Vermont Business Magazine Gary S Thulander, president and general manager of the Woodstock Inn & Resort, was awarded the Borden E. Avery Innkeeper of the Year by the Vermont Chamber of Commerce at the 34th Annual Vermont Tourism Summit, held April 5 & 6 at Stoweflake Resort, Stowe. The Vermont Chamber of Commerce Hospitality Awards are an important component of the Vermont tourism and hospitality sector. The awards presented each year at the Vermont Tourism Summit celebrate the hospitality and tourism industry’s vast contributions to the state economy, and acknowledge the award winners as stand-out achievers within the industry, who enhance Vermont’s iconic brand.
Gary Thulander, left, GM of the Woodstock Inn is the Innkeeper of the year 2017, with Ronda Berns Vermont Chamber and Joe Carton, Westport Hospitality. Photo by David Burnell, Vermont Tourism
“Gary Thulander is the epitome of a leader to his resort team and the community,” said Ronda Berns, Vice President of Tourism for the Vermont Chamber of Commerce. “With a global vision to make Woodstock a top destination in the Northeast, he is laser focused on ensuring the economic sustainability of the area and supporting the brand of Vermont. His community activism perfectly aligns with his vision for the resort, resulting in a harmonious equation for success.”
“This award is really about the dedicated team that brings their ‘A’ game to work every single day to keep our resort running like a well-oiled machine,” said Thulander. “I share this award with each and every one of my teammates and with the board of the Woodstock Foundation. I’m honored to help execute their vision for the continued sustainability of the Woodstock Inn & Resort and our community,” he continued.
Thulander’s leadership has already reaped rewards with 2015 reaching record occupancy not matched in decades as well as record revenues for the resort 2015 and 2016. He and his team’s efforts have been recognized by numerous reviewers touting the Woodstock Inn & Resort as one of the best resorts in the country and world. This includes Travel & Leisure’s top 500 hotels in the World, and Condé Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards as the number one resort of choice in Vermont.
Thulander joined Woodstock in the fall of 2013. A hospitality industry veteran with more than 28 years of experience, including seven years as general manager at The Equinox Resort & Spa, Manchester Village, VT, Thulander has worked with premier resorts throughout the East Coast and Caribbean.
Thulander most recently served as general manager of Anse Chastanet and Jade Mountain resorts in Saint Lucia, continuously voted as the top two resorts in the Caribbean. Prior to Anse Chastanet, Thulander was with Cap Juluca Resort in Anguilla, where he was named Hotelier of the Year in 2009 by the Anguilla Hotel and Tourism Association.
Additionally, Thulander has held various management positions at Colonial Williamsburg, Little Dix Bay, Chatham Bars Inn, Ocean Edge Inn and Resort and The Boulders. A native of Francistown, New Hampshire, Thulander received his college degree in Hotel Administration from the University of New Hampshire. He has received numerous hospitality awards, honors and recognitions and is a member of a broad array of hospitality and culinary associations including the New England Inns and Resorts Association and has served on the resort committee for the American Hotel & Lodging Association since 2008.
About The Woodstock Inn & Resort
Located in idyllic Woodstock, Vermont, The Woodstock Inn & Resort defines country sophistication in one of New England’s most charming and popular year-round vacation destinations. The 142-room, AAA Four Diamond Resort and a member of the Preferred Hotels & Resorts LVX Collection, offers award-winning dining in two restaurants, ranked among the finest in New England. The Woodstock Inn & Resort is owned and operated by The Woodstock Foundation, Inc. Proceeds from Resort operations support The Woodstock Foundation and Billings Farm & Museum education and conservation programs.
About Preferred Hotels & Resorts
Preferred Hotels & Resorts℠ is the world’s largest independent hotel brand, representing more than 650 distinctive hotels, resorts, residences, and unique hotel groups across 85 countries. Through its five global collections, Preferred Hotels & Resorts connects discerning travelers to the singular luxury hospitality experience that meets their life and style preferences for each occasion. Every property within the portfolio maintains the high quality standards and unparalleled service levels required by the Preferred Hotels & Resorts Integrated Quality Assurance Program. The iPrefer℠ guest loyalty program, Preferred Residences℠, Preferred Family℠, Preferred Pride℠, and Preferred Golf™ offer valuable benefits for travelers seeking a unique experience. For more information, visit PreferredHotels.com.
Source: Woodstock Inn. WOODSTOCK, VT (April 12, 2017)