Sugar House Hotel, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel, has opened in Winooski, in Greater Burlington, Vermont. The 115-room hotel is Marriott International’s first property globally designed to achieve all-electric, net-zero energy operations and LEED Platinum certification, using geothermal and solar energy alongside Vermont-inspired design and artisanship. It is the first hotel in the historic mill city of Winooski.
| ARRIVAL JOURNEY: SUGAR HOUSE HOTEL | |
| Arrive Step 1 | Living roof over the porte-cochère and MOSS entrance Planted with greenery | Winooski, Vermont |
| Check in Step 2 | Make-your-own maple creemee station A sweet welcome for every guest |
| Lobby Step 3 | Boulder hearth and indoor maple tree 20,000-lb native Green Mountain Schist hearth | 20-ft maple tree |
| Mezzanine Step 4 | Treehouse-inspired library Reached by a spiral staircase |
| Rooftop Step 5 | Treetops Restaurant and bar Only rooftop restaurant and bar in Greater Burlington |
| Outdoors Step 6 | 180-foot wooden bridge to the trails 1.2-mile loop through Winooski Gorge Natural Area |
| Developer: Nedde Real Estate and Lodging Capital Partners | Operator: Fathom Companies | Brand: Tribute Portfolio | |
| 115 guestrooms, each named for a sugarhouse | 104 acres of adjacent nature preserve | ~1/3 of energy needs from rooftop solar (design) | 8 EV charging stations |
| “Our goal was to create a building that wasn’t just in Vermont, but of Vermont.” Doug Nedde, Principal, Nedde Real Estate |
| PROPERTY SNAPSHOT | |
| Accommodation | 115 guestrooms, each named for a Vermont sugarhouse, with golden timber-paneled walls, custom glass-blown sconces, and works by local makers |
| Dining | Treetops Restaurant (rooftop restaurant, bar, and outdoor terrace) and MOSS Café + Bar |
| Outdoors | 180-foot wooden bridge to a 1.2-mile loop trail through Winooski Gorge Natural Area, near Salmon Hole fly-fishing waters |
| Energy | All-electric operations, geothermal heating and cooling, and rooftop solar |
| Mobility | Eight EV charging stations and an all-electric Volkswagen shuttle to Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport and downtown Burlington |
| Setting | Beside a 104-acre nature preserve and the Winooski River, steps from Winooski’s walkable downtown circle |
The Brand and the Concept
The hotel draws on Vermont’s maple sugarhouse traditions, local makers, and natural landscape, reflecting the independent spirit of Tribute Portfolio. The idea is that Sugar House should not resemble any other hotel in the collection but feel like one that could only exist in Vermont. Its guiding duality is “nature out back, city out front.”
Design and Setting
Guests pass beneath a planted living roof on the porte-cochère and MOSS entrance into a lobby that pays modern tribute to the sugarhouse tradition. The central lounge is anchored by a 20,000-pound native Green Mountain Schist boulder hearth and a 20-foot indoor maple tree, with a spiral staircase leading to a treehouse-inspired mezzanine library. Check-in includes a make-your-own maple creemee station.
Food, Drink and Community
Treetops Restaurant is the only rooftop restaurant and bar in the Greater Burlington area, pairing seasonal, approachable cuisine with floor-to-ceiling views and an outdoor terrace. Beneath the lobby’s maple tree, MOSS Café + Bar serves as an all-day social hub, moving from morning coffee and locally baked maple pastries to deli fare, small bites, and seasonal cocktails. Planned programming includes wellness sessions, naturalist walks, and artisan workshops.
Sustainability
Sugar House operates entirely on electricity, including its commercial kitchen, with no gas lines or fuel tanks. Rooftop solar panels are designed to generate roughly one-third of the building’s energy needs, while a geothermal well system provides heating and cooling and supports hot-water production. Water-efficient fixtures such as low-flow showerheads support conservation, and reclaimed timbers from Vermont’s historic North Hero drawbridge have been repurposed in the Treetops bar and elevator lobby tables.
Partnership and Portfolio
Marriott International’s Peggy Roe, Executive Vice President and Chief Customer Officer, said the hotel shows how care for place can shape the guest experience, from design and materials to how the building uses energy. Nedde said the opening reflects a local team combining environmental sustainability with the community’s culture and artisans. Tribute Portfolio has more than 200 independent hotels in more than 35 countries and territories.
