The $55 million Westin Snowmass Resort project, for which Cumming provided owner’s representative and development management services, has now been completed. The project consisted of the complete renovation and conversion of the former Silvertree Hotel to a Westin-branded Hotel, the renovation of Wildwood Lodge, and the renovation of Snowmass Conference Center, all of which are located in the heart of Snowmass Village, Colorado. The entire renovation of all three facilities was finished exactly on time, with the resort opening its doors for business on November 15, 2012. According to Westin Snowmass Resort’s General Manager John Curnow — who said of the renovation, “There’s not a surface that wasn’t touched” — over $100 million has been spent on the project, making it Colorado’s biggest hotel project in 2012.
Cumming initiated design management of the project in August of 2011 with Oz Architecture, who was the designer for all three projects. Construction began in April of 2012 and was aggressively scheduled in order to open in time for the 2012-2013 ski season. McGuire Builder’s Project Manager Mak Keeling called it “the most aggressive schedule I’ve ever been involved in.” To ensure compliance with this schedule, and also with the agreed-upon parameters related to quality and budget, Cumming managed McGuire Builders on the Westin Hotel and RA Nelson on the Wildwood Lodge and Conference Center.
In addition to the short turnaround, the project was surrounded by the Snowmass Village Mall, ski slopes, and adjacent residential buildings. This made logistical planning more complicated, according to Cumming Project Manager Chris Lumley.
The Westin Hotel project included the reprograming and overhaul of all 254 guestrooms and suites, including the complete renovation of all public areas. The project also included the addition of ski-in and ski-out access, a Vue Lounge, a Westin Workout facility, a Westin Kid’s Club, and a sophisticated 239-seat, three-meal restaurant called The Snowmass Kitchen, which also features a modern wine bar. In addition, the existing spa was transformed into a Westin Spa, and new retail stores were added, including Patagonia, The North Face, and Ranger Station, with Starbucks coming in February. The resort’s pool and pool deck was also renovated.
The adjacent 20,000 sq. ft., 2,000-seat Snowmass Conference Center, which also began its renovation in April of 2012, opened on June 1, 2012, and consisted of upgraded finishes and media improvements
Adjacent sister property The Wildwood Lodge, which underwent a renovation of its 154 rooms and eclectic suites, also opened on November 15 in accordance with the original schedule. The Wildwood Lodge was transformed into an early 1980s-style ski lodge complete with a Canteen Restaurant, New Belgian Beer Hall, a retro arcade room called “The Arcave” (complete with Pac-Man, pinball machines, and other games from that time), and a hidden board room accessible through a bookcase. A “Snack Shack” was added next to the pool, along with hot tubs, a fitness center, and a renovated pool deck.
Everyone from the Owner to the Property to the Mayor has been pleased with the result, which has been generating excitement in the local community. “The buzz is out about there being a Westin in Snowmass,” said Tim Johnson, Director of Sales and Marketing for Westin Snowmass Resort. Mr. Johnson added that the resort was “virtually sold-out” through the end of December, with solid January and February bookings as well.
Snowmass Village Mayor Bill Boineau added, “This should help take Snowmass to the next level and introduce a whole new clientele.”