The Franciscan Guest House in Kennebunk, Maine, US, is set to undergo a comprehensive renovation, with plans to modernise the property and rebrand it as the Canticle Hotel.

The revamp of this property, which is currently owned by the Society of Franciscan Fathers of Greene, aims to enhance the guest experience with updated facilities and an expanded parking area.

Work mainly involves the transformation of the Franciscan Guest House’s interior and exterior, including the relocation of guest rooms and the addition of modern amenities, Foster’s Daily Democrat reported.

The town's site plan review board has already accepted the application for the project and will discuss it further in a public meeting at Kennebunk Town Hall, scheduled to take place on 15 August.

This property, an eight-acre parcel separated from the larger monastery in 2001, will now witness the demolition of a one-storey, eight-room wood-frame structure, referred to as the White House, with its rooms being transferred to the main guest house.

In addition, the two-storey building of Tudor House, with 22 rooms, will be renovated to support 12 rooms, while the remaining ten rooms will be moved to the main guest house.

Portland-based Mitchell & Associates’ architect Robert Metcalfe highlighted the project's phased approach, ensuring the Tudor House remains operational during the main building's overhaul.

The main guest house will gain a partial second floor and a new main entry, featuring a lobby, restaurant, check-in area, and meeting rooms.

The existing restaurant, licensed for up to 150 guests, will be redesigned to accommodate 91 guests, with the potential for future modifications.

The site's swimming pool and pool house will be retained while a garage will be removed and a woodshed relocated.

Parking capacity will also be increased, with the upper lot expanding to 35 spaces and the lower lot becoming more user-friendly.

The project also includes emergency access improvements, stormwater management, and landscaping enhancements.

Metcalfe assured the site plan review board that the hotel's traffic levels are not expected to rise post-renovation.

It provided insights into the hotel's occupancy rates, which vary seasonally, with the highest occupancy during the peak tourist months of July to September.