September 9, 2015 – At the Kennebunk-Kennebunkport-Arundel Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Dinner, our General Manager Tina Hewett-Gordon was honored with the Joel Stevens Community Spirit Award.

Jean Ginn Marvin, Innkeeper, and Tina Hewett-Gordon, General Manager

“This award honors an individual who serves their business community with distinction and who, over a number of years, has contributed significantly to the overall good of business and the betterment of the communities the Chamber serves.”

Tina was completely surprised and touched. She said the award is personal for her because Joel Stevens was a mentor of hers and she coordinated he and his wife Betsy’s wedding years ago. Joel has since passed, but the spirit of community service lives on, and Tina said she is so glad to live and work in such a great community. The Nonantum has a proud tradition of giving back, and Tina has dedicated much of her time and energy over the years to working with the Chamber, and spearheading the Christmas tree decorations during Kennebunkport’s Christmas Prelude celebrations, and volunteering with the Maine Restaurant Association and various boards.

“I can think of no one more deserving than Tina Hewett-Gordon for the Joel Stevens award,” said Laura Dolce, Executive Director of the Chamber. “Tina has always embodied the true spirit of community service, not just at work, but in how she lives her life. It was wonderful to see her get the recognition she never seeks but so richly deserves.”

Blake Baldwin of Video Creations in Kennebunk, a past award recipient who is on the nominating committee, said “There’s a real humbling feeling when you receive this award. You think – I’m going to sure try to live up to the ideals that Joel Stevens created and fostered in this community, to get out in the community and do good things for the people that live around here. With the work that Tina has done in the community – nobody asks her, she just volunteers to do project after project. We all know how tirelessly she works. And it’s like a recognition of the entire Nonantum team that all supports her in what she does.”

Congratulations Tina!!

Nothing quite captures the spirit of Maine like local art. This year we’ve proudly partnered with Wendy Webster Good Fine Art of Kennebunkport to bring her beautiful watercolors to The Nonantum Resort.

Wendy and her husband Tim started in the off-season, installing her pieces framed in driftwood into our guestrooms.

Art has always been a way of life for Wendy, who began painting alongside her mother, Beverly Jockers, also a well-known local artist. Wendy’s creative visions reflect her love for the ocean and her time spent in Cape Porpoise, Maine. As a stern woman on the lobster boat Scorpion Lady, she spent many hours on the open water and was able to extensively observe the raw beauty of Maine’s coast, which she depicts in her paintings.

One particular work was truly a labor of love. The scene, depicting the Nonantum’s ligthouse and marina, as seen from the nearby docks, was started by Wendy’s mother but left unfinished when she died.

“When my mother passed away, I found the sketch of Nonantum point that she had started and she had done a few washes of watercolor on it,” says Wendy. “I was very excited to be able to have the opportunity to do one more painting with her, as she and I have done a few together over the years.”

Wendy completed the painting, which now hangs over the fireplace in our Portside lobby.

General Manager Tina Hewett-Gordon wanted to welcome guests to our resort this season with a complimentary 3×5 print of “Nonantum point” to take home as a souvenir from their visit. The matted print is placed on their pillows at evening turndown. We also have postcards of the scene in our lobby, so guests can write home to their friends and family about their Maine vacation and share the spirit of this special place.

Guests are also encouraged to visit The Port gallery at 11 Ocean Avenue, Kennebunkport (half a mile from The Nonantum, just off Dock Square). They have a large selection of original paintings as well as many reproductions in various sizes. The Port also offers custom framing, plus a unique collection of locally made and Maine-made crafts including sculptural and functional pottery, jewelry, glass, and the ever popular Calendar of the Kennebunks.

“Whether I am painting a beach scene, or a snowy mountain scape,” says Wendy, “I am always fascinated how light and color change from one minute to the next. In my paintings I strive to capture the normally unseen details of the landscape, and portray my subject to the viewer through a different light.”

We hope you enjoy her works hanging throughout our resort during your visit.

Our Executive Chef, Steve True, made a pledge at the start of the season to use as many locally-sourced ingredients as possible in 95 Ocean restaurant.

Chef is working with a Northeast farms coop, as well as Maine organic farms, to ensure that all of our meats and cheeses come from Maine, VT, NH and CT. We’re featuring New England cheeses in a number of our salads and appetizers, like our new Antipasto Board, and our Lighthouse Salad with local greens and goat cheese.

The cows from which our meat comes are grass-fed, up until the last two months, then they’re on a GMO free grain diet, “so you don’t get that bitter taste that grass-fed beef sometimes has,” Chef said. “And we can even trace the DNA of the cow and where it came from!”

All cases of meats, cheeses and produce are labeled with the farm from which they’ve come, so if you want to know exactly where your food is coming from, you can ask your server. For example, we’ll be using Madison Backyard Farms non-GMO tomatoes from Madison, ME, and Pineland Farms products from New Gloucester, ME. We also grow our own herbs in the resort’s 100% organic gardens, for use in our nightly specials and creative cocktails.

Our lobster comes from just up the street at Port Lobster Company, Kennebunkport. (So our tasty Maine Lobster Cakes and Baked Stuffed Lobster are fresh off the dock). And, for our seafood offerings, Chef is focusing on using sustainable fish as much as possible.

“I think this is important personally,” says Chef True, “I don’t think it’s right that we don’t know where our food is coming from or what chemicals or pesticides may be inside. I don’t want to eat a steak that has been dyed red, or a genetically modified vegetable that has had chemicals injected into it to help it repel bugs. And I think our guests agree and want to eat healthier and cleaner too.”

Chef said it was surprisingly easy to implement these changes, given the wonderful suppliers we work with.

“Whether you call it ‘farm-to-table’ or ‘farm-to-fork’ or ‘eat local,’ this is a growing trend in our industry,” said Tina Hewett-Gordon, General Manager of The Nonantum Resort and Chair of the Maine Restaurant Association. “We’re proud to be on board with sourcing as many local ingredients as possible, so our guests enjoy a fresh, authentic taste of Maine and New England.”

95 Ocean restaurant is open Memorial Day to late October. We are proud to grow our own herbs in the resort’s organic gardens and use locally-grown produce whenever available. All of our meats are locally-sourced, antibiotic-free and non-GMO. We also use local cheeses and sustainable seafood options whenever possible. 

View the Menu  (For reservations, please call 207-967-4050)

95 Ocean also features Nightly Specials and Live Entertainment. 

~Nicki Noble Bean

August 2015 – The Nonantum Resort has been named one of the Best Places to Work in Maine.

The statewide survey and awards program was designed to identify, recognize and honor the best places of employment in Maine, benefiting the state’s economy, its workforce and businesses.

So what does a “best place to work” really look like? At The Nonantum, employees like the people they work with, they have pride in what they do, and they return year after year. Management has an open door policy, and is personally invested in the success of each individual.

“We like to give people a chance to use their talents,” said Innkeeper Jean Ginn Marvin. “We have encouraged many staff over the years to try out different departments and/or roles, and find the right fit. We’re also proud to give employees opportunities for development, like the SMCC Rising Stars of Hospitality program, Dale Carnegie courses, and the Disney Institute, to name a few.”

The Nonantum is family-owned and operated, and they treat their employees like family. In fact, a number of mother-daughters, sisters, brothers, and even husband-wife teams work together at the resort. And a number of employees’ family members have gotten married at the resort over the years.

The team also understands that family comes first, and managers are sympathetic to balancing work with family life.

Among the staff, there is a sense of camaraderie. And the resort’s mission statement actually includes things like “be nice” and “have fun.” There is also a culture of community involvement, as The Nonantum encourages giving back and volunteering – with local charities or community organizations and associations.

“We all work very hard to make the resort and restaurants successful,” said Tina Hewett-Gordon, General Manager. “Our business is growing at an amazing rate, and with that comes the challenge of managing growth. I am confident that we have the best team in place to do it.”

The Nonantum Resort employs about 160 people, and currently has opportunities for Experienced Servers, Bussers, Dishwashers, and Housekeepers. Interested candidates may apply online at: www.nonantumresort.com/employment

The 2015 Best Places to Work in Maine list is made up of 75 companies in three size categories: small (15-49 U.S. employees), medium (50-249 U.S. employees) and large (250+ U.S. employees).

The awards program was created in 2006 and is a project of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) – Maine State Council and Best Companies Group. Partners endorsing the program include: Mainebiz, the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and Maine HR Convention.

Companies from across the state entered the two-part process to determine the Best Places to Work in Maine. The first part consisted of evaluating each nominated company’s workplace policies, practices, and demographics. This part of the process was worth approximately 25% of the total evaluation. The second part consisted of an employee survey to measure the employee experience. This part of the process was worth approximately 75% of the total evaluation. The combined scores determined the top companies and the final rankings. Best Companies Group managed the overall registration and survey process in Maine and also analyzed the data and used their expertise to determine the final rankings.

The Nonantum Resort will be recognized and honored at the Best Places to Work in Maine awards ceremony on October 7, 2015 and will be profiled in a special publication by Mainebiz. The final rankings will be announced at the event.

For more information on the Best Places to Work in Maine program, visit www.BestPlacestoWorkinME.com

It may be hard to believe, in the midst of a busy summer season, that our team is already looking ahead to the fall and the holidays. But we’re pleased to share the news that November will be “Non-Profit Month” at The Nonantum Resort.

“We’re thankful for all that the non-profits do in our community,” said Tina Hewett-Gordon, General Manager of the resort, “and we’d like to give back.”

“We are happy to offer our event space at no charge for non-profits to use as a fundraiser, staff retreat, meeting or holiday party for their organization,” said Tim Ames, Director of Sales.

Many function facilities charge a fee to rent out their space, which can cut into non-profits’ proceeds from their events, or take up a large chunk of their limited budget for events. The Nonantum will waive its facility fee (up to $1,000 value) in the month of November to help save local non-profits this expense for their meetings or special events.

*Interested organizations may contact Tim Ames at 207-494-1266 or timothy@nonantumresort.com.

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In November, The Nonantum will also be continuing its Benefit Breakfast series, which is open to the public, with a portion of the proceeds from Saturday breakfast buffets going to support local charities.

Last year for Thanksgiving, our Innkeeper Jean and General Manager Tina gave all staff members a turkey and pie as a thank you. In the spirit of the season, many of our employees then chose to donate their turkeys and pies to a local food shelter. Read the story here

The Nonantum Resort is proud to continue its tradition of giving back to our community. 

July 2015 – Ariel Pelletier, Group Sales Assistant at The Nonantum Resort, has been named to the Maine Motorcoach Network’s Board of Directors.

“We are pleased to announce Ariel’s appointment to the MMN,” said Tina Hewett-Gordon, General Manager of the resort. “Our partnership with tour and receptive operators, the Maine Office of Tourism and other industry partners are invaluable to drive group business to our state.”

Ariel joins hospitality leaders representing hotels, inns, restaurants and attractions from Portland, Bath, Augusta, Boothbay Harbor, Camden, Sunday River and beyond. The MMN works to “increase the revenue to Maine businesses through motorcoach travel” by planning and hosting “FAM” (familiarization) tours to introduce tour operators to our state, putting on an annual sales mission, and representing the state of Maine at various trade shows like the American Bus Association. The MMN also works closely with the Maine Office of Tourism to educate members on the importance of being “group-friendly.”

(To learn more, please read What Is Motorcoach Friendly? – a helpful document created by the MMN).

“We are thrilled to have Ariel on the Board of Directors,” said Troy Munford, Chair of the Maine Motorcoach Network. “The Nonantum has always been a huge supporter and participant of the organization from its inception years ago. We look forward to the fresh vision and a solid voice from the Maine Beaches Region that Ariel has to offer.”

Brittany & Ariel welcome a group to St. Anne’s Church, Kennebunkport, Maine

Ariel recently hosted a MMN “FAM” tour group dinner at The Nonantum Resort, and looks forward to helping showcase the property and our area as a desirable destination for groups. Ariel has also attended the Discover New England International Summit to meet with tour and receptive operators on long-standing and new partnerships to bring overnight groups to the resort.

To view the Maine Motorcoach Network resource book for group tour operators, please click here.

June 2015 – The Nonantum Resort has been inducted into TripAdvisor’s Hall of Fame by earning TripAdvisor’s prestigious Certificate of Excellence for 5 years running (2011-2015).

“There is no greater seal of approval than being recognized by our guests,” said Jean Ginn Marvin, Innkeeper. “The Certificate of Excellence Hall of Fame is a badge of honor and a remarkable vote of confidence for our team and our continued commitment to providing excellent service to our guests.”

The Certificate of Excellence award celebrates excellence in hospitality and is given only to establishments that consistently achieve great traveler reviews on TripAdvisor. Winners – including accommodations, restaurants, and attractions all over the world – have continually delivered a superior customer experience.

The ‘Hall of Fame’ was created this year to honor those businesses that have earned a Certificate of Excellence for five consecutive years.

Of total Certificate of Excellence winners this year, only 9% worldwide have qualified for the Hall of Fame by winning the award five years running.

“This is an amazing accolade that our team should be very proud of,” said Tina Hewett-Gordon, General Manager. “And every single member of our team in every department has contributed to our success.”

When selecting Certificate of Excellence winners, TripAdvisor uses a proprietary algorithm to determine the honorees that takes into account the quality, quantity and recency of reviews and opinions submitted by travelers on TripAdvisor over a 12-month period as well as business’s tenure and ranking on the Popularity Index on the site.

June 2015 – Nicki Noble Bean, Director of Marketing for The Nonantum Resort, has been appointed to the Board of Directors of the Kennebunk-Kennebunkport-Arundel Chamber of Commerce.

“We are delighted that Nicki has been appointed to the Chamber Board,” said Jean Ginn Marvin, Innkeeper at The Nonantum Resort. “The Chamber plays such a vital role in our community and we are pleased and proud to assist in any way we can. There is no doubt with Nicki’s vast skill set, she will be an excellent Board member.”

Bean is no stranger to Chamber work. She served as Tourism Manager for the Greater Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce in NH. There, she co-founded and organized Restaurant Week Portsmouth, and brought National Geographic Traveler’s geotourism editor to town to speak at a Chamber Breakfast Forum in the wake of Portsmouth being named one of the globe’s top historic places.

“I know how hard the ladies here at the Chamber work,” she said. “But when you’re passionate about what you do, you can accomplish a lot with a little. And it’s all about collaboration.”

Bean has served on the Chamber’s Destination Marketing and PR steering committee for the past 6 months. Over the past year, she has also worked with other organizations like the Kennebunkport Business Association (KBA) and the Maine Office of Tourism to help promote the Kennebunkport area as a top tourism destination.

Bean holds a Masters Degree in Economic Development and Tourism Management from Boston University, and a B.A. in English and Journalism from Wake Forest University. She spent four years working in Group Sales at the Omni Parker House hotel in downtown Boston, before moving back to Maine.

“When I wanted to relocate to the area, I started with the Chamber,” Bean said. “I drove up to attend a Business After Hours, knowing no one, but was happy to find a warm welcome here, and I’ve made many valuable connections through the Chamber.”

Bean is a native Mainer, having grown up in nearby Hills Beach in Biddeford. But she is glad to have spent the past 10 years living north of Boston, as it has allowed her to gain an outsider’s perspective. She says this helps in her marketing efforts because the primary target markets for Kennebunkport include Boston, New York and beyond. Visitors “from away” are familiar with the Kennebunkport brand name because of the Bushes and Walker’s Point, but the Chamber team works to educate potential guests about all the other draws in the area, including the culinary scene, outdoor activities, and romantic getaways.

In her role at The Nonantum, Bean handles all of the website content, social media, advertising, PR, email campaigns, packages and promotions for the resort, the restaurants, special events and activities. She is also working with a creative agency to develop a brand new mobile-responsive website for the resort – slated to launch this season.

When she’s not busy working, Bean can be found chasing her two-year-old around the yard, and enjoying time with her family.

3rd Annual Kennebunk River Race and Outdoor Family Fun Festival 

Sunday, August 2nd, 12:30-4:30pm

What could be better than a fun afternoon on the water with family and friends, plus BBQ, beer and live music? Come enjoy The Nonantum Resort’s 3rd Annual Paddle Battle. All levels can compete in the race up the Kennebunk River including kayaks, canoes, stand-up paddle boards, surfboards and any non-motorized vessels. Following the race at 1:30pm and kids/family race at 2:30pm, barbeque and beverages will be available for purchase on the resort’s back lawn, and everyone can enjoy live music by the Kennebunk River Band.

“Paddle Battle is a great way to enjoy being out on the water – whether you’re here to compete, or just have fun!” said Tina Hewett-Gordon, General Manager of The Nonantum Resort. “Kids can do arts & crafts in our Activities Tent. And everyone can relax and enjoy the live music on the lawn.”

“We’re thrilled that Paddle Battle is featured in Sports Illustrated Kids’ summer fun issue as one of the top things to do for families!” said Nicki Bean, Director of Marketing for the resort.

Image courtesy of Joe Carter Films

The event takes place from 12:30-4:30pm. The race starts at 1:30pm. It’s a 1.7 mile course from The Nonantum Resort, up the Kennebunk River, under the Mathew Lanigan Bridge, around the buoy and back.

Teams are welcome to compete (each member should register online as an individual). Or any companies interested in sponsoring the event and participating with a team and/or a booth may contact nicki@nonantumresort.com. Southern Maine Health Care’s Sports Performance Center will be sending a team of 10 staff to compete in the race.

Paddle Battle is sponsored by Weirs Buick GMC. Kittery Trading Post has donated a stand-up paddle board package including a board, paddle and PFD that will be raffled off. Cabela’s of Scarborough has donated a $250 gift card. Other prizes and raffles to be announced. Funky Bow Brewery will be providing local craft beer. AJ’s Coconut Gelato will be providing samples.

A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Kennebunkport Fire Department’s Aquatic Safety Division.

• All skill levels are welcome!
• Cost to Race: $30 for adults, $10-20 for kids. To register, and view photos of last year’s event, visit: www.paddlebattlekport.com
• (Spectators are free to attend).
• Food & beverages may be purchased a la carte following the race on the resort’s back lawn.

Please Note: All parking for exhibitors and attendees will be off-site at nearby Consolidated School, and The Nonantum Resort’s shuttle will be providing continuous service to/from between 12-5pm.

*Note: the event was originally scheduled for June 21st but was postponed to August 2nd due to weather.

The Nonantum is a family-owned, family-friendly waterfront resort. Located on the Kennebunk River, the resort’s on-site marina offers kayak rentals, SUP lessons, Rugosa Lobster Tours, sailing excursions on the Pineapple Ketch, and fishing charters on the Libreti Rose II. The resort also offers a seasonal family Activities Program (mid-June through Labor Day), and an outdoor heated pool. Guests can enjoy creative local cuisine in 95 Ocean restaurant, casual Heckman’s Pub, and relaxed Latitudes Poolside Bar & Grill. The resort is located right on the InTown Trolley route, and a short walk from Dock Square. The Nonantum Resort is “Where Traditions Begin.”

95 Ocean Avenue, Kennebunkport. 207-967-4050

95 Ocean restaurant at The Nonantum Resort Awarded 2015 TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence

Recognized as a Top Performing Restaurant as Reviewed by Travelers on the World’s Largest Travel Site

95 Ocean has been named a TripAdvisor® Certificate of Excellence winner for 2015. The award, now in its fifth year, celebrates excellence in hospitality and is given only to establishments that consistently achieve great traveler reviews on TripAdvisor. Certificate of Excellence winners include accommodations, eateries and attractions located all over the world that have continually delivered a superior customer experience.

“Our restaurant and culinary team is thrilled to receive this award!” said Tina Hewett-Gordon, General Manager of The Nonantum Resort. “A huge thank you goes out to our staff for their attentiveness to our guests. And we’d like to thank all our past guests who took the time to complete a review on TripAdvisor. The accolade is a remarkable vote of confidence to our restaurant and our continued commitment to excellence.”

The Nonantum Resort is a past and current recipient of the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence award in the hotel category, but this is the first time 95 Ocean restaurant has received the accolade.

When selecting Certificate of Excellence winners, TripAdvisor uses a proprietary algorithm to determine the honorees that takes into account the quality, quantity and recency of reviews and opinions submitted by travelers on TripAdvisor over a 12-month period as well as business’s tenure and ranking on the Popularity Index on the site.

95 Ocean offers creative local cuisine in a lovely, relaxed setting on the Kennebunk River. Executive Chef Steve True was named Maine Restaurant Association’s Chef of the Year 2014, and the restaurant has previously received TV Diner’s Platinum Plate award.

Chef True has made a commitment this season to use all locally-sourced, antibiotic and GMO free meats from Northeast farms. Chef also uses local New England cheeses, locally-sourced produce, and sustainable seafood whenever possible. Nightly specials often feature herbs from the resort’s organic gardens. 95 Ocean and casual Heckman’s Pub are also serving a variety of local Maine craft beers on draft this season.

95 Ocean is open seasonally Memorial Day through late October for dinner service, nightly specials and live entertainment. The restaurant is also hosting a new Progressive Dinner via Trolley series with 5 tour dates from May through December, featuring different dining venues for each date. View the new menu or call 207-967-4050 for more details.

TripAdvisor® is the world’s largest travel site*, enabling travelers to plan and book the perfect trip. TripAdvisor offers trusted advice from travelers and a wide variety of travel choices and planning features with seamless links to booking tools that check hundreds of websites to find the best hotel prices. TripAdvisor branded sites make up the largest travel community in the world, reaching 340 million unique monthly visitors**, and more than 225 million reviews and opinions covering more than 4.9 million accommodations, restaurants and attractions. The sites operate in 45 countries worldwide. TripAdvisor also includes TripAdvisor for Business, a dedicated division that provides the tourism industry access to millions of monthly TripAdvisor visitors.

TripAdvisor, Inc. manages and operates websites under 24 other travel media brands, including: http://www.thefork.com (including http://www.lafourchette.com, http://www.eltenedor.com, http://www.iens.nl and http://www.besttables.com), http://www.jetsetter.com, http://www.oyster.com, http://www.smartertravel.com, and many more

*Source: comScore Media Metrix for TripAdvisor Sites, worldwide, December 2014

**Source: Google Analytics, average monthly unique users, Q1 2015