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Firebrand Hotel to Open in Downtown Whitefish in Early Summer

New 86-room Firebrand Hotel under construction on Second Street and Spokane Avenue

By Tristan Scott

A long-awaited hotel in downtown Whitefish is slated to open as The Firebrand Hotel in early summer, its owners announced Tuesday.

The 86-room hotel is under development at the corner of Second Street and Spokane Avenue. The Firebrand Hotel takes its name from the iconic pass in Glacier National Park “as well as the independent spirit that keeps Whitefish an extraordinary place,” according to a press release from Averill Hospitality, which will manage the property.

The owner behind the current project is Sean Averill, of the Whitefish Hotel Group, who along with his brother Brian and father, Dan Averill, owns and operates The Lodge at Whitefish Lake.

The Averills also own the site where the Firebrand is being built, called Block 46, a prominent lot directly south of Whitefish Middle School and adjacent to the historic Old Town Central District, a residential neighborhood where some residents were resistant to the scope of the project.

The city has long been interested in a downtown boutique hotel and identified its importance in a 2006 downtown master plan. The Averill family had previously looked into building a hotel at two different spots along Central Avenue, on the corners of First and Third Streets. But those proposals never got off the ground.

Edna White, sales and marketing director for Averill Hospitality, said she’s hopeful that The Firebrand Hotel will be ready to open its doors in June, but due to the potential for unforeseen pitfalls, it is not currently accepting reservations prior to Aug. 1. White said reservation availability would move up when the hotel’s date of completion becomes clearer.

The hotel’s granite-and-stone façade, guest rooms and lobby, and massive timbers featured throughout acknowledge a Rocky Mountain flair, as well as the local logging heritage that helped establish Whitefish. Metallic and glass design elements bring a contemporary feel, while innovative technologies assure guests a modernized experience, according the press release.

The new boutique property is a complement to its sister accommodations at The Lodge at Whitefish Lake, Montana’s only AAA four-diamond rated resort.

Accommodation options include 81 deluxe rooms and five premium suites, “each offering technologies expected by today’s traveler.”

Smartphone enabled locks allow guests to access their room using a virtual key on their mobile phone, while the rooms are furnished with custom beds and sound-dampening materials are built into the walls and floors. The suites all feature an in-room fireplace and four include a balcony overlooking downtown Whitefish.

The lobby offers a lounge and restaurant offering a daily breakfast buffet, a tapas-style evening menu, 16 on-tap beers, and a selection of wine from around the world. A coffee kiosk will provide specialty coffee, tea, smoothies, and grab-and-go food options.

A 750-square-foot meeting room, executive boardroom, hospitality suite, and bridal party room provide other opportunities for group functions.

The rooftop patio offers a relaxing atmosphere, skyline views and an outdoor alternative for an intimate social gathering or wedding ceremony.

Spa services will be available on-site, as will concierge and business services, a 24-hour fitness center, parking, automobile and bicycle rentals, and dogs are welcome.

Reservations are now being accepted online at www.firebrandhotel.com and by phone at toll free 844-863-1900.