Fiesta time
New 150-room Wyndham hotel crops up on charming Texas Hill Country winery
An international hospitality company has selected the Hill Country as its first-ever foray into Texas. On December 16, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, the world's largest hotel franchising company, announced it is breaking ground on a new Dolce Hotel and Resort in Fredericksburg beginning early next year.
The new 150-room hotel will be owned by the Baxter family, who also owns the adjacent Fiesta Winery, according to a release. The Baxters will retain ownership of the hotel while Wyndham will oversee and manage operations for the property.
The Baxters began Fiesta Winery in Lometa, Texas, in 2010 before expanding to Fredericksburg in 2012. Today, the winery operates four locations in the Hill Country, including a second location in Fredericksburg and one in Marble Falls.
The Dolce will be situated on 70 acres adjacent to the winery's location at 6260 U.S. Hwy. E. 290, just a few miles east of charming downtown Fredericksburg. In addition to rooms, the hotel will also offer a tasting room and 9,000 square feet of meeting space.
"With millions of visitors each year, Texas Hill Country — with a vibrant culture influenced by its German roots celebrating dining, live music, art and historic museums, shopping and its scenic wineries — has become one of the fastest-growing U.S. vacations spots for travelers," said Chip Ohlsson, chief development officer for Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, in a release.
"It's the perfect destination for Dolce Hotels & Resorts by Wyndham as we continue to expand the brand to top travel spots for groups, special events, meetings, and vacationers looking for curated experiences in inspiring surroundings around the world."
Of course, the Dolce isn't the only resort helping shape Fredericksburg into a convention destination. In June 2018, the $78 million Seven Hills Resort and Conference Center announced it was breaking ground at U.S. Highway 87 North and U.S. Highway 290 West, about seven miles from the new Dolce.
Though the Texas Hill Country is the brand's first Dolce by Wyndham property in the Lone Star State, Wyndham operates hundreds of hotels in Texas — including a Days Inn, Super 8, and La Quinta Inn in Fredericksburg. Overall, the company houses more than 9,000 hospitality properties across the globe under its brand.