DoveHill buys Auberge Collection hotel in Connecticut, boosting luxury strategy

Dive Brief:

DoveHill has acquired the luxury Mayflower Inn & Spa, Auberge Collection in Washington, Connecticut, for an undisclosed amount, according to a Wednesday news release.
The 35-room New England landmark includes two dining concepts, expansive gardens and a variety of experiential offerings, per the release. Fort Lauderdale, Florida-based DoveHill said it plans to bring “targeted enhancements” to the property, meant to improve the luxury experience while also preserving the hotel’s “intimate character.”
The buy furthers DoveHill’s luxury acquisition strategy, representing “precisely the kind of asset we are singularly focused on,” DoveHill Chief Investment Officer Charles Paloux said in a statement.

Dive Insight:

According to Paloux, the five-star property is “ultra-luxury, irreplaceable, and rich with high ROI opportunities.”

Located a 90-minute drive from New York City, the hotel is “well-positioned to capture the enduring post-COVID demand for nearby world-class escapes,” Paloux said, also noting that ultra-luxury is one of the few segments “consistently outperforming today.”

Jake Wurzak, founder and CEO of DoveHill, said in a statement that the hotel boasts “an extraordinary sense of place, a legacy of excellence, and the kind of one-of-a-kind character we look for in every investment.”

The bucolic property sits on 58 acres and includes a 20,000-square-foot spa called The Retreat, an outdoor pool and a “rich array of estate experiences,” including archery lessons, horseback riding and guided nature hikes, per its website.

Auberge Collection, which has a portfolio of 30 hotels and resorts, will continue to manage Mayflower Inn & Spa.

In August, DoveHill acquired the Auberge-branded White Barn Inn in Kennebunkport, Maine, for an undisclosed sum, representing a “turning point” in its investment strategy on “irreplaceable” assets, Wurzak said at the time.

Luxury is poised to be a winning class among investors, especially as consumers increasingly seek unique, high-end experiences, per a February JLL report, which also noted ultra-luxury supply is moving at a slower pace.