The Longfellow Hotel will be created in partnership with New York-based design firm Post Company, its first project in the state, and is due to open in summer 2023.
Return to independence
The property will be the first independent full-service hotel to open in Portland in 20 years and is the namesake of Portland poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
The Longfellow will be a five-storey newbuild envisioned by brothers Nate and Tony DeLois of Uncommon Hospitality and located across the street from the brand’s existing Francis Hotel, which occupies a restored historic mansion.
Contemporary and traditional blend
The latest addition will offer a residentially inspired and design-forward hospitality concept with a Nordic wellness offering.
This boutique property will feature 48 rooms with 44 king rooms and four suites. Several of the rooms feature French balconies or bay windows, and the interiors will blend contemporary elements juxtaposed with nods to more traditional features like the mouldings, ceiling medallions and wide-plank, hardwood floors.
Salon spaces
Lobby and bar spaces were inspired by salon décor with lime washed walls and bespoke furniture, complemented by mosaic tile flooring.
The lobby will serve as the heart of the hotel with a communal lounge featuring casual seating and a bar handcrafted by local millworkers. The bar is a focal point of the lobby experience at The Longfellow and is meant to be a welcoming entry and gathering place for the entire property.
The food and beverage offering will include the Twinflower Café and Five of Clubs, a European style lobby bar. Twinflower will be a wellness focused café, while in the evening Five of Clubs will focus on classic cocktails, local seafood and charcuterie.
Nordic spa
Asteria, the onsite wellness spa, will be inspired by Nordic spa traditions and will offer sauna, massage, and meditation experiences. The 1,800 sq ft space will comprise two massage treatment rooms which can combine to offer couples treatments; two private infrared sauna experience rooms with halo therapy; and a meditation room with mind-sync harmonic sleep loungers.
The street-level spa reception will also feature a retail boutique highlighting both the OSEA products used within and hand-crafted items by Maine producers and artisans.
Elevated hospitality
Tony DeLois, co-founder and COO of Uncommon Hospitality, said: “Having been born and raised in Maine, we felt passionate about continuing to elevate the hospitality offering in Portland through a focus on design and holistic wellbeing. We are thrilled to collaborate with Post Company, and our Maine-based architectural and development team, to create a destination that will complement Portland’s vibrant restaurants, artistic culture and the natural beauty of the region.”
Fellow co-founder and CFO, Nate DeLois, added: “We love that more people have been discovering Maine, and we wanted to provide a beautifully designed, wellness-focused hotel to serve as the ultimate home base for those exploring the area. The smaller size of our hotel will allow us to provide personalised service and introduce our guests to all the things we love about this dynamic city. We can’t wait to open our doors to travellers and locals, and are proud to have The Longfellow be part of Portland’s continued vibrancy as a creative getaway for generations to come.”
Convivial setting
Partner at Post Company, Jou-Yie Chou, commented: “This is Post Company’s first hotel project in Maine, a state we’re incredibly fond of, personally spending much of my salad days Down East. We couldn’t be more excited to help bring The Longfellow to life and celebrate the pristine bounty and dynamism of this state. Our design for The Longfellow is intended to provide a convivial setting that invites guests and locals alike to relax, rejuvenate and celebrate together amongst friends.”
Post Company is also currently working on the interiors of another boutique site, Hotel Saint Augustine in Houston, Texas, featuring 71 rooms across two floors plus an event space; plus is refurbishing The Lafayette Hotel in San Diego, California, a 141-key property project due to complete in Q2 2023.
