, we’re obsessed with authentic hospitality and inspiring personal connections between locals, guests and staff,” says Silvia Baxter, principal at Baxter Hospitality. “Chapter House serves as an embodiment of our ethos. By thoughtfully marrying the property’s rich history with contemporary touchpoints, we’ll provide all of our visitors with a genuine taste of Cape Cod, while our boutique size and intimate gathering spaces will nurture deeper, meaningful relationships along the way.”
Ideally located directly on historic Old King’s Highway and a short drive away from top destination attractions and beaches, the 21-room inn is set on a sprawling lawn, which will double as a recreational space for outdoor games and as a scenic weddings/event venue. Chapter House will debut with a specialty craft cocktail bar and plans to open a locally inspired restaurant pop-up concept after its inaugural season. An indoor spa pool is also slated to be part of the renovation. Chapter House will introduce a selection of experiences designed to connect with locals and the rise of regional, work-remote travelers, including “work from hotel” programs. The inn will also be available for full-property buyouts.
Baxter Hospitality was founded by husband-and-wife team Phil and Silvia Baxter in April 2019. Working alongside their daughter, Tania, the family collectively brings a comprehensive skill set of hospitality experiences to the management group. Phil, whose past roles include director of openings and operations for sbe Group and general manager of the Westin Los Angeles Airport Hotel, leads front office, F&B, finance and marketing. Silvia, who most recently served as a director of revenue management for Crescent Hotels and Resorts, handles sales, distribution, revenue management, housekeeping and guest services. Tania spearheads creative, including website and social media.
After four decades spent working in the corporate sector, Phil and Silvia sought to return to Phil’s roots in Cape Cod and fulfill a shared dream of owning their own portfolio of hotels. Beyond a personal connection to the Cape, the couple chose to launch their flagship property in New England because of the deeply rooted traditions the destination holds for many vacationers. In the two years since its founding, Baxter has already secured Sesuit Harbor House’s place on TripAdvisor’s coveted “Top 5 Hotels in Cape Cod” ranking list and increased the hotel’s ADR by no less than 35 percent year over year. By the end of 2021, they anticipate growing ADR by nearly 70 percent. During a remarkably challenging year for the hospitality industry, Baxter’s guest-centric, nimble pivots as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic (including the debut of customized breakfast baskets delivered to guest rooms each morning, a new, social-distancing friendly outdoor firepit and grilling area, and contact-free check in) further cemented Sesuit Harbor House as a leading boutique property in the New England region.
“We strive to do things differently at Baxter and provide personal touches to each guest that comes through our doors – in hopes that they immediately feel like members of our extended family,” says Phil Baxter, principal at Baxter Hospitality. “As a tight-knit group who hold the Cape near and dear to our hearts, we’re dedicated to curating engaging destination opportunities for our family. As our portfolio expands, our goal is to provide all who visit us with a warm sense of familiarity and nostalgia from the moment they check into our hotels, and to help them create travel traditions that will last a lifetime.”
