These three hotels are all in the midst of a race to out-luxe each other with new renovations and property upgrades.
1. Omni Parker House Hotel: This hotel completed a $30 million renovation in May 2008, giving the landmarked 1855 building off Boston Common a modern transformation. The 551 guest rooms received cherry-wood furnishings and flat-screen TVs, while the exterior facade was given a face-lift, preserving details like the decorative rooftop cornices. Rich fabrics and new furniture were added to the 18 meeting rooms, including the 3,513-square-foot rooftop ballroom. The hotel also added a 24-hour 1,200-square-foot gym.
2. Copley Square Hotel: This 143-room boutique hotel closed in January 2008 to undergo a $17 million renovation and reopened in January 2009. Guest rooms now offer 32-inch LCD TVs, complimentary Wi-Fi, iPod docking stations, and workstations with ergonomic chairs. The Back Bay Café was refurbished and relaunched as Xhale, a casual dining restaurant with a 15-seat private dining room. The hotel also added Minibar, a high-end martini lounge that can host private parties for 60.
3. Westin Boston Waterfront: This 793-room hotel, which opened in June 2006, completed an expansive addition in March 2008 that added the 8,700-square-foot Harbor Ballroom, five additional breakout rooms, and a 25,000-square-foot exhibit hall, bringing the hotel’s overall meeting space to 72,000 square feet. The property plans to add three new restaurants and retail space in 2009.
This information was previously published in the 2009 BizBash National Venue Guide.
