Mirbeau opens Rhinebeck location, honored by Conde Nast
After 12 years of planning and 18 months of construction, the 50-room Mirbeau Inn & Spa Rhinebeck has delivered on its promise to bring “life, classically balanced” to New York’s Hudson Valley. Regional dignitaries were among the 150 plus attendees who gathered for the resort’s grand opening on Sept. 27. A 3 p.m. ribbon-cutting ceremony was followed by a tour of the guest rooms and 12,000-square-foot Spa Mirbeau, and a private party at Willow, the resort’s signature restaurant by world-renowned Master Chef Charlie Palmer.
Among the list of illustrious speakers were Rhinebeck Mayor Gary Bassett, Village Planning Board Chair Dave Miller, County Executive Marcus Molinaro, State Senator Sue Serino, and Dutchess County Tourism President and CEO Mary Kay Vrba.
In his welcoming remarks, General Manager Ed Kellogg, a local resident, called the opening “a long time in the making,” adding: “Our hope is to drive tourism and fuel job growth in Rhinebeck, and it wouldn’t have been possible without so many who helped us over the years to make this dream a reality.”
Kellogg noted that the Rhinebeck resort is the first Mirbeau within a short walk of a town center. “Guests can stroll to all the shops, restaurants and galleries that make Rhinebeck so special, while residents can easily walk over for breakfast at Willow or a spa treatment, helping integrate the resort into the fabric of the Rhinebeck community,” he added.
Owners Gary and Linda Dower also greeted the crowd and introduced the team behind Mirbeau Hospitality Services: Michael J. Dal Pos, CEO; Jonathan Dal Pos, partner and general counsel; and Catherine Dower Sinclair, vice president of spa operations. The team manages the new Rhinebeck resort as well as sister properties in Skaneateles, N.Y. and Plymouth, Mass., and the Spa Mirbeau day resort in Albany.
“Guests can expect the same genuine hospitality, classic comforts and world-class wellness experience that have always defined the Mirbeau brand,” Gary Dower noted. “Our collaboration with world-renowned chef Charlie Palmer is perhaps the biggest differentiator between Mirbeau Rhinebeck and our other resorts. Willow by Charlie Palmer elevates the classic Mirbeau dining experience while keeping certain elements of the Mirbeau brand’s signature Bistro & Wine Bar that have proven to be favorites of our loyal guests.”
Also speaking was Palmer, for whom the opening was a homecoming of sorts. The internationally acclaimed chef grew up in Upstate New York and graduated from the nearby Culinary Institute of America. “My team and I at Willow are thrilled to be opening our doors to Rhinebeck and are feeling very grateful for the talent and passion coming from our partners at Mirbeau,” Palmer said.
In addition, the Mirbeau Inn & Spa Skaneateles is proud to announce that they have been voted among the Top 10 Resorts in New York State & The Mid-Atlantic by the prestigious Condé Nast Traveler’s 2019 Readers’ Choice Awards.
More than 600,000 Condé Nast Traveler readers across the globe submitted a recording-breaking number of responses rating their travel experiences to provide a full snapshot of where and how we travel today. Mirbeau ranked number six with a score of 94.93 and outranked other resort hotels across New York State and The Mid-Atlantic States.
The Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards are the longest-running and most prestigious recognition of excellence in the travel industry and are commonly known as “the best of the best of travel.” The full list of winners can be found here.
“We are so honored to be recognized by Condé Nast Traveler,” said Richard Malcolm, resort manager. “We are proud of the success we’ve had in achieving our mission of providing a place of tranquility, restoration and balance. Each day, we focus on providing thoughtful and unparalleled service to our valued guests, and we look forward to the continued evolution of our amenities and offerings.”
The 2019 Readers’ Choice Awards are published on Condé Nast Traveler’s website at cntraveler.com/rca and celebrated in the November issue of Condé Nast Traveler US and UK print editions.