PROPERTY Q&A: THE DOUBLETREE BY HILTON BURLINGTON

A lot has changed for Greater Burlington hotels in the last year, and believe it or not, it hasn’t all been bad news. In fact, far from it. Yes, the pandemic took a heavy toll on lodging here as it did across the country, but while we were bunkered down, some of the region’s meeting venues made the most of that time by completing significant property renovations. Now that the pandemic is beginning to recede, these properties are reopening with improved facilities and upgrades that meeting professionals will appreciate.

None more so than the

Doubletree by Hilton Burlington. As the state’s largest conference center, the property is now well-positioned to give attendees a better meeting and conference experience than ever before.

We sat down with Alan Hebert, the property’s Director of Sales & Marketing, to learn more about the recent changes, how the property managed the pandemic, and how they have emerged better than ever.

TELL US ABOUT THE RECENT IMPROVEMENTS?  
We’ve undergone extensive renovations in the past few years. We started in 2018 by completing a $5 million renovation of our public spaces and in 2020 we spent an amazing $17 million on other aspects of the property. Every square foot of our conference center has been fully renovated. We rebuilt over 250 guest room bathrooms, replaced over 60% of the windows in the property for better energy efficiency not to mention improving all the little things guests need while they are traveling. The final result is truly transformational. The hotel looks absolutely incredible.

WHAT ARE YOUR MEETING & EVENT CAPABILITIES

The DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Burlington is Vermont’s largest Hotel and Conference Center.  We offer over 30,000 square feet of very flexible event space along with 311 guest rooms. We can host events up to 1,000 attendees or more. Our largest space is the Lake Champlain Exhibition Hall which is 12,500 square feet and offers everything an exhibit hall should, including the ability to drive vehicles right into the room!  Our Emerald

Ballroom is 8,300 square feet and is a wonderful space for general sessions as well as break out

space due to its flexibility. In total we have 14 meeting rooms, again all of which have gone

through extensive renovations last year!

WHAT TYPES OF MEETINGS DOES YOUR PROPERTY SPECIALIZE IN?

Our specialty, if we had to go with just one, revolves around larger multi-day groups of any sort from any segment. From 100-150 people and up we really shine. Associations in particular love this property due to its flexibility. Groups tend to see higher attendance when they have their events with us and that is attributed to two factors. People love it here in Burlington and the DoubleTree has everything the groups need along with all the attractions and off-site opportunities that Greater Burlington and Lake Champlain have to offer.   

WHAT DOES YOUR PROPERTY OFFER GROUP ATTENDEES OUTSIDE OF THEIR EVENT?

What do we NOT offer to group attendees might be a better question!  Being located right next to the University of Vermont and just minutes from Lake Champlain there are so many things to do here. At the hotel we have two restaurants, a great fitness center, a large indoor pool and a fantastic outside patio area to just sit and relax. Centennial Woods is located right behind the hotel for those that want to go for a leisurely stroll to check out the flora and fauna or just take a break and recharge. 

WHAT IS THE MOST COMMON FEEDBACK YOUR PROPERTY RECEIVES?
The most common feedback we receive is about the property layout and the team that makes sure the guest experience is first class. Our conference center has its own entrance from the exterior of the building with ample complimentary parking for those traveling in just for the day. The facility was designed from the ground up with input and feedback from meeting and event planners so that it works effectively and efficiently for all.

And then there is our staff!  We constantly receive compliments about our team members. From their flexibility, friendliness and hospitable nature down to the “how did you know I needed that before I knew I needed that” anticipation of needs. Our staff really makes the hotel work. They are the body and soul of the property and our guests feel it.

HOW HAS YOUR PROPERTY WORKED WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND THE COMMUNITY DURING THE PANDEMIC? 

We have offered our services in a multitude of ways to help our community be safe and recover from the current situation. The best example is our partnership with the Vermont Department of Health and the Vermont National Guard in hosting a critical vaccination site. As of the end of April, we have had about 15,000 people get their vaccine in our conference center. The team from the state working on this project has referred to us as the “Cadillac of sites” due to our ability to create great traffic flow, the quality of the space and the ease of working with our team. 

WHAT HEALTH & SAFETY PRACTICES ARE IN PLACE FOR MEETING ATTENDEES AT YOUR PROPERTY?

Hilton is on the forefront of COVID safety when it comes to guests and events. We participate in the Hilton Clean Stay program as well as Hilton Event Ready to ensure everything is as safe and secure as possible. This includes additional cleaning procedures, staff protocols and signage throughout the property.

We have adapted all of our housekeeping processes to better ensure guest safety. We offer housekeeping services only upon request at this time to limit exposure as much as possible. We also have a variety of sanitization protocols in place, hand sanitizer throughout the property, additional signage and of course every staff member has to wear a mask and practice social distancing.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ACTIVITY IN THE BURLINGTON AREA? 

Well this is an easy question. My favorite activity is being on two wheels somewhere around Burlington or in Vermont. Be it on my motorcycle or one of my several mountain bikes, having trail networks available within minutes is so nice. From great single-track at places like Catamount Family Center in the Summer to incredible fat biking in the Winter, the bike scene in Burlington is absolutely awesome. Of course there is typically some post-ride rehydration so it helps to have tons of great breweries around too. 

WHY DOES BURLINGTON MAKE SUCH A GREAT PLACE TO HOST AN EVENT?
I have talked to a lot of meeting planners and guests over the decades I have worked in hotels and there is one common theme as to why Burlington is a great destination: THE VIBE. It is an energy level, variety of things to do, new and refreshing atmosphere mixed with beauty, serenity and great people. I like to say we put the fun in funky. Meeting attendees pick up on this energy level and it really does make a great impact. I think back to a professional hockey team we used to host and one of their players said it best: “I love coming to Burlington because I can feel myself calm down. It has everything a big city has, but with a hometown feel and so much less pressure.” 

ANY TIPS FOR THOSE ATTENDING AN EVENT IN BURLINGTON?

Tip One: make it a vacation. We have so much to offer you should add a day or two to either or both ends of the event to explore. In Vermont, you never know what you are going to find that inspires you. Whatever you might be into, it is here!
Tip Two: Slow down a bit and observe the surroundings. It will help you recharge. Sometimes we get so busy we forget to just stop and smell the flowers so to speak and Vermont it is the perfect place to do just that.  Extra bonus tip: get any product that is or uses pure Vermont Maple Syrup – maple creemees are the best! 

WHAT EVENTS ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO POST COVID-19 IN BURLINGTON? 

With so many events it’s hard to focus on just one or two but for me it would be one of the Eastern Cup mountain bikes races held at Catamount. Seeing that level of racer so close to home inspires me to try and ride faster (notice I said try). And I can’t wait to attend any of the incredible music events held in the area. From catching a great band at Higher Ground to the free weekly music series held throughout the area all Summer. The music scene here in Burlington is absolutely fantastic no matter the genre.   

Feel free to reach out to Alan at Alan.Hebert@hilton.com

Learn more about Off-Site Attractions and other venues here: