Construction Underway for Winooski's Sugar House Hotel

New Vermont hotel honors the state's sugar makers with unique room names and sustainable design.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 12:35pm

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Construction is progressing on the new Sugar House Hotel in Winooski, Vermont, which will feature 115 rooms named after local sugar houses when it opens in August 2026. Developer Doug Nedde, a sugar maker himself, wanted to create a hotel that celebrates Vermont's rich sugaring tradition and culture. The hotel will use geothermal energy and solar power to operate as the first net-zero, all-electric, LEED-platinum hotel globally for Marriott.

Why it matters

The Sugar House Hotel is an innovative project that taps into Vermont's iconic maple syrup industry and agritourism appeal. By honoring local sugar houses and incorporating sustainable design, the hotel aims to provide visitors with an authentic Vermont experience that highlights the state's natural resources, artisanal producers, and environmental stewardship.

The details

Each of the 115 rooms at the Sugar House Hotel will be named after a different Vermont sugar house, celebrating the state's many small-scale and backyard maple syrup producers. The hotel is seeking applications from sugar houses across Vermont to have their names featured. In addition to the room names, the hotel will include a rooftop bar and restaurant, event space, and a cafe. The property will operate without fossil fuels, using geothermal energy and solar power to achieve net-zero emissions.

  • Construction on the Sugar House Hotel began 14 months ago.
  • The hotel is slated to open in August 2026.

The players

Doug Nedde

The developer of the Sugar House Hotel and a sugar maker himself, Nedde wanted to create a hotel that celebrates Vermont's maple syrup industry and culture.

Eric Withington

The owner of Silver Lake Syrups in Barnard, Vermont, whose sugar house will have a room named after it in the Sugar House Hotel.

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What they’re saying

“It's something I think people will remember.”

— Doug Nedde, Developer

“It's an honor, actually, you know, there's sugar houses dotted all up and down the state.”

— Eric Withington, Owner, Silver Lake Syrups

What’s next

The hotel is still accepting applications from Vermont sugar houses to have their names featured in the 115 rooms. The developer, Doug Nedde, hopes to have all the rooms named before the hotel's opening in August 2026.

The takeaway

The Sugar House Hotel is an innovative project that celebrates Vermont's iconic maple syrup industry and culture, while also incorporating sustainable design and technology. By honoring local sugar houses and providing visitors with an authentic Vermont experience, the hotel aims to become a unique destination that showcases the state's natural resources, artisanal producers, and environmental stewardship.