January News – Hotel News for 2026

January 2026

Residence Inn/Moxy Hotel by Marriott Portland Thompson’s Point  

The Residence Inn / Moxy Hotel by Marriott Portland Thompson’s Point, a dual-brand hotel, is now under construction and scheduled to open in summer 2026. It’s the first hotel to be built on Thompson’s Point, Portland’s entertainment venue for concerts, events, and seasonal ice skating. Adjacent to the Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine, Bissell Brothers Brewing, and Leisure Time Cocktail Co., the hotel amenities will include a restaurant and bar, a fitness center, and an indoor pool. The new hotel will also be within walking distance of the Portland Transportation Center, the Amtrak Downeaster rail line, and the Concord bus terminal.

Hotel Bridgton

Hotel Bridgton is planning to open in summer 2026. Located in the small resort town of Bridgton, in the heart of Western Maine’s Lakes District, the 65-room boutique property is being built by Main Eco Homes in partnership with Portland-based Olympia Hospitality, who will manage the independent hotel. Hotel Bridgton will have a heated indoor pool and is within walking distance of shops and restaurants in downtown Bridgton and nearby Highland Lake.

Arbor Camp

Arbor Camp is located on the Union River in Ellsworth Falls, not far from Mount Desert and Acadia National Park. A collection of cabins and treehouses, the property had a soft launch in late July 2025. Five additional treehouses are scheduled to open in late spring 2026, with more to follow later in the year. Each cabin and treehouse is privately situated and includes a compact kitchen, outdoor grill, wood‐burning stove, Breeo smokeless fire pit, private hot tub, and EV charging at a private parking spot.

Home2Suites by Hilton

A new Home2 Suites by Hilton is being built in Ellsworth. The property will be owned and operated by Witham Family Hotels. Aimed at longer-stay travelers, the pet-friendly 83-room hotel will feature in-room kitchenettes, guest laundry, a fitness center, and complimentary breakfast. The opening is anticipated for the summer of 2026, just in time for the summer season at nearby Acadia National Park.

The Trident Inn

The Trident Inn in Ogunquit was renovated and transformed in 2025. The former 2 Village Square Inn, The Trident Inn, has been reimagined and updated. The 17-room boutique hotel property has a saltwater swimming pool and is perched above the town, with ocean views, yet is within walking distance to all the resort town has to offer. The Trident also has a new on-property restaurant, Coastal Alchemist.

Recent Restaurant Openings

Maine’s food scene continues to expand and innovate. Among the recent openings in Portland is Abbiocco, an Italian restaurant that draws inspiration from Tuscany and the Amalfi Coast, near Woodford’s Corner. Expect crudos, salads, and pastas. Gill’s Neighborhood Bar on Spring Street offers creative cocktails, a handful of unusual wines, imported beer, and a compact menu of starters, salads, sides, and sandwiches, including Moxie Pork Ribs and Lamb Nech Shawarma. Douro is a seafood restaurant on Thames Street that brings the flavors of Portugal to Maine, with a raw bar featuring tinned Portuguese seafood and Catalplana, the traditional Portuguese seafood stew. There’s a wine list of Portuguese and Spanish offerings. Dry Dock on Commercial Street has a raw bar, a straightforward list of seafood mains, and an inventive wine list. In Brunswick, Elevenses is a bakery, café, and tavern rolled into one, while Pomelia offers classic Italian fare, including a roster of Sicilian pizzas. In Scarborough, Allagash Bungalow, in partnership with Bite Into Maine, has created The Allagash Bungalow Tasting Room. On Main Street in Bar Harbor, Table Salt offers a menu of comfort fare – think Brussels Sprouts with fermented chili sauce and peanuts, Short Rib Bolognese, and Chicken and Dumplings. The Portland Food Map is the best source for restaurant news and openings throughout the state.