American chef Charlie Palmer partnered with hotel industry veteran Christopher Hunsberger to launch Appellation, a hotel brand that merges culinary distinction with thoughtful hospitality. The name Appellation evokes a sense of place and provenance; the brand’s goal is to build community around food while offering approachable luxury in both accommodations and service. The first new-build properties are planned for Idaho and California: Appellation Sun Valley (2023), Appellation Healdsburg (2023) and Appellation Pacific Grove (2024).
© Appellation
“We’re flipping the traditional ‘hotel first, restaurant second’ notion on its head and setting a new standard for immersion in local culture and community through food. With Appellation, the intersection of culinary and hospitality is seamless. It is the hotel experience both of us have always wanted,” said Christopher Hunsberger, chief operating officer. Hunsberger brings decades of hotel leadership, including roles at Four Seasons Resorts and Hotels, where he served as global head of product and president of the Americas.
© Appellation
Food and beverage are central to the Appellation concept. Properties will integrate culinary programming throughout the guest experience, with lobbies that include interactive prep stations and demonstration areas, pantries on each guestroom floor, and curated cookbook libraries. Hotel sizes will vary, generally ranging from about 72 to 225 rooms, and each location will feature a signature Charlie Palmer restaurant and bar in addition to meeting and event spaces, pools, spas and fitness centers.
© Appellation
“Appellations were created as a promise of authenticity — an earned designation that could exist nowhere else but here. The first appellations centered on food, just as we do today. That name felt appropriate as we create what we saw lacking for today’s luxury traveler — hotels specifically built around a destination’s distinct culinary experiences,” said Charlie Palmer, chief executive officer. Palmer is an acclaimed chef whose work has been recognized with numerous industry honors.