There’s a new old name coming to Vail this winter. “Hythe” is a quaint Old English word meaning haven or landing place, and that’s exactly what the Hythe hotel aims to provide to travelers. It’s a comfortable landing, indeed: After a $40-million makeover, the former Vail Marriott Mountain Resort has been rebranded and reopened as the latest jewel in Marriott’s Luxury Collection, with nightly room rates starting at $699.

The Revel Lounge is designed as a convivial après-ski retreat. Image courtesy of the Hythe

Towering above Vail’s Lionshead Village, an easy glide away from the Eagle Bahn Gondola, the Hythe offers 344 rooms, 22 suites, and 16 residences, plus 29,000 square feet of event and meeting space. A quartet of new food and beverage concepts will join the already established Well & Being Spa.

The hotel’s check-in area is low-ceilinged and intimate, with carved wood panels inspired by the shepherding tradition of arborglyphs and a fireplace surrounded by textured charcoal stone. Image courtesy of the Hythe

The transformed interiors of the public spaces put a refined spin on rustic decor. “The design of Vail today is clean and sleek, yet pays homage to the mountain with angular design,” says the hotel’s general manager, Kristin Pryor. “The Hythe aligns with guest expectations in this latest iteration but also sets a new tone of that heritage, paying tribute to the founding of the mountain with hints of retro fashion and architecture.”

Dual elk sculptures by artist Rachel Denny face off above the lobby bar. Wood-paneled walls are a modern take on the alpine chalet tradition. Image courtesy of the Hythe

Interior designers Mark Wilson and Yoko Ishihara, California-based partners in Wilson Ishihara, were inspired by the pioneering spirit and camaraderie of Vail’s early days as a resort in the 1960s. They’ve added fixtures and custom furnishings throughout the Hythe that are intended to evoke the ’60s-mod glamour of that historic ski era.

Margie’s Haas serves a homey version of contemporary alpine-American cuisine in an alpine-mod setting. Image courtesy of the Hythe

Merging the dramatic grandeur of the mountain landscape with the intimate coziness of an alpine chalet, the designers relied on natural materials including stone, wood, bronze, leather, and wool. They selected Colorado-quarried Calacatta marble to create a texture reminiscent of falling snow. And new artwork installed throughout the Hythe hints at time-honored Vail stories and traditions, with a nod to local wildlife.

Quick snacks and casual seating are available at Mountain Ration Grab & Go. Image courtesy of the Hythe

While the spaces are seriously beautiful, the underlying theme is playful revelry, in tribute to Vail’s early heyday. “We have designed an experience with every guest interaction in mind, and one that embraces the play aspect of why people are here,” Pryor explains. “From custom playing cards in Revel Lounge to daily whiskey tastings at the 10th at The Hythe, we are inviting our guests to interact with us and each other to ensure that celebration and the making of memories are at the forefront.”