From luxurious beachfront rentals and wayside inns to spider-infested second houses with moldy showers, New Hampshire’s Lakes Region has long had something to offer tourists.
At least one development team claims that the area has been lacking something extremely high-end. Elegant. Five stars.
And they hope that the Lake Estate, their latest project, will close that gap. Located near Tilton on the western coast of Lake Winnisquam, the 114-room hotel is set to debut next month.
Owner and general manager Ed Rocco recently told me from the inside of a construction trailer in the hotel’s parking lot, “When you walk into the hotel, you’re going to see the exterior and interior, and you’re going to say, Boy, I can only imagine what the investment must have looked like.”
Without any prompting, Rocco revealed the investment, which is currently close to $90 million. Dan and Elaine Dagesse, who own a chain of car dealerships across New England, are the main financial backers. Rocco brings decades of hospitality experience to the team, as does his wife Patti, who is also heavily involved in the project.
“We’re elevating that hotel experience to a new level,” Patti said. The goal is to receive our five-star, five-diamond recognition.
Receiving a five-star Forbes rating and a five-diamond AAA travel authority emblem is rarefied air for a hotel, if you’re not familiar with the hospitality industry. As of right now, no homes in New Hampshire are distinguished in that way.
The resort must be exceptional in everything, no matter how small, to achieve that status. From meticulous landscaping there are more than 9,000 trees, shrubs and other plantings on the property to a head-scratchingly large amount of molding.
According to Ed Rocco, there are up to 30 kilometers of baseboard and crown molding in the hotel.
In addition, the resort provides valets, turndown service, individual water closets in every room, and is completely ADA compatible.
You have a $90 million hotel when you add in a wine cellar, 25 separate fireplaces, 3,400 feet of waterfront, and doors that cost $8,000 a room.
Eight thousand doors?
Ed Rocco told a perplexed reporter, “It’s a solid door.” The rate that people pay is luxurious. They anticipate opulent experiences and furnishings.
More than bells and whistles
There are a few well-known resorts in New Hampshire, including the seaside Wentworth by the Sea and the Omni Mount Washington in the White Mountains. However, the Lake Estate is coming to a region of the state that is arguably more well-known for the Tilt’n Diner and Bike Week than for glitzy vacations.
However, the proprietors believe there would be a need for upscale luxury.
Patti stated, “Take Tilton out of the equation and make it Lake Winnisquam.” The entry point to the Lakes Region is Tilton. It will make Tilton well-known.
The cost of a night here is significantly more than that of the majority of the neighboring lakeside hotels.
While the hotel is still getting established, rooms at the Lake Estate will start at $400 this year. According to Patti Rocco, those costs might approach $800 during the busiest time of year, with suites costing between $1,200 and $2,000, plus a daily resort fee of $45 per day.
This year, there are already over a dozen weddings scheduled.
We have a salon, so that our brides or any house guests can come and have their hair done, said Ed Rocco. Additionally, there is a full spa on the bottom level in case you need to unwind after getting married.
Chef Chris Viaud, a James Beard nominee and Top Chef competitor with ties to the state, prepared the menus for the two on-site eateries. The starting price for a hamburger is about $26.
Travel journalist Christopher Muther of the Boston Globe is keeping tabs on the property’s progress. “At first, I expect New Englanders who like to spend a lot of money on their hotels to try the facility,” he said. The Lake Estate may eventually attract tourists from all around the nation if it receives positive evaluations and is featured in ostentatious travel publications like Conde Nast.
However, he stated that the quality of service will determine success: premium staffing must be commensurate with premium charges.
“It’s not just about the fireplaces, the kidney-shaped pool, and the bells and whistles,” he remarked. The experience that individuals have is what matters most.
Some of the 130 full-time staff members hired by The Lake Estate had never worked at a resort of this kind.
Ed Rocco stated, “We will all be learning together.” At first, we will make a lot of mistakes, but we will eventually figure it out. He s optimistic that over time, they will master what it takes to please a demanding clientele.
There is still time to work out any kinks before the hotel’s official launch in a few weeks. About 250 contractors were still working on the facility the day I had a tour, finishing the spa’s sinks and ceilings, and installing banquets and carpets.
The finished outcome was easy to see, though, as the Lake Estate has a vibe reminiscent of New Hampshire’s great dame hotels, such as the Mount Washington and the Wentworth, all of which date back to the 19th century. However, this 35-acre plot of land in Tilton is entirely new.
We’ve had people say, You need to bring White Lotus here, Patti said, referencing the HBO hit series set at luxurious resorts in far flung destinations. This edifice reminds them of that. Perhaps our PR guy can make that happen in the future.
