The Bethel Inn Resort, built in 1913, has been sold to a Massachusetts real estate developer that now owns 47 hotels in the Northeast, including four in Maine. Rose Lincoln/The Bethel Citizen
BETHEL — A representative of the new owner of The Bethel Inn Resort said officials are reviewing staffing, food and beverage operations and timeshares as they make plans to further develop the historic property in the heart of town.
“It will still be yellow and it will still be The Bethel Inn Resort,” Nazba Jenulevich, the inn’s new regional director, said. “The inn being successful means the town is successful. This isn’t just a business, it’s kind of the town center almost. We understand that and want to cultivate that.”
The 100-acre property with its landmark 1913 inn was purchased Dec. 22, 2022, by Giri Hotel Management, a 15-year-old company that owns 46 hotels in New England, including Waterville, Bangor, Portland and Ogunquit. The Bethel Inn Resort is its 47th acquisition.
After the death of co-owner Richard “Dick” Rasor in April 2022, co-owner and General Manager Allen Connors and Rasor’s heirs — his daughters Kerry and Elizabeth and daughter-in-law, Kathy — decided to sell the property Rasor had bought through receivership in 1979.
During his 43 years at the helm, Rasor added the conference center, expanded the golf course from nine to 18 holes, built 53 town houses and a health club and added a new wing to the main inn.
In 2004, Connors, the inn’s former golf professional and then-general manager became Rasor’s partner. During their partnership, Connors presided over some $5 million in construction projects, and was key in establishing the timeshare business.
“The property is in great shape,” said Jenulevich, who has worked with Giri for two years.
Renovations are a possibility, he said.
Asked about possibly eliminating the timeshares, Jenulevich said, “The timeshare component is of great interest to us, and we’ve certainly had many conversations about it.”
Claire Mulholland, Giri’s director of digital marketing, said the company plans to reopen the dining room, but no decision has been made about the spa. With regard to cross-country skiing, she said: “Our plan is to keep that exactly the same. We know locals really love that, and we want to keep that connection to the community. ”
Evan Crowder, the golf pro at Sabasco Harbor Resort, another Giri property, said plans to assess Bethel inn’s golf club and Vanessa Davis, the corporate director of food and beverage, will share inventory and buying power ideas with members of the inn’s kitchen staff.
Immediately following the purchase, the Giri website posted that the company is hiring for all positions.
“We are looking to fill out the staff a bit, especially for the upcoming busy season,” Mulholland said.
“We are retaining everyone,” Jenulevich said, “and all those folks that are still there doing amazing things before are going to do amazing things now.”
He said he will likely be asking people to expand their responsibilities and take on an additional role.
More immediately, the company is set to offer current employees corporate benefits, such as a matching 401(k) program, he said.
“Our goal is always to try to achieve a reasonable work-life balance,” he said. “Our intention is to put our best foot forward, and hopefully that works out. We want to take care of the associates so they can take care of the guests.”
Mulholland, who said she had not been to Bethel until recently, described it as “a really classic new England town.”
“It feels so very Maine,” she said, “and driving through the town is just so quaint and so cute. We’ve been expanding our footprint in Maine because we just love Maine so much. It really exemplifies what we love about Maine. We’re excited about having an all-year-round town.”
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