Burke Mountain Hotel Opens

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Created on Wednesday, 07 September 2016 18:46
Written by Haley Lyndes

burkemountainhotelAROUND THE NEK- Residents and tourists are excited now that the doors are open at the Burke Mountain Resort's hotel and conference center.

"It's just kind of like that small town atmosphere, but this hotel brings that kind of big town feel," says Jess Sechler, the marketing manager at Burke Mountain Hotel.

 

The hotel opened Saturday after significant delays. The hotel was originally set to open back in December, but was delayed due to controversy between the state, contractor, and hotel developers.

The funding comes from a program called EB-5, which allows foreign entrepreneurs to invest in commercial enterprise in the U.S. (such as Burke Mountain Hotel) that will create or preserve at least 10 permanent full time jobs for U.S. workers. The former owners of Jay Peak and Burke Mountain Resort, Ariel Quiros and Bill Stenger, misused the EB-5 funding for personal use. The Security Exchange Commission filed fraud charges back in April against Quiros and Stenger, and now Michael Goldberg is the appointed receiver of properties owned by Quiros.

General contractor Jerry Davis and subcontractors are still in the process of receiving payment for the hotel, but despite the legal battle, residents, tourists, and perspective employees are just excited that the hotel is open for public use.

"This is one of the highlights of my year," says New York resident Robert Rebholz. Rebholz, who bikes at Kingdom Trails in Burke and stayed at the new Burke Mountain Hotel.

"No matter what this hotel is staying here. So however it got here doesn't really matter, this is for the people to enjoy and it's wonderful," says Rebholz.

Burke Mountain Hotel and Resort is now hiring for the upcoming winter season.