STOWE, Vermont – On February 23, a topping-off celebration will commemorate a major milestone in the construction of Stowe Mountain Lodge: the last beam of the luxury resort hotel will be placed on top of the building. The Destination Hotels & Resorts-managed property will open this fall as the first true luxury resort hotel to open in New England in more than 50 years. The Lodge will be the centerpiece of the Spruce Peak at Stowe community, an intimate alpine neighborhood under development at the base of Spruce Peak and Mt. Mansfield.

The 139-room Stowe Mountain Lodge will offer highly-personalized services and customized amenities, bringing to Vermont a service precision typically associated with Far Eastern properties, a sophistication inspired by the finest European hotels and a relaxed warmth that is distinctly New England. Among the many five-star amenities offered at the Lodge will be a world-class spa and wellness center endorsed by the renowned Cooper Institute, artisan-inspired cuisine, a new 18-hole championship mountain golf course designed by the legendary Bob Cupp, and over 12,000 square feet of thoughtfully-appointed function space. The $400 million investment in on-mountain improvements, the new Stowe Mountain Lodge, and the Spruce Peak at Stowe community add yet another dimension to the overall allure of Stowe and Vermont itself. When completed, the ski-in/ski-out lodge, luxury real estate, and world-class amenities will rival the world’s top mountain resorts, while retaining a unique Verm.
ont character.

The topping-off celebration, whose roots can be traced back to English, German and even early Scandinavian building tradition from centuries ago, will begin at 12:00 p.m. in a tent just off the Preview Center at Spruce Peak at Stowe. Local officials, representatives from American International Group (AIG), Destination Hotels & Resorts, Lowe Destination Development (LDD) and Spruce Peak Realty, LLC, will be joined by the Lodge’s condominium owners and Vermont trades people to sign the final beam. As the signing occurs, refreshments will be served and owners and guests will have an opportunity to speak with project’s key designers and visionaries. The addition of an American flag and small evergreen tree at the top of Stowe Mountain Lodge will complete the ceremony (The placement of a tree on the final beam during the ceremony has become a topping-off tradition in the construction industry, with the tree symbolizing that the building project has reached its peak successfully a.
nd acting as a good luck charm for the occupants of the building).

James Horsman, Vice President/Managing Director for Stowe Mountain Lodge, commented “We couldn’t be more proud of the team that has poured their heart and soul into creating Stowe Mountain Lodge. This topping-off celebration signals that we’re just months away from unveiling what is destined to become one of the world’s greatest mountain resort experiences.”

About Spruce Peak at Stowe
Stowe, Vermont is enjoying a dramatic resurgence fueled by Spruce Peak at Stowe, a new slopeside community, and enhancements to Stowe Mountain Resort encompassing the legendary Mt. Mansfield and Spruce Peak. Spruce Peak at Stowe encompasses fine residences, a new luxury hotel called Stowe Mountain Lodge, a world-class spa and wellness center, an 18-hole golf course, performing arts center, dining and retail esplanade, swimming pool and ice skating rink. The environmentally sound development was started in 2003, and is concentrated on only 35 of 2,000 pristine acres. Stowe Mountain Resort itself has completed a $40 million transformation which includes a new transfer lift linking Mount Mansfield and Spruce Peak. For more information, visit www.livestowe.com.

About Stowe Mountain Lodge
The new Stowe Mountain Lodge is located at the heart of the lively Spruce Peak at Stowe alpine village in historic Stowe, Vermont. Opening fall 2007, the 139-room lodge will offer an exclusive 18-hole mountain golf course created by the legendary Bob Cupp, a luxurious spa and wellness center, 12,100 square feet of meeting space, concierges available to anticipate every need, twice-daily housekeeping, 24-hour in-room dining and artisan-inspired cuisine. The lodge also will offer highly-customized services and personalized in-room amenities. For more information, please contact Stowe Mountain Lodge at 802-253-3560 or visit online at www.stowemountainlodge.com. For real estate inquiries, please call 877-786-9368 or 802-253-0076.

Stowe Mountain Lodge is one of more than 30 independent, upscale and luxury hotels, resorts and golf clubs in the United States managed by Destination Hotels & Resorts, the fifth largest independent hospitality management company in the country. The company, headquartered in suburban Denver, Colo., features a portfolio of more than 7,000 guest rooms, 14 golf courses and 9 full-service spas. Destination Hotels & Resorts properties are located in key metropolitan and resort markets including New York, Washington, D.C., Chicago, Denver, Dallas, San Diego, Aspen, Austin, Phoenix, Palm Springs, Jackson Hole, Maui and Lake Tahoe. For more information on the properties in the Destination Hotels & Resorts collection, please visit www.destinationhotels.com.