Feasibility | Pre-Development | Hotel Development

Project, Intl., W Hotel & Residences, Park City

Park City, UT

Project Team

Sponsor & Master Developer: Project, Intl.

Architect: Workshop for Architecture

Interior Designer, Hotel & Residences: Pierro Lissoni

General Contractor: N/A

In the mid-2000s, Scott Mitchem leveraged his client relationship with Starwood Hotels & Resorts and his knowledge of the Park City, Utah, market into a shot at his dream of building a boutique hotel.

He formed Project, Intl., as the sponsor and developer of a five-star, ski-in-ski-out boutique hotel and condominium project, planned as a W Hotel & Residences with 143 rooms and suites and 36 condominiums (working title, The Stern Hotel & Residences). Mr. Mitchem used personal resources to secure already entitled land and worked with city authorities, the Starwood real estate team, American Ski Company — owners of the adjacent Canyons Resort — and a group of investors and consultants to plan a compelling project that was ahead of its time in the market.

Today top hospitality brands such as Montage, St. Regis, and Waldorf Astoria are located directly on the area’s ski slopes, but that was not the case in the mid-2000s. There was no modern boutique hotel/condo product in the market, despite considerable demand from urban travelers arriving in droves from major markets via Salt Lake City International Airport, just 45 minutes away.

Ultimately, the project received significant resistance from local residents concerned about increased traffic and views partially obstructed by a new ski lift, even after repositioning it for direct community access and adding other amenities. The threat of significant delays due to protracted legal challenges and the risk to valuable ski-in-ski-out access meant the death of the project; however, it also meant the start of a new focus on hotel design and development for Mr. Mitchem, which has been rewarding and educational.