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V O L . X X I X N O. I X M AY 1 , 2 0 2 3 20 H O S P I TA L I T Y / T O U R I S M F O C U S market — are still waiting for the return of business travelers and meet- ings, which are a key driver in the off- season, we are optimistic that Portland has just begun in its growth with more and more business owners investing in Portland that provide unique experi- ences and opportunities." Market potential Back in Bar Harbor, Stephen Coston and his business partners Brian Shaw, Tom St. Germain and Nina St. Germain are building a 45-room hotel called the Pathmaker (a nod to nearby hiking trails) at 77 Cottage St. It will include a dining room of about 125 seats. Shaw, owner of local building com- pany Brian D. Shaw Inc., is handling design and construction. e goal is to complete the project this year. e Pathmaker will be Coston's 11th hotel property in Bar Harbor, on his own or with partners. It was partly driven by the availability of lots that had been vacant for many years, unusual for downtown Bar Harbor. e hotel will be year-round, as is Coston's Inn on Mount Desert — a reflection, he says, of the area's market potential. "People love it here," he says. "Modern media favors picturesque places like this. is is not a place you visit once and say you've 'done' it." Skowhegan's mill makeover In Skowhegan, developers Dash Davidson and Max Patinkin of High Tide Capital in Bangor own and are redeveloping the historic Spinning Mill, at 7 Island Ave., overlooking the Kennebec River. e project includes construction of a 20-key hotel, named the Skowhegan, expected to finish up by summer 2024. e hotel will feature large rooms designed for extended stays as suites with separate sitting rooms and kitch- enettes, a large lobby and sitting area, and an amenity floor with coworking space and private offices, exercise gym, and lounge with fireplaces. e whole mill project also includes a taproom for tenant Bigelow Brewing Co. and 42 apartments. Davidson says he see plenty of potential for travelers to take advantage of the region's four-season outdoor tourism opportunities and local invest- ments in the downtown and along the Kennebec River waterfront, including options for walking, biking, kayaking and other outdoor activities. He also expects proximity to Water- ville and Augusta to drive occupancy. » C O N T I N U E D F RO M P R E V I O U S PA G E P H O T O / F R E D F I E L D R E N D E R I N G S / C O U R T E S Y O F O M I M E D E S I G N S High Tide Capital's hotel, the Skowhegan, will feature large rooms designed for extended stays. Zack Pike of Pike Project Development at the redevelopment of the Spinning Mill at 7 Island Ave. in Skowhegan. The 20-key hotel will be called the Skowhegan.

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