The Merriweather Lakehouse Hotel, a boutique luxury property overlooking Lake Kittamaqundi, is under new management. Meyer Jabara Hotels has assumed operations of the Autograph Collection property, bringing decades of experience to the 212-room hotel.
The premium, full-service boutique hotel features spa-inspired accommodations, an upscale restaurant and lounge, a rooftop pool and 14,000 square feet of event space. The hotel, owned by IMH Columbia LLC, is a short walk from the Merriweather Post Pavilion, an outdoor concert
“We are delighted to add the Merriweather Lakehouse Hotel to our portfolio,” said Justin Jabara, president of Meyer Jabara Hotels. “Since the early 1990s, Meyer Jabara Hotels has owned and operated multiple assets in Maryland. Given our background with this type of property, the Merriweather becomes the perfect complement to our growing portfolio. As an employer of choice within the hospitality industry, our team will deliver impeccable service to guests and top line revenue growth to its owner.”
Hotel owner David Costello said Meyer Jabara’s management style will bring much-needed alignment between ownership and operations.
“For any hotel to be successful, there needs to be collaboration between ownership and management,” Costello said. “That element was missing previously, and it is a refreshing element of how they operate at Meyer Jabara Hotels. As a unified team with a single vision and stellar culture, Meyer Jabara will increase the level of service we provide to our customers and operate the hotel to the quality standards that it was built for. The synergies between our companies, especially on the food-and-beverage side, will ensure that the future of this 4.5-star hotel remains bright and profitable.”
Recent Upgrades
The Merriweather Lakehouse Hotel has undergone a series of enhancements, including a 78-room tower addition and 2,000 square feet of new meeting space. Additional improvements include a redesigned lobby featuring a fireplace, natural wood accents and performances from artists who have played at Merriweather Post Pavilion.
The property also boasts a newly finished 1,200-square-foot penthouse suite with sweeping lakefront views.
New General Manager
As part of its management initiative, Meyer Jabara has selected Jeff Sweet as general manager. With 40 years in the industry, Sweet has held leadership roles with Pyramid Global Hospitality and Starwood Hotels & Resorts, as well as running his own culinary and catering business.
“This is a beautiful boutique hotel in an amazing community – so much so that having the opportunity to run it brought me out of retirement,” Sweet said. “Working for Meyer Jabara Hotels was also an incentive to get back in the game. Not only do I share their culinary passion, but I get to reinvent their F&B offering to entice the locals to experience the hotel.”
