Winooski, Vt. – November 10, 2026 -- Marriott International has opened Sugar House Hotel in Winooski, Vermont, its first property worldwide designed to achieve all-electric, net-zero energy operations and LEED Platinum certification. The 115-room hotel, part of the Tribute Portfolio brand, runs entirely on electricity, including its commercial kitchen, with no gas lines or fuel tanks serving the building.
Rooftop solar and geothermal wells carry the energy load
Rooftop solar panels are designed to generate roughly one-third of the building's energy needs. A geothermal well system provides heating and cooling and supports hot-water production.
The hotel will also offer eight electric-vehicle charging stations and an all-electric Volkswagen shuttle serving Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport and downtown Burlington. Water-efficient plumbing fixtures, including low-flow showerheads, cut water use. Timbers from Vermont's historic North Hero drawbridge were reused in the Treetops bar and elevator lobby tables.
Nedde Real Estate and Lodging Capital Partners developed the hotel for operator Fathom Companies
Nedde Real Estate and Lodging Capital Partners developed the property, and Fathom Companies operates it. Doug Nedde, Principal of Nedde Real Estate, said the goal was a building "not just in Vermont, but of Vermont," built by a local team combining environmental sustainability with community artisanship.
Hotel opens as the first in Winooski, beside a 104-acre nature preserve
The property is the first hotel in the historic mill city of Winooski. It sits beside a 104-acre nature preserve and the Winooski River, steps from the downtown circle. Its design draws on Vermont's maple sugarhouse traditions.
The lobby centers on a 20,000-pound native Green Mountain Schist boulder hearth and a 20-foot indoor maple tree with a spiral staircase to a mezzanine library. Each of the 115 guestrooms is named for a Vermont sugarhouse and features timber-paneled walls, custom glass-blown sconces and works by local makers.
Treetops becomes the only rooftop restaurant and bar in Greater Burlington
Treetops Restaurant offers seasonal cuisine, floor-to-ceiling views and an outdoor terrace. MOSS Café + Bar operates as an all-day venue beneath the lobby's maple tree, serving coffee, locally baked maple pastries, deli fare and cocktails.
A 180-foot wooden bridge links the hotel to a 1.2-mile loop trail through Winooski Gorge Natural Area and nearby Salmon Hole fly-fishing waters. Planned programming includes wellness sessions, guided naturalist walks and artisan workshops with local partners.
Marriott adds the hotel to a Tribute Portfolio of more than 200 properties
Tribute Portfolio spans over 200 hotels in more than 35 countries and territories. Peggy Roe, Executive Vice President and Chief Customer Officer of Marriott International, said the hotel's design, materials and energy use reflect care for the surrounding community.