CAPE ELIZABETH, MAINE—Inn By The Sea’s multimillion dollar transformation into Maine’s premier eco-friendly, luxury beach destination is well underway according to the Inn’s general manager, Sara Masterson. Scheduled to reopen in the spring of 2008, the hotel’s complete makeover will create an atmosphere of relaxed elegance throughout the 57 redesigned guestrooms, new restaurant and five acres of seaside indigenous garden. The addition of a spa and cardio room, fireside bar and lobby, and expanded decks for ocean view dining top the list of new amenities, but every area of the Inn will be touched by enhancements.
The fully renovated Inn redefines coastal luxury with a combination of enduring contemporary and environmentally friendly design features, according to Masterson. “Our goal is to offer guests true luxury that is distinctly Maine by integrating highly personalized service with the elements that make this location a standout: the unspoiled beach and beauty of the coast; the fabulously reconstructed Inn with our culture of environmental responsibility; and the proximity to Portland’s vibrant Old Port,” Masterson said.
Well known for indigenous gardens certified as a wildlife habitat, the Inn goes well beyond accepted sustainable business practices to protect its natural surroundings. The first hotel in Maine to heat with biofuel, and the first to be carbon neutral, the renovation includes many new eco-friendly features including: solar heating pool panels with a salt/chlorine system, air to air heat exchangers, recycled rubber flooring in the cardio room, and dual flush toilets. The Inn is working with a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design consultant for the spa addition with low VOC wallcoverings and sealants, and recycled studs and sheetrock.
Rooms are designed to surround guests with warmth and comfort in a palette of deep red, cognac and charcoal, with maple furnishings and locally commissioned artwork. Large ocean view suites feature deluxe bathrooms with oversized showers or tubs, plush bathrobes, flat screen plasma TVs and luxurious bedding. Fourteen fireplace rooms, 1,300 square feet of new function space, and a full-service spa with cardio room will be added to the main house. The spa experience will carry through to sizable, two-level guestrooms, specially designed as spa suites, to accommodate in-room therapies and massage.
“The transformation of the Inn reflects an intimate, relaxed atmosphere that is modern and upscale—but we’ll keep the friendly service and coastal charm our guests enjoy,” Masterson said. “Our goal is to remain the region’s premier beach destination for eco-luxury travel while delivering the quintessential Maine experience.”
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