One of the world's largest hotel chains is homing in on California's high-end Wine Country market with plans to debut its luxury resort flag in the Napa Valley area.
A Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas has been proposed to transform a 19th-century thermal springs site in Napa County, one of the world's leading hospitality destinations. Developer Weller Development Partners has pitched plans for what is expected to be the first Six Senses outpost in the United States following IHG Hotels and Resorts' acquisition of the luxury flag in 2021.
The proposed 95-key hotel, which would also include about 15 residences, is slated for a site on the western edge of a 3,000-acre estate that includes the 670-acre historic home of the Aetna Springs resort, which operated from the late 1800s until the 1970s.
Weller Development expects construction for the project will take about three years, and the resort is projected to open in 2026.
With an eye toward catering to Napa Valley's high-end destination crowd, the Six Senses property would include amenities such as yoga and meditation programming, access to holistic therapy practitioners, a juice and brew bar, several restaurant concepts and an organic garden. The developer is also prepared to revive the historic mineral springs on the site, which would provide indoor and outdoor swimming options.
Bethesda, Maryland-based Weller Development will work with IHG and investment partner Pegasus Capital Advisors, a Connecticut asset management firm, to build the project.
Leading High-End Tourist Spot
Napa Valley has long been viewed as one of the world's leading tourist destinations and a lucrative landing spot for developers looking to capitalize on record-high rates.
Luxury flags including the Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts, Auberge Resorts, have debuted properties in the region over the past couple of years with rates often exceeding $1,000 per night.
More than half of the hotel rooms in the Napa Valley area are categorized in the highest end of the hospitality market, a proportion found in less than 5% of U.S. hotel destinations, according to CoStar data.
The Six Senses Napa Valley resort, once developed, is part of IHG's plan to expand the luxury brand to as many as 60 properties within the decade. The international hospitality giant already operates Six Senses outposts in Portugal, the Maldives, Singapore and France.