COLORADO SPRINGS – Fall 2024 – Hotel Polaris at the U.S. Air Force Academy proudly welcomes Executive Chef Ken Butler. With a culinary approach rooted in his Colorado upbringing, Chef Butler brings a deep appreciation for fresh, locally sourced ingredients and a heritage of scratch-made cooking inspired from his earliest days. Chef Butler will oversee the six food and beverage experiences at Hotel Polaris.
Chef Butler’s passion for cuisine began early. One of his first memories is sitting on a counter watching his grandparents cook every meal from scratch. He was fascinated by the simple, flavor-forward ingredients that made a meal come to life. It’s this deep-rooted heritage of great food, made with the best ingredients that Chef Butler brings to the new Hotel Polaris in Colorado Springs.
“My approach to food is simple – highlight the main component of the meal by using fresh, sustainable and local products,” said Chef Butler. “Whether using a classic and traditional technique or a modern approach to a dish, my goal is to highlight and respect the ingredients in the best possible way.”
Chef Butler has traveled the world in search of the most flavorful combinations, a journey that ultimately led him back to his native Colorado. “From Palisade peaches to Olathe corn, Rocky Ford cantaloupe and the endless farm-raised game and beef, Colorado truly is a bounty of incredible foods,” said Chef Butler. Hotel Polaris guests can look forward to experiencing his favorite Colorado purveyors featured across the hotel’s menus.
Chef Butler’s vision for Hotel Polaris’s six food and beverage experiences is to create menus that highlight the best of regional ingredients while offering guests refined, memorable meals. His seasonally driven menus will connect the hotel to its local surroundings, establishing it as a distinctive culinary destination.
Pamela's, the hotel’s signature restaurant, will celebrate the patriotic spirit and culture of our country with a diverse menu that highlights the unique flavors of the United States by showcasing distinctly American cuisines. Guests also will enjoy a curated selection of American produced wines, beers and spirits. While the Aviator Rooftop Bar will feature a cocktail-forward menus with sharing plates. Fun and lively Doolies soda shop will offer shakes and classic snack foods. He’ll also bring this focus on regional influences to Backyard Bites on the Flat Iron Plaza, the Grab-and-Go Café as well as Thunderbird Bar.
Chef Butler’s professional career has been shaped by years of experience with hotel brands such as Four Seasons, Andaz, Destination Hotels and Hilton. He built his career crafting regionally inspired menus that balance simplicity, bold flavors and innovation. For example, at the Four Seasons Resort and Residences Vail, Chef Butler developed seasonal menus that celebrated the region’s finest local ingredients. While in Hawaii at the Andaz Maui, he infused his dishes with the vibrant flavors of the Pacific.
At Hotel Polaris, Chef Butler will lead a team of more than 30 culinary professionals across six food and beverage experiences. He believes that mentorship and team development foster a creative, collaborative environment that ensures consistency and excellence in every dish. His goal is to make the dining experience at Hotel Polaris a defining feature for guests, delivering exceptional culinary execution.
About Hotel Polaris
Hotel Polaris is a 375-room resort-style hotel located in the new TrueNorth Commons mixed-used development at the North Entrance of the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. The hotel offers six food and beverage outlets including the 9th floor rooftop bar, an outdoor pool and sun deck, a full-service spa and fitness center, as well as the only in-hotel flight simulators in the United States. The property also offers more than 26,000 square feet of expansive indoor meeting space. Hotel Polaris is owned by Provident Resources Group, managed by CoralTree Hospitality Group and developed by Matthews Southwest Hospitality in conjunction with BLUR Workshop as the architect and interior designer and GE Johnson as the general contractor.
The hotel was made possible through a public-private partnership between the Association of Graduates and Air Force Academy Foundation, the City of Colorado Springs, Blue & Silver Development Partners and Provident Resources Group. The project includes the last of the four catalytic City for Champions projects designed to add dimension, energy and economic vitality and boost tourism in the Pikes Peak region.
About CoralTree Hospitality
CoralTree Hospitality is one of the fastest growing hospitality management companies in the United States with more than 35 hotels, resorts and residential rentals. Formed in 2018, Denver-based CoralTree delivers distinctive, memorable experiences that celebrate the surroundings, culture and community of each property. The company also embraces each team member with brand pillars focused on serving from the heart and empowering experiences. CoralTree recently was named the No. 4 best small company to work for in Colorado in the annual Denver Post, Top Workplace survey. The company has developed a variety of initiatives to better serve its team members, communities, stakeholders and customers including Bloom, an environmental sustainability program, and CoralTree Cares, which is the company’s philanthropic platform. The hotel and Residence Collection includes independent, branded and soft-branded properties in key metropolitan areas and resort markets including Denver, Chicago, San Francisco, San Diego, Los Angeles, Snowmass, Vail, Maui, Orlando and Lake Tahoe. CoralTree is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Los Angeles based Lowe, a real estate investment, management and development firm. For more information, visit www.CoralTreeHospitality.com.
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For high resolution, downloadable images of properties in the CoralTree collection, please visit https://coraltree.intelligencebank.com
Media Contact: Kristin Yantis or Amanda McNally, Malen Yantis Public Relations, (970) 949-7919 or HotelPolarisPR@myprco.com