Boston Travel Guide
Tags: Hotel Openings / Boston Hotels / Morgans Hotel Group / → All Tags
Watch Out W: The Ames Hotel Boston Is Now Open
UPDATE:Boston.com has some new interior pics of The Ames Hotel.
What a long way in such a short time The Ames Hotel in Boston has come. When we checked in on the hotel at the beginning of October, we were quite skeptical based on the construction work we saw going on.
But lo and behold, The Ames has gone ahead and opened itself up. Boston.com has the scoop on the hotel execs that made it out last night to the hotel's opening party:
The opening party for the Ames drew a long list of VIP guests including the project’s celebrated architect and designer David Rockwell, hotel partner Seth Greenberg, former “Top Chef’’ contestant Sam Talbot, who’ll be at the Ames restaurant, Woodward, until he moves on to another job in SoHo.
Congratulations, Ames! We're happy to see you made the opening date. And we're happy that Boston is getting some Morgans Hotel cool. No reason why NYC and Miami should have all the fun. But we bet the W Boston can't be too happy about this. Room rates at The Ames start at $225 a night for a 350-sq.ft. minimalist-designed superior room. If you use the special opening code we told you about--Spgrat--the rates come down to $180 a night. Meanwhile, the W Boston starts at $242 a night.
Tell us where you would rather stay--The W Boston or The Ames Hotel? Put your thoughts in comments below.
Tags: Thanksgiving Hotels / Boston Hotels / Taj Hotels / → All Tags
At the Boston Taj, Get a Three-Course Thanksgiving Dinner Plus Room for $150
The Martha Stewarts in our readership might find it sacrilege to think of eating out on Thanksgiving. But for the 98 percent of the rest of you (ourselves included), it can be quite tempting to hear about Turkey Day festivities at hotels (no slaving over the oven all day, no manic cleaning session minutes before guests arrive).
Last week we rounded up a few Thanksgiving dinners at major hotels around the country, but, of course, there are additions to make. Like the Taj Boston, which is offering a $75 three-course prix fixe chef’s menu at The Café. Bonus: The hotel is thanking its guests for their holiday patronage with a $75 per person guestroom rate (with purchase of dinner for two).
Tags: Pitch Your Hotel / Boston Hotels / Jail Hotels / → All Tags
The Liberty Hotel: A Jail You Don't Want To Bust Out Of
Welcome to our regular feature, Pitch Your Hotel, where we let hoteliers, general managers and other hotel execs tell us on-camera what makes their hotels so different from all the rest. And believe us, the competition is fierce these days. So sit back, relax and listen to them explain why their hotels are worthy of your hard-earned dollars or rewards points.
Speaking from the uber cool Ebersol Suite atop the old jail in Beacon Hill, Jim Treadway, head honcho of the Liberty Hotel in Boston, answers one simple question: "Why would someone coming to Boston stay at the Liberty Hotel".
Tags: HotelChatter Reviews / Boston Hotel Reviews / W Hotels / → All Tags
Should You Stay At W Boston?
Topline:
Clean crisp W rooms
Cool new interior room concepts (phone charger dongle station)
Friendly, Helpful Staff (yes at a boutique hotel)
Central Boston Location (if you don't drive)
Priced too high
Some in-room fixtures seem a bit low quality
Restaurant forget our mushroom side, gave us fries instead
Tags: Hotel Opening Rate / Hotel Openings / Boston Hotels / Morgan Group Hotels / → All Tags
The Ames Hotel in Boston Will Open November 19 for $165 a Night
If you saw our HotelChatter gallery of the construction still going on at Boston’s almost-ready Ames Hotel recently, you’ll know that we were skeptical about the announcement of the November 19 opening date. But looky here, we now have details on a special introductory rate—and the opening is still set for the 19th. Promo deals and a date that’s holding steady. Can it really be true? Will we see the Ames throw open its doors just in time for Thanksgiving?
We sure hope so. And we hope to take advantage of that opening special—rates from $165 a night ($188.84 with tax), including complimentary upgrades to the next available room type at check-in (based on availability). Being accustomed to the steep rates at Morgans’ properties in New York City and Miami, this sounds like a pretty good deal. Assuming the hammers have stopped and the dust has cleared in the hotel’s hallways ...
Tags: Hotel Video Tours / Hotel Openings / W Hotels / Boston Hotels / → All Tags
Guess the Hotel Revealed: Hot W Boston Room Video
The ambitious ground up W Boston, full of 235 guest rooms and approximately that many future residences opened earlier this month, and of course, we have already checked in and checked out.
We requested the highest floor possible, which landed us in room 1206. For those of you still wondering, yes, this is the answer to last Friday's Guess the Hotel. We will get to our thoughts on the W Boston experience later this week, but for now we direct your attention to the video above, in which you will notice some sort of poem written on the bathroom mirror, a view of Boston's theatre district at night, and a couple of other small fixtures details that surprised us -- see if you can pick them out.
Tags: Hotel Renovations / Boston Hotels / Marriott Hotels / Hotel Sportsbars / → All Tags
Marriott Copley Place Unveils Renovated Digs, Giant TV Screen
Hey, Red Sox fanatics: Looks like you might have a new favorite game day destination in Beantown (Fenway Park notwithstanding, obviously). As part of the Boston Marriott Copley Place’s $22-million, year-long renovations, the hotel has a new restaurant, Champions, that boasts “one of the largest HD projection screens in New England,” or so they claim.
Champions’ 12-by-24-foot screen seems poised to become one of the hottest places to watch the Sox, if you ask us. Especially since the resto also has more than 40 flat-panel TVs, a high-tech sound system, and 36 beers on tap.
But enough about Champions — that $22 million didn’t all go the jumbo screen. Copley Place also features a completely renovated first and second floor, with new front desk area and three new meeting rooms, the new Connexion Lounge, renovated health club and pool, and full makeover of all 47 suites.
Full renovations will be complete in early 2010 — guess we mean guests can still expect a little hammering in the meantime?
Tags: Hotel Opening Rates / W Hotels / Boston Hotels / Cynthia Rowley / Fashion Hotels / → All Tags
Book a Room at the W Boston, Get a Limited Edition Cynthia Rowley Scarf
We told you yesterday how the W Boston would be opening tomorrow but that rooms were unavailable for this upcoming weekend. Bummer (Are they not quite finished or sold-out? That is still the question.) However, rooms were open for next weekend at $260 a night for a Wonderful room.
But now it looks like the hotel has an opening "offer" that gives you some perks beyond just a room for the night. The W Boston Opening Experience includes in-room welcome cocktails; a chef-selected dessert at Market by Jean-Georges, a limited edition Cynthia Rowley scarf (exclusive to the W Boston) and a VIP Insider discount card to Cynthia Rowley that gives you 20 percent off all purchases at all Cynthia Rowley stores, even the ones in your hometown.
It's a great opening offer, if you happen to be Blair Waldorf from "Gossip Girl." So maybe it's a better Girls Weekend hotel than a Boys Weekend one. Rates start at $259 a night. The special offers link on the hotel's website is down right now but you can call the hotel directly to book. (617) 261-8700. Ask for the Opening Experience.
Tags: Hotel Openings / Hotel Opening Rates / W Hotels / Boston Hotels / → All Tags
W Boston and Its 'Cosmopolitan Cool' Will Open on Thursday
The last time we checked on the W Boston, the hotel was set to open October 22nd except the opening has now been delayed until October 29th. But if you're looking to spend Halloween weekend here, the hotel is not showing any availability.
Could they be sold-out or just not quite open to guests? We're not sure. However, next weekend, Nov. 6-8, is open for your "Sensory Pilgrimage" at $260 a night for a Wonderful non-smoking room. A studio suite is also available for $350.
The rooms are predictable W style, they didn't re-invent the wheel here or anything as the rooms promise high-design, high-technology and cleverly nicknamed amenities. (Munchie Box anyone?) Interestingly, we see that this W is actively advertising "Free Wireless High Speed Internet Access" in public areas like the hotel's Living Room. We can't wait to test out that connection.
Tags: Hotel Video Tours / Sheraton Rebrand / Boston Hotel Reviews / → All Tags
Sheraton Rebrand Now With Moving Pictures
Take that title both literally and figuratively. When HotelChatter readers saw our snapshot of the new Sheraton Boston Hotel room's, which just so happen to be the showcase rooms for the company's $6 billion renovation of their 86 North American properties, our readers had some burning questions. Why are the walls bare? Is that a green draylon couch? Just how do I watch the tv from my bed? Well hopefully those questions and more will be answered with this silent video.
As for the walls, you will see as we enter into the room there is a print of the Back Bay featured prominently and this theme of nearby location photography continues in the room. Oh, and just in case you aren't sure what you think of the rebranding, below is a photo of the view from the room we checked into. Yup, you can see Fenway Park. Killer views of Fenway kind of trump any and all room renovations anyway don't they? Maybe that is just our passion for October baseball in Boston talking. In any event, enjoy the rebranding show.
Tags: Hotel Amenities / Taj Hotels / Boston Hotels / Butlers / → All Tags
Fireside Butlers at the Taj Boston Are Getting Ready to Light Your Fire
With the days starting to get cooler, the Taj Boston is ready to start its Fireside Season on October 15. We've always been tickled by hotel rooms with fireplaces, even if we never actually need to light the fire. But the Taj has gone above and beyond by employing Fireside Butlers. Yes, butlers whose sole job is to make sure your fire is burning bright.
And not only that, but they've got some fireside specials going, starting next week and going right through to April 1 next year.
The Fireside Tailgate deal is for sports lovers – rather than brave the cold to watch a game in the flesh, the Taj Boston suggests you "tailgate" it next to the fireplace in your hotel room, where you can watch it on the 42-inch flatscreen and enjoy an in-room "picnic" with choices like chicken pot pie, clam chowder or a Kobe beef burger, along with drinks of your choice.
Tags: Hotel Openings / Morgans Hotel Group / Boston Hotels / Hotel Construction / → All Tags
The Ames Hotel Boston is Almost There
The Ames Hotel from the Morgans Hotel Group was initially expected to open this month but according to the website's reservations system, guests cannot book a room until November 19th. Rooms will start at $299 for a standard room but HotelChatter got a glimpse at some of the construction last night and we wouldn't be surprised if this opening date got pushed back a little further.
The hotel is going up inside the historic Ames building which is rather stately and grand in its appearance but working within old buildings tends to delay hotel opening dates quite a bit. And we just can't imagine how they will finish everything up in time.
Hotels In: Africa | Asia | Australia | Caribbean | Europe | North America | South America
Our Publications:
Jaunted | HotelChatter | VegasChatter
