increase its profile.

The resort has become a member of the Summit Hotel and Resort Group, which officials hope will boost the hotel's efforts to become a four to five diamond facility.

And the Stonington management team has cemented a relationship with a New England hotel, which it hopes could lead to training opportunities for staff.

Six staff members visited The Essex House Hotel in Vermont, which also has the New England Culinary Institute, and is already a four-diamond hotel.

Membership of the Summit Club brings an association with REZsolutions, which has an extensive reservations network.