Photo / Courtesy, Fathom Cos.
Suites at the new Weldon hotel in Portland include kitchen, dining and living spaces like the one shown here.
August 1, 2024
New Portland 'aparthotel' is more 'apart' than 'hotel'
Photo / Renee Cordes
The Weldon, a new "aparthotel" in Portland managed by Fathom Cos., is located at 54 York St.
Though you'd never know it from the outside, a new hotel has opened in Portland.
The Weldon bills itself as a boutique luxury alternative to short-term rentals. The property at 54 York St. has 13 one- and two-bedroom suites, starting at a rate of $399 a night this summer.
But there's no exterior signage, and the lobby isn't open to the public. That's because the Weldon is an "aparthotel" — bookable like a hotel but designed with larger living spaces and separate rooms for sleeping, dining and working. The spaces are intended for longer stays or for travelers seeking a more comfortable and functional living space.
While Thursday is the opening day, the website was already live last week for bookings.
Owned by Chris DiMillo and Jay Hibbard, the Weldon is managed by Fathom Cos., a Portland-based hotel management and real estate development company led by Jim Brady, who was honored on the Mainebiz Next list in 2017.
Elsewhere in Portland, Fathom Cos. developed and oversees the Press Hotel and the Canopy by Hilton Portland Waterfront that opened in 2021.
“This unique property is coming to Portland at the right time to combine the best of hotel hospitality with apartment living in Maine: warm welcomes, design, dining and entertaining, space to work and work out, and love of what it means to live in Portland,” DiMillo said.
Kathleen Pierce, director of membership and communications at HospitalityMaine, told Mainebiz that adaptive hospitality "reflects a new reality. It isn't just a room for a night any more. As guest expectations change, so will the lodging business model.”
“Portland’s hotel boom is on trend," she added.
'Low-fuss' experiences
Suites include fully equipped and stocked kitchens with LG appliances and Hexclad kitchenware, full-size washers and dryers, and Sonos sound systems.
Bedrooms are furnished with luxury linens from Evangeline and Cuddledown. The building has co-working and private office spaces available to guests, a complete gym with state-of-the-art equipment from Gronk Fitness and Peloton, plus a bike room and extra storage space.
“Guests who want more amenities and services than what an individual short-term rental can offer and are seeking more space, low-fuss, high-experience stays in Portland will find that here at the Weldon,” said Brandon Hussey, Fathom’s vice president of hospitality management.
“Our advanced technology offers an efficient, contactless experience if desired, or it can act as a personal concierge for pre arrival planning,” he added. “Our hospitality team is at a Weldon Hotel guests' fingertips and with their local knowledge and connections, can arrange a variety of Portland experiences — from dinner reservations and wine sail cruises to concert tickets and family-friendly activities.”
Photo / Courtesy, Fathom Cos.
Suites at the new Weldon hotel include fully equipped and stocked kitchens.
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