EKN Development Group has partnered with culinary-focused hotel brand Appellation, which was co-founded by hospitality veteran Christopher Hunsberger and American chef Charlie Palmer, to launch the Appellation Petaluma in California. The downtown Petaluma hotel is slated to open in 2026 with 93 guestrooms and a rooftop bar.
"Chris and I are lucky to call Sonoma County our home, and over the years, we've had our eye on Petaluma as an emerging culinary destination in the region," said Palmer, Appellation co-founder and CEO. "With its bohemian, metropolitan setting, Petaluma will offer our future guests a different experience in Wine Country compared to other Sonoma County counterparts like Healdsburg, where we will be opening our first hotel next year."
"From the beginning, we intentionally designed this hotel to pay homage to the integral role that food and wine play in Petaluma," EKN Development Group CEO Ebbie Nakhjavani said in a statement. "We chose Appellation to bring this project to life because they uniquely put the culinary experience at the forefront of the guest experience and can offer a local Sonoma County perspective. Under Charlie and Christopher's leadership, we know they will deliver the best in the industry."
As with all Appellation properties, food-focused amenities and programming will be blended into the hotel. "Petaluma is characterized by traditions that have been passed down for generations by local farmers, vintners, and artists," Nakhiavani said. "The town has an energy unlike any other in Wine Country with such an emphasis on history, art and culture. Honoring Petaluma's rich arts scene, we will invest over $500,000 in art including specifically commissioned signature pieces from local artists that will be accessible to everyone in the community."