What’s New in BostonUSA 2008: New Hotels & Renovations

Media Relations & Tourism Sales Department of the Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Larry Meehan, Vice President of Media Relations & Tourism Sales, lmeehan@bostonusa.com, 617-867-8231; Stacy Shreffler, Media Relations & Tourism Sales Manager, sshreffler@bostonusa.com 617-867-8203. 

 

May 2008 Edition

 

Contents
 

  1. Omni Parker House completes $30 Million Restoration and Renovation for April 2008
  2. Hotel Indigo in Newton opened Spring 2008
  3. Le Méridien Cambridge to Undergo $7.3 Million Renovation
  4. Regent Hotel at Battery Wharf Boston is opening in Spring of 2008
  5. Mandarin Oriental Boston: July 2008 completion
  6. W Hotel Theatre District, 234 rooms, including 24 suites, opening August 31, 2009
  7. Ames Building Hotel, 120 rooms projected, opening 2009
  8. InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) to open Holiday Inn Express Hotel and Suites in Downtown Boston Summer 2008
  9. Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel opened February 2008
  10. The Colonnade Hotel $18 million Environmentally Friendly Redesign; complete for spring 2008
  11. Westin Copley Ball-Room Renovations Completed February 2008.
  12. Millennium Bostonian Hotel undergoes $25 Million Renovation for summer 2008 .                  
  13. Four Seasons Hotel completes the "crown jewel" of $50 million dollar renovation: completion of 5th Floor Meeting Space.
  14. Liberty Hotel Opened September 5, 2007    
  15. Copley Square Hotel renovation totalling $14 million dollars.  Starts January 14, 2008 and scheduled for completion late spring 2008.
  16. InterContinental Boston Hotel opened November 2006
  17. Westin Boston Waterfront Hotel unveils new 8,700 square foot ballroom April 2008
  18. Hyatt Harborside Completes $6 million renovation
  19. Kendall Hotel announced the completion of a seven-story new tower
  20. Boston Marriott Copley Place, Boston Marriott Cambridge, Courtyard by Marriott Boston Tremont, Boston Marriott Newton underwent renovations in 2007
  21. Wyndham Boston Downtown Hotel on Broad Street is now Hilton Financial District Hotel
  22. In 2005 the 164-room South Boston Courtyard By Marriott opened and the Hotel 140 – 140 Clarendon Street opened.
  23. Hyatt Regency Cambridge, overlooking Boston offers guests new function space, new 24/7 Stay Fit Gym and new product and service amenities.
  24. Ritz-Carlton, Boston Common Announces $11Million Upgrades
  25. Royal Sonesta Hotel Boston Completes $7.3 Million in Renovations
  1. Omni Parker House completes $30 Million Restoration and Renovation in April 2008: Located at 60 School Street on the Freedom Trail and steps from Downtown Boston, the luxurious Omni Parker House Hotel celebrates the completion of a $30 million restoration and renovation project, making it the perfect blend of modern amenities and historic charm. While preserving the timeless beauty that has made the Omni Parker House a Boston landmark since 1855, this multi-phased transformation includes renovations to the hotel’s interior and exterior. All 551 guest rooms offer new cherry-wood furnishings, lush bedding, richly-colored fabrics and contemporary amenities including flat-screen LCD televisions and MP3 compatible alarm clocks. The hotel also completed extensive renovations to the exterior façade. The masonry was re-pointed and decorative rooftop cornices were preserved and remounted to maintain the rich heritage of this famous hotel.  In addition, food and beverage enhancements were made, meeting space was updated, and a new fitness facility was added. Parker’s Bar and the Last Hurrah were redecorated with vibrant new carpets, furniture and cherry-wood walls throughout. Parker’s Restaurant, home of the famous Parker House roll and Boston Cream Pie has introduced an innovative new menu. A new 1,200 square-foot gym is now open 24-hours-a-day. With the addition of energy-efficient windows and improved insulation, Boston's oldest continuously operating hotel has taken on new environmental responsibilities. The hotel has also added individual guestroom heating and cooling units to further minimize energy usage. To read more click here.
     

  2. Hotel Indigo in Newton Open March 2008: The newest Intercontinental Hotel Group (IHG) property to open in the Boston-area is located just outside of Boston in Newton, MA, but what sets the Hotel Indigo apart is that it offers all the modern and luxurious amenities not usually found in suburban hotels. 191 guest rooms are equipped with 32” flat-screen, high-definition TVs, iPod Docking stations on the clock radios, complimentary wireless high-speed internet and down bedding. The hotel offers guest laundry services, same-day dry cleaning and onsite sales and meeting professionals for meetings . A new restaurant with a 'rock-and-roll' theme is expected to open soon. The hotel is environmentally friendly with initiatives such as a cogeneration power system that recaptures used energy, as well as a voluntary conservation program that encourages guests to re-use linens and towels. The hotel is committed to using recyclable glass and reducing plastic use wherever possible and takeout meals will be packaged in biodegradable containers made of sugar cane. Hotel Indigo is adjacent to the Riverside MBTA Green Line station and a short drive to the Massachusetts Turnpike; once on 90/Massachusetts turnpike, downtown is minutes away. Click here to read more.
     

  3. Le Méridien Cambridge to Undergo $7.3 Million Renovation: The European-inspired brand Le Méridien will be taking over the Hotel@MIT. The property features 210 rooms, including 14 suites, 7,700 square feet of state-of-the-art meeting space, a full-service restaurant, a terrace garden for outdoor functions and a fitness center.  The property is known for a distinctive guest experience, highlighted by the presence of MIT Artificial Intelligence Lab robots stationed throughout the lobby. This renovation will include upgrading all guestrooms and the lobby, adding Le Méridien signature touches.  The hotel will remain open throughout the renovation, which will be segmented and completed in phases to minimize guest disruption. Click here to read more.
     

  4. Regent Hotel at Battery Wharf Boston: Hotel is opening in Spring 2008. The Regent Boston at Battery Wharf Hotel and Residences will be a luxury mixed-use project featuring a 150-room full-service hotel, 103 luxury residential condominiums, an 18,000 square-foot spa, approximately 33,000 square feet of retail space, 376 underground parking spaces, and a marina. The Regent Boston at Battery Wharf Hotel and Residences is situated directly on the waterfront at the intersection of Battery and Commercial Streets, Boston, Massachusetts.
     

  5. Mandarin Oriental Boston: 2008 Completion: Introducing over 14 luxurious floors with 136 guestrooms and 12 suites, the Mandarin Oriental, is slated to open in 2008. The hotel has direct access to the Prudential Center, the soaring edifice that is Boston’s social and business nucleus in the Back Bay, and is in close proximity to the Hynes Convention Center, Newbury Street and Boston Common. The hotel provides a 24-hour business center, 9,000 square feet of versatile meeting space including a 4,200 square-foot Oriental Ballroom, accommodating up to 600 reception guests or 380 seated banquet-style, and a variety of smaller executive meeting rooms, all offering floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Boston's Back Bay. Spanning over 16,000 square feet, the Spa at Mandarin Oriental, Boston will promote a holistic approach to wellness, offering rejuvenating experiences that soothe, heal, restore and revitalize, complete with a cutting edge multi-sensory TechnoGym fitness center. The Mandarin Oriental’s signature restaurant is designed with dramatic sophistication, featuring refined American cuisine with subtle Asian influences, crafted by an outstanding culinary team using seasonal New England ingredients. The new limestone and brick Mandarin Oriental Boston adds another fine façade to the elegance of Boylston Street.
     

  6. W Hotel Theatre District, 234 rooms, including 24 suites, opening August 31,  2009. A W hotel is currently under construction in Boston at 100 Stuart Street, at the corner of Stuart and Tremont Streets in Boston’s storied theater district, home of the Wang, the Schubert, the Colonial, the Wilbur, the Cutler Majestic theatres, the Charles Street Playhouse, and more. W Boston will introduce a new kind of modern luxury accommodation to New England that will include W’s signature bed, fully wired technology, in-room Munchie Box,  Whatever/Whenever® service, 7,500 square feet of meeting space, SWEAT® Fitness Center, WET® pool, full service Bliss Spa, as well as an on-site Restaurant, Bar, and Living Room.
     

  7. Ames Building Hotel, historic landmark, 120 rooms projected, opening 2009. In 2009 the grand historic structure in downtown Boston known as the Ames Building will join the ranks of Boston architectural landmarks that have been recycled into boutique hotels. Its prime location at One Court Street opposite the Old State House, striking design, and history will make it a landmark Boston property. Constructed in 1889, the 13-story Ames Building was the first skyscraper in Boston. In 1974 the Ames building was added to the National Register of Historic Places. The structure, designed by Shepley Rutan & Coolidge in the Richardsonian Romanesque style (named for architect H. H. Richardson) is one of the tallest masonry buildings in the world, notable for the intricate details of the masonry and the dramatic roofline overhang. The 93,500 square-foot building served as the headquarters for Ames Plow until the 1950s. In recent years, the property has attracted interest from many developers. The building is now owned by New Jersey-based Normandy Real Estate Partners, who have planned a $40 million renovation. Plans call for a lounge and two stories of restaurants. Normandy has already started discussions with Boston and New York’s most talented restaurateurs.
     

  8. InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) to open Holiday Inn Express Hotel and Suites in Downtown Boston Summer 2008 Renovated historic property to open Summer 2008. The 72-room Holiday Inn Express Hotel and Suites is expected to open summer 2008 after a $2 million renovation to a historic 100-year-old building. Located at 280 Friend Street, directly across from the TD Banknorth Garden, the property will allow guests to be within walking distance to Boston’s famed historical attractions. Boston City Hall, Massachusetts General Hospital and the Tip O’Neill Federal Building are close by.

    The hotel’s newly enhanced complimentary Express Start® breakfast bar will feature a full selection of breakfast items including cheddar cheese omelets, bacon, biscuits, yogurt, fruit and the brand’s proprietary cinnamon roll and Smart Roast® coffee. The SimplySmartTM shower will incorporate a proprietary Stay SmartTM Kohler showerhead, upgraded 100 percent cotton terry towels and a new line of cinnamon-scented bath products into each guest bathroom. Guests at the hotel also will enjoy the brand’s fresh, new SimplySmartTM bedding collection that features an attractive decorative top sheet, a medium-weight duvet blanket and soft 200 thread-count sheets. The newly renovated five-story property will offer business travelers a variety of key amenities such as free high speed wireless Internet access throughout the hotel, free local phone calls (U.S. and Canada only), phone with private voicemail and free daily delivery of USA Today. Guests will also have access to an on-site fitness center and business center, and all guestrooms will have a 32" LCD flat panel television. Standard Holiday Inn Express guest rooms feature a comfortable king-sized bed, or two comfortable double beds, a sitting area with a lounge chair and an in-room coffee machine. The hotel will also offer 15 suites with wet bar, microwave and refrigerator.

    "We invested $2 million in renovations to meet Holiday Inn Express brand standards, and we are very pleased with the resulting urban contemporary design" said Karla Lyon, general manager. "Holiday Inn Express has excellent brand recognition and loyalty, which will help us attract business and leisure travelers who are looking to stay smart in downtown Boston"

     

  9. Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel opened February 2008. Located directly east of Boston’s bustling Financial District, the hotel is in close proximity to the new Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, downtown Boston and Logan International Airport.  The $165 million hotel project is part of the fast-paced development of the South Boston Waterfront’s Seaport District. The 471-room hotel will include 21 suites, more than 20,700 sq ft of meeting space, including a 10,700 sq ft ballroom, a junior ballroom and restaurant.  Architects Kling Stubbins created the 21-story building with a design inspired by the sails of a ship billowing in the wind. The hotel’s interior, developed by Beverly Hills, California-based Cheryl Rowley Design, celebrates the seaport setting, and pays homage to Boston's newest waterfront playground.  This tech-savvy hotel offers a DS-3 line, which operates 28 times faster than the speed of a T-1, and allows guests to stream video, host video conferences and run their largest internet-based presentations – simultaneously – without sacrificing speed. Renowned chef and co-owner of Via Matta and Radius, Michael Schlow continues to show off his skills in the new 606 Congress restaurant, which will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner.  The hotel is within walking distance of numerous major attractions, including the Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston’s Children Museum, Boston Design Center, Boston Harbor Walk, Fanueil Hall Market Place, the New England Aquarium and more. Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel Website.
     

  10.  Colonnade Hotel: transformation complete in spring 2008: Boston’s Back Bay neighborhood landmark that is as genuine as it is independent is engaged in an $18-million redesign by Alexandra Champalimaud & Associates, slated for completion spring 2008. With the addition of a sleek marble-front desk, oversized lobby windows, and new deep espresso wall paneling, the hotel has a warm welcoming feel. Pillow top mattresses and luxurious down comforters are the perfect pair for a great nights sleep.  With new energy efficient, open-able windows and check-in/check-out climate-controlled guest rooms the Colonnade is serving as a case study for hotels and hotel companies wishing to emulate the system elsewhere. The Colonnade is home to the city’s only roof top pool and the award-winning Brasserie JO. Click here for press release.
     

  11. The Westin Copley Place Boston has completed renovations of their function space to include: Staffordshire, Essex and America Ballrooms. Renowned architect Peter Niemetz has created unique ballroom spaces that incorporate contemporary design with a color palette of beige, cream, taupe and celadon. States Niemetz, “In true Westin Copley Place tradition, we’ve incorporated edgy design with refined style; making these spaces the ultimate in event destinations.”

    These renovations as well as the recently upgraded 7th floor meeting rooms provide over 52,000 square feet of total function space. The very popular Staffordshire Room, overlooking Copley Square, has been expanded and structural modifications were completed to the Essex Ballroom; both will dramatically improve the usability and efficiency. In addition, state of the art lighting, audio visual and enhanced rigging points have been installed in the Essex and America ballrooms. “We are excited to re-open our ballrooms, updating the look and feel to better suit our upscale clientele,” states Michael Jorgensen, General Manager of the Westin Copley Place Boston.
     

  12. Millennium Bostonian Hotel $25 Million Renovation for Summer/Fall 2008. Rising eight stories above historic Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market, The Millennium Bostonian Hotel’s multi-million dollar renovation commenced in march 2008 and is scheduled to completed in the late summer, early fall of 2008. The 201-room property, located in the heart of downtown Boston at historic Faneuil Hall Marketplace, will recreate all guest rooms and public areas to an upscale, yet comfortable, hotel with an emphasis on luxurious details. Guest rooms will feature faux leather finishes, linen like wall coverings, 42inch LCD televisions, Sealy pillow top bedding and Frette linens. The hotel’s exterior will be redesigned with the addition of an elegant new stainless-steel fountain and an entranceway of French-paneled beveled glass. The lobby will display original art installations and a seating area around a gas-burning fireplace. Throughout the renovation process and upon completion, guests will continue to experience the finest in guest services at the Millennium Bostonian. For more information on the renovations or to make reservations at Millennium Bostonian www.millenniumhotels.com .
     

  13.  Four Seasons Hotel completes $50 million renovation of 5th floor meeting space.  The new meeting space gives new options to meeting planners and event coordinators who will use it for business and social gatherings. Styled in warm, inviting tones, the four meeting rooms in the new Residential Wing boast oak flooring. Details include crown moldings, custom wall coverings, and enhanced lighting. For added convenience, the designers have created permanent buffet stations that blend seamlessly with the decor, plasma screen TV's, drop down AV screens and more. Three of the four rooms have built-in projection capabilities. Antique mirrored French doors in each room allow the space to transition into elegant luxury for dining and cocktail receptions. The lighting design has been conceived to provide a range of down lighting along with custom Italian chandeliers as a centerpiece in each room.

     

  14.  Liberty Hotel: Opened September 5, 2007: Adjacent to the Massachusetts General Hospital opposite Beacon Hill and Charles Street, Carpenter & Company is renovating the 1851 granite Liberty Hotel, formerly the Charles Street Jail Hotel, with an adjacent 16-story glass & steel contemporary structure into a $150 million 300-room hotel with meeting rooms, restaurants and a health club.  The hotel will be managed by MTM Lodging of Kirkland, Washington. The hotel will have 300 rooms, including 10 incomparable suites with dramatic river views, The Liberty Hotel, when complete, will comprise 300 guestrooms, including 10 incomparable suites with dramatic river views; three distinctive venues for dining and cocktails; 6,000 sq. ft. of flexible meeting space located within the original, historic structure; and an adjacent, newly-constructed 16-story wing. Among the amenities and services guests will enjoy are four-fixture baths, in-room flat panel HD-LCD televisions,  private bars, high speed wireless (WI-FI) and scalable fiber connection access, VOIP telephones operating on a fully converged digital network, 24-hour private dining, health and fitness center, and business services. In addition, an underground parking facility shared with Mass. General Hospital will provide up to 200 spaces for guests. Construction began on May 2005 on the 1.1-acre site at 215 Charles St., at the intersection of Charles and Cambridge streets in the Beacon Hill neighborhood of Boston. Led by local architects Cambridge Seven and New York City interior designer Alexandra Champalimaud, highlights of the 300-room property include a gray granite exterior and a five-story atrium capped by a central rotunda. The restoration of the 156-year-old jail structure has been overseen by Ann Beha architects. Click to view Liberty Hotel.
     

  15.  The Copley Square Hotel: Grand Reopening is scheduled for late spring 2008: The Copley Square Hotel, located in the heart of Boston’s vibrant Back Bay, closed on January 14, 2008 to undergo a $14 million renovation. The extensive project will include physical upgrades to the interior of the building as well the addition of a new, high-class guest service philosophy, “Intuitively Yours.”  When complete, The Copley Square Hotel will reemerge as a contemporary, four-star boutique hotel with stylish interiors and distinctive amenities for today’s business and leisure travelers. The Copley Square Hotel will feature three distinctive venues for dining, cocktails, and room service. Saint will remain open during the renovation process. Domani Bar & Trattoria will reopen in late February after minor work. The Back Bay Café will be refurbished and debut as XHALE, a casual dining restaurant offering a convenient meeting place for breakfast and dinner. Upon entering the newly renovated hotel, guests will notice the striking lobby décor with its dramatic backlit panels, decorative silver light fixtures, candle niches, and window treatments with a metallic sheen. Check-in and check-out will be quick and efficient with hotel staff using new, ultra-sleek registration pods. After check-in, guests will relax and rejuvenate in one of the 143 newly redesigned rooms, featuring updated interiors and baths both luxurious and comfortable in design. Sophisticated fabrics and textures will create timeless decors with a palette of champagne, cream, chocolate and taupe accented by heather gray. Decadent and luxurious pillow top beds will invite guests to recharge after a busy day. Fully-stocked workstations with ergonomic chairs and an array of technology – including complimentary Wi-Fi and iHomes – will complete the experience. Click here to view the Press Release.
     

  16.  InterContinental Boston Hotel: Opened November, 2006: The $310 million, 424-room Intercontinental Hotel is located at 500 Atlantic Avenue. The hotel will overlook both the new Kennedy Greenway as well as the Fort Point Channel & Boston Harbor waterfront. The hotel will feature a fine dining restaurant, a landmark waterfront outdoor café, a spa and luxury amenities. 
     

  17. Westin Boston Waterfront Hotel: Opened June 21, 2006: The $204 million, Westin Boston Waterfront Hotel, directly attached to the new Boston Convention & Exhibition Center (BCEC) on Summer Street and D Street, features  793 guest rooms including two Presidential Suites  A total of 32,000 square feet of meeting space includes a 15,000 square foot ballroom, and 4,000-square-foot Commonwealth Ballroom. Additional 14 meeting breakout rooms are able to accommodate groups from five to 150 persons. Parking is available onsite for 400 cars. The hotel features Sauciety, a modern American grill that focuses on a variety of unique sauces, spreads & dips; the lounge is named the Birch Bar and the hotel will also feature a Starbucks Café. The Westin Boston Waterfront is pleased to announce the completion of its new 8,700 square-foot Harbor Ballroom. Click here to view the Press Release. 
     

  18. Hyatt Harborside at Boston's Logan International Airport Completes its $6 Million Renovation in guestrooms, dining and event space.  Hyatt Harborside at Boston’s Logan International Airport offers this remarkable combination of convenience with its location on airport grounds with a resort-style atmosphere.  Now even more desirable are its modern guestrooms, Skyline Ballroom and Harborside Grill and Patio. All guestrooms were completely redecorated with new carpeting, wall coverings, draperies, artwork, and bedding to create a contemporary and residential design in a color palette of warm earth tones. Harborside Grill and Patio is in a new location and chic design but same unforgettable striking view of Boston’s remarkable skyline, exceptional cuisine inspired by fresh regional ingredients and exemplary service.  Oversized brightly colored chairs adorn the center of this space and every seat in the house offers the same commanding view. The Skyline Ballroom with floor to ceiling windows, decorated in a stunning green and gold color scheme offers breathtaking views of the Harbor and city skyline, and is Boston’s new premier waterfront Ballroom.  For more information, photos, please visit www.harborside.hyatt.com.
     

  19. Kendall Hotel announced the completion of a seven-story new tower with eight new guest rooms, and four new luxury one-bedroom suites boasting kitchens, fireplaces, and deluxe bathrooms with Jacuzzi tubs. The top floor of the new tower features a roof top oasis with an atrium offering stunning views of Boston and a convenient retreat from busy city streets. For more information click here.
     

  20. Boston Marriott Copley Place: 2007 Renovations : The Boston Marriott Copley Place, home to the largest hotel grand ballroom in Boston, has completed a  $9 million renovation, featuring $1 million of technical improvements, including new digital lighting systems, sound systems, superior wireless and wired capabilities, and fiber optic cabling…The Boston Marriott Copley Place has also completed the second phase of a major renovation, including 24 meeting rooms, the Grand Ballroom, and the Back Bay Conference and Exhibit Hall.  The hotel owner, Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc. has invested $13 million in these extensive upgrades. The Boston Marriott Cambridge has completed an extensive renovation of its 431 guest rooms, the hotel announced today.  Renovated guest rooms offer many of Marriott’s latest appointments, including state-of-the-art, 32-inch LG Electronics High Definition televisions, and more luxurious bed linens. The Courtyard by Marriott Boston Tremont, located in the heart of the theater district, has completed a $6 million renovation of its 315 guest rooms, as well as its lobby and restaurant areas. Boston Marriott Newton has added 2,300 square feet to its Grand Ballroom, bringing the total size to 10,000 square feet.  This extra elbow room allows the hotel to accommodate up to 800 for a seated lunch or dinner, and 1,000 for a reception.  Alternately, the Grand Ballroom can be subdivided into nine flexible configurations.
     

  21. The Wyndham Boston Downtown Hotel: Now Hilton Financial District Hotel. Built in 1928 the 14-story Art Deco landmark was the Boston’s first skyscraper, designed by the artist and architect Harold Field Kellogg. Thirty-eight (38) shades of brick comprise the exterior, beginning with a dark brown at the base and progressing to a light buff at the top. The shaded brick creates an enhanced sense of height and light, lending the impression that the sun is always shining on the building. The upscale 362-room hotel is located at 89 Broad Street.
     

  22. South Boston Courtyard By Marriott: Opened May, 2005:  Located at 66R Boston Street in South Boston, the 164-room Courtyard By Marriott South Bay opened May 2, 2005. Close to both I 93 and Andrew Station & minutes from the new Convention Center. The hotel also offers indoor pool, complimentary parking, and complimentary shuttle service. In June the Hotel 140 140 Clarendon Street opened.  Boston's new affordable boutique hotel offers 40 contemporary rooms on the corner of Clarendon and Stuart Streets in the Back Bay. The result of a massive, $50 million renovation of the 1929 Back Bay 14-story Pioneer building, which is the first YWCA in America, Called Hotel 140 (140 Clarendon St.), the hotel features on site business, fitness center, Terra Cotta Café, and the 31-year-old Lyric Stage Theatre & YWCA facilities.
     

  23. The Hyatt Regency Cambridge offers business and leisure travels new options including new function space, newly renovated Stay Fit Gym, and new product service amenities.  A sweeping enhancement to Hyatt Regency Cambridge's selection of venues is the new 16th floor Charles View Ballroom.  Spectacular new function space feature floor-to-ceiling window and a 180-degree view of the city skyline and Charles River.  The 2,900-square-foot space is ideal for business and social events, such as corporate dinners, fundraisers, weddings, bar and bat mitzvahs, university evens and private receptions. New Executive Chef Robert Daugherty designs personalized menus utilizing local ingredients with influences in regional and ethnic styling.  The Charles View Ballroom can accommodate up to 400 guests for a cocktail reception, up to 200 for dinner and 200-350 for meetings.  The new landscape design was created for the front of the hotel along Memorial Drive.  The Hyatt Regency Cambridge also added a new 24/7 Stay Fit Gym which features the latest high-tech cardio with Direct TV installed on all equipment and strength-training equipment from industry leader Life Fitness.  The transformation includes a new Nordic spruce sauna and eucalyptus steam room.  Guests may make use of the indoor lap pool with retractable glass roof offering natural alight and scenery with a sundeck overlooking the Boston skyline and Charles River.  Other amenities include a whirlpool, season bike rentals, message services, regularly scheduled yoga exercise programs, and knowledgeable support staff on-site.  In addition, the new hi-tech service at Hyatt make for an even more comfortable and convenient stay.  guests can now confirm their reservation using and E-concierge service, print out airline boarding passes at a Fast Board kiosk, use credit cards to check in quickly at Express Check-in kiosks, or receive a morning greeting from friends, family or children via a new Wake-up Call program. 
     

  24. The Ritz-Carlton, Boston Common announces a new renovation project which began in April 2007 and will be completed in early 2008. The $11 million upgrade will feature a new ballroom, enhanced lobby lounge to be called The Gallery and improvements to all meeting rooms, the Club Lounge, and 193 guestrooms and suites. With the help of interior designer Frank Nicholson, the hotel plans to maintain its trademark elegance whilst upgrading the property to a new level of luxury. For more information please call 617-574-7100 or visit www.ritzcarlton.com.
     

  25. The Royal Sonesta Hotel Boston has completely reinvented itself thanks to a $7+ million renovation over the last 3 years, culminating with the opening of the new Grand Ballroom this month.  The overall renovation included the front entrance, lobby, all 400 guest-rooms and guest corridors, public restrooms, Grand Ballroom and the addition of renowned Restaurant Dante. The Sonesta Collection is a distinctive international collection of upscale hotels, resorts and cruise ships. Every property reflects the energy, style and spirit of its location.