The Allison’s New General Manager Brings Experience to Newberg’s Luxury Hotel

NEWBERG, Ore. — The region’s premier spa has new leadership as Tessa Peterson became the general manager of The Allison Inn & Spa on Nov. 3.

Originally from Hood River and a Portland resident for the past 20 years, Peterson brings 17 years of hospitality experience working in urban and boutique hotels. She plans to move to Newberg with her family and three children.

Peterson began her hospitality career in 2007 as a front office manager with Kimpton Hotels and Restaurants. She later advanced to brand operations manager before moving to Provenance Hotels, where she served as a hotel manager and later general manager. Most recently, she was general manager of The Hoxton in Portland before returning to Kimpton. She left that role to take the position at The Allison.

“Career-wise, I was hoping to get away from urban hotels and into a more luxury hotel setting, and so we started looking all over the country, but really wanted to stay close to home,” Peterson said. “The Allison is a really great career change. What drew me to it is learning about luxury and getting involved in a project with this great reputation.”

She said Newberg felt like a good fit for her family.

“I really loved growing up in a smaller town — super connected to all of my friends, being able to zip around wherever I wanted, and having adventure at my fingertips with hiking and getting outside — and I wanted my kids to have that same experience,” Peterson said. “I feel like Newberg and wine country have some similar elements to Hood River, with farming and agriculture, but also being a great tourist destination. It felt like a natural fit.”

Peterson said hospitality runs in her family. Her mother previously worked as a hotel director of food and beverage.

“My passion in hotels is really around place-making activities,” Peterson said. “Our big focus for 2026 is how we can activate the hotel in ways it’s never been activated before.”

She said she wants to open the property to the local community beyond room bookings, pool days, spa treatments, and dining reservations. That includes hosting holiday events and strengthening the hotel’s clubhouse atmosphere, where locals and visitors alike can enjoy garden-to-table cuisine and local wines.

“Having 35 acres right at our disposal, your opportunities to activate a space are so much greater than just saying, ‘Come to this event in my ballroom or my lobby,’” Peterson said. “We can activate all sorts of things — vineyards, gardens, ballrooms, restaurants.”

Peterson said the hotel’s Tuesday and Wednesday night happy hour with live music is open to the public, not just overnight guests. She also hopes the dining room will become a gathering place for community members — including those looking to work remotely with coffee, meet a friend for tea, or stop in for lunch.

“It’s open to locals just as much as it’s open to our guests,” Peterson said. “We call it Newberg’s living room for a reason.”

She said attention to detail and staff professionalism help set The Allison apart from other hotels she has worked at.

“The people probably make the largest difference,” Peterson said. “That’s what guests take away. More than how comfortable the mattress was, they’re going to remember the valet or their massage therapist, and that’s a huge differentiator for us.”

Looking ahead to 2026, Peterson said the hotel is planning room refreshes, new programming, and longer-term projects aimed at enhancing the guest experience.

“One thing I’m most excited about is in January, when we have our seed meeting,” she said. “It’s the culinary team sitting with the garden team and asking, ‘What do we want to grow this year?’”

She said wellness programming will continue to expand, including float meditations, yoga, and spa experiences that are open to the public.

“We offer something nobody else really can in terms of hotels and spas in the area,” Peterson said. “The spa itself is the largest in the region, which allows us to offer services others can’t. From the moment you drive up until the time you leave, we’re offering an experience that’s pretty unmatched.”

Peterson said she is also looking forward to enjoying the amenities herself.

“I love treating myself to a really nice dinner in the restaurant, or sometimes just a dirty martini and a plate of French fries at the bar,” she said. “I’m really excited to be part of the community and to get engaged outside of the hotel. It’s going to be a fun future.”

The Allison Inn & Spa is a multiple award-winning hotel in Newberg. The LEED-certified property opened in 2009 and features 77 guest rooms, a full-service spa, restaurant, gardens, and a vineyard across 35 acres on the city’s north side. Room rates range from $448 to $524 per night, with suites starting at $725, according to Travel Weekly.

More information is available at theallison.com.