Grace Hotels adds acclaimed Mayflower Inn & Spa and sister hotel The White Barn Inn to the Grace family

August 5, 2013

Grace Hotels, the privately owned luxury boutique hotel group, has announced a partnership with an affiliate of Three Wall Capital LLC to acquire the celebrated five diamond/five star Mayflower Inn and Spa in Washington, Connecticut. Under the agreement Grace Hotels will become the majority owner of the Mayflower and will manage the hotel under the Grace brand which now has a presence on five continents.

In a move designed to bring together under one marque some of the finest hotel, spa and restaurant properties in New England, the international boutique hotel group has also announced that its sister hotel, The White Barn Inn in Kennebunk, Maine will become part of Grace Hotels. The White Barn Inn and Grace Hotels are both part of the family-owned Libra Group which has hotel and hospitality interests throughout the world. The two new hotels will join The Vanderbilt Grace in Newport Rhode Island to create a triumvirate of elite hotels across New England. The Mayflower will become known as ‘The Mayflower Grace’ and The White Barn Inn will be re-named ‘The White Barn Grace’. Both hotels will retain their affiliation to the renowned Relais & Châteaux association of world’s finest hoteliers, chefs and restaurateurs. The fine dining restaurant at the Mayflower will become New England’s second ‘Muse by Jonathan Cartwright’, following its acclaim at The Vanderbilt Grace. An affiliate of Three Wall Capital, LLC, who acquired the Mayflower in 2011 will remain a minority investor in the property.

Located in the idyllic town of Washington, Connecticut, less than two hours from New York City, the 30-room Mayflower Inn & Spa is a destination spa and country house hotel nestled among 58 acres of landscaped gardens. The property, like The White Barn Inn, has the rare accolade of achieving both Forbes Five-Star and AAA Five Diamond status. The hotel offers luxurious accommodation in a picturesque setting, surrounded by 3,000 acres of nature preserve. With its 20,000 sq ft destination spa, classic dining experiences featuring seasonal menus and beautifully arranged meeting spaces, The Mayflower Grace will provide the ideal location for everything from a restorative spa escape to a grand occasion, corporate retreat or simply a relaxing vacation.

Commenting on the acquisition, Philippe Requin, CEO of Grace Hotels stated: “the Mayflower is a property that we have admired for many years. It combines a wonderfully convenient location close to New York with a peace and tranquillity that makes it a perfect country escape. We are thrilled that it is joining Grace Hotels and equally thrilled that The White Barn Inn is becoming part of the Grace family. As a sister property we have enjoyed a very close working relationship with The White Barn for many years. In fact the inn’s Grand Chef Relais & Châteaux Jonathan Cartwright has been our Group Chef de Cuisine for over two years. We believe this move signals to the growing international community of Grace Hotels’ loyal customers that our distinctive combination of service, style and elegant simplicity is now available at a selection of three of New England’s most celebrated addresses and holiday destinations.”

Following property improvement and investment that will take place at both hotels in the coming months the Grace management team will sensitively merge the Grace ethos and service touches with all the distinctive features and style points that define the Mayflower and The White Barn Inn and that their patrons have come to know and love. Thus The White Barn Inn will officially join Grace Hotels in Q2 2014 while the Mayflower will join in Q4 2013.

For reservations, visit www.gracehotels.com, www.whitebarninn.com, www.mayflowerinn.com

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