02210 Travel Guide
Tags: Hotel WiFi / WiFi Hell / Westin Hotels / → All Tags
Westin's Beds May Be Heavenly But Their Wireless Internet is Not
Heavenly beds at the Westin Bonaventure in LA.
Most of us agree that the Westin Hotels Heavenly Bed feels quite nice and those of us who have tried the hotel brand's new Heavenly Bath toiletries would agree that the shampoo, conditioner, body lotion, et.al, go above and beyond what we would expect from hotel toiletries. But when it comes down to Westin WiFi, the experience is more hellacious than heavenly.
Westin is part of Starwood Hotels and while the WiFi is free in the lobbies, in-room guests have to pay. Usually the fee starts at $9.95 and goes up from there, depending on the hotel.
Paying for WiFi is akin to those ridiculous checked baggage fees that airlines charges, but if we pay for it we want that internet connection to be faster than Usain Bolt. Unfortunately, many hotels just take your money and leave you surfing the web at a snail's pace. But the worst is when you call down for help and they tell you to contact their service provider.
Tags: Art Hotels / Hotel Packages / Boston Hotels / Renaissance Hotels / → All Tags
'Hope' Poster Artist Drops Into Renaissance Boston Waterfront
Artist Shepard Fairey (right) with David Keamy, Renaissance Boston's Director of Marketing.
Shepard Fairey, a name we recognize as the now-famous LA street artist whose claim to commercial greatness is the ubiquitous Obama "HOPE" poster, is in Boston for the opening of his new exhibit at Boston Institute of Contemporary Art. The exhibit, "Shepard Fairey: Supply and Demand," opens today and runs until mid-August and features his "screen prints, stencils, stickers, rubylith illustrations, collages, and works on wood, metal, and canvas."
And where does one of the most famous living artists stay when hitting up Beantown? Apparently, the Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel — and, in celebration of the exhibit opening, the hotel is offering the full Shepherd Fairey experience (well, short of meeting him) to guests.
Tags: Green Hotels / Boston Hotels / Renaissance Hotels / Hotels Doing Good / → All Tags
Renaissance Boston Goes Green with Pedicabs
This photo landed in our inbox recently showing off the recent free “green machine” pedicab service at everyone’s favorite newish hotel in Boston, the Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel. In honor of Beantown’s 2008 Greenbuild Expo, which was held last week, the hotel offered free transport to and from the conference to its tree-loving attendees.
But of course, there’s no such thing as a free ride, really. As they rode in style, guests were educated all about the hotel’s eco-friendly initiatives. Like, did you know 278 trees have been saved in eight months because of the new hotel recycling program? And the new composting program has turned eight tons of composted material into sustainable fertilizer that’s been sold locally. And last but not least, the hotel meets 22 of 26 LEED benchmarks required for a new hotel.
Then again, the riders were on their way to a green expo, so they probably ate up all that green goodness. And they sure do look cozy in their Renaissance robes.
[Photo: Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel]
Tags: Renaissance Hotels / Marriott Hotels / Boston Hotels / NYT Reviews / Hotel Reviews / → All Tags
NYT Says Boston's New Renaissance "Has Nice Nailed"
With a soft opening in January, a grand opening in February, a party in June, and lots of fun fall packages, we've been keeping our eye on Marriott's break-out new Renaissance complete with nautical-themed decor, the Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel.
And they have finally arrived with a review in the New York Times. If you're in a hurry, we'll ruin the surprise ending for you:
If you're in town for a convention or to do business in South Boston, the Renaissance would be a no-brainer -- convenient, with high-end tech toys and a friendly, helpful staff. For families or those looking for a classic Boston scene, the out-of-the way location may override the positives.
If you can stick around, we've got the Times' pros, cons, and dirty details after the jump.
Tags: Fall Foliage Hotels / Boston Hotels / Renaissance Hotels / → All Tags
Fall Foliage Hotels :: Renaissance Boston for Love and Leaves
We've already covered a good hotel to check out the fall foliage in Boston: Hotel Marlowe, with its farm getaways and kayaks.
The Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel is also offering a cool-weather weekend special, although it's a bit more romance than leaf-peeping.
Called a "Sweetheart's Staycation," starting at $599 per person, you'll get two nights' stay, bubbly and chocolates, a dinner cruise around Boston Harbor on an Odyssey Ship, breakfast and bed, and late check-out.
The fine print didn't say if there are any windows for booking, but it sounds like a good deal for lovers of love and leaves.
[Photo: Renaissance North America]
Tags: Party Dispatch / Hotel Parties / Hotel Openings / Boston Hotels / Renaissance Hotels / Marriott Hotels / → All Tags
Party Dispatch :: The Opening of the Renaissance Boston Waterfront
The opening party for the Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel has received all sorts of love and attention from its corporate parent, Marriott. From its own Flickr set, to a YouTube video, the hotel's opening is probably one of the most-promoted Marriott openings in recent history.
But what we were even more pleased to learn about was the creation of Celtics-inspired cocktails that were served at the party:
Two signature martinis were also created in celebration of the Boston Celtics' 17th victory in the NBA's Championship. Downstairs at the party, the Celtics' 3 Point Shot featured Stoli Blakberi, fresh cranberry and orange juice, served with a fresh orange and blackberry garnish. Upstairs, the Seventeeni (pictured on the left) combined vodka, Midori and fresh pineapple juice, straight up in all its green glory.
What? No "Anything is Possible" Cosmo or "I Am Certified" shots? Also, we think Ray Allen deserves his name on that 3 Point Shot drink but we won't bicker about that now.
Rooms at the hotel are available now, starting at around $249 a night.
Tags: NBA Finals Hotels 2008 / Boston Hotels / Mancations / Renaissance Hotels / Jock Jam Hotels / Celebrity Scoop / → All Tags
NBA Finals Hotels :: The Renaissance Waterfront Boston for Game 2 or Just a Mancation
So Game 1 of the Celtics-Lakers NBA Finals goes off tonight and if you still need a room for tonight or Game 2 on Sunday, consider the Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel.
The new hotel is centered in the Boston Seaport District and is totally brand-new, having just opened in February. However, it's more than a walk away from the Garden so plan on transportation.
Currently, the hotel still has rooms open tonight for $499 for a standard guest room with either a king or two double beds. On Sunday, rooms drop to $249 a night.
The hotel has also put together a "Sleep With The Fishes" package that has nothing to do with The Sopranos and everything to do with dudes and mancations. This way you and your bros can make a weekend out of Game 2 if you want. Details after the jump.
Tags: Green Hotels / Hotel Weddings / Hotel Wedding Crashers / Hotel News / → All Tags
The Seaport Hotel In Boston is Now Offering Green Weddings
We're getting the hang of green travel, and even green honeymoons, so where does our attention turn now: of course, it's green weddings. And just as we started to think about it, the Seaport Hotel in Boston has put out a Green Wedding package to make sure that tying the knot can be done in an environmentally sensitive way.
The Seaport boasts that you can show your commitment to your partner as well as your commitment to the environment if you take up their package. The menu will focus on local and organic ingredients, and your wedding cake will be organic too. Oh, and the menu itself will be edible, written on chocolate! Decorations will take the form of soy-based votive candles, potted plants, orchids and silk trees.
Very importantly, all leftovers will be recycled using the Seaport's "BioX Decomposing System", which certainly sounds impressive (it uses micro-organisms to crunch things up nicely). And finally, the package will include a contribution to offset your carbon emissions from electricity used during your wedding, paid to the New England Wind Fund.
Of course, the Seaport would also expect you to stay the night, and since their interest in being green extends to their main accommodation too, it keeps your green wedding theme going. Plus they have complimentary WiFi if you feel the need to hop online after the stress of the wedding is over.
[Photo: QuintanaRoo]
Tags: Hotel Openings / Hotel Opening Rate / Renaissance Hotels / Boston Hotels / → All Tags
Renaissance Boston Waterfront Opening Today
Last we heard, the Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel would have a soft opening in January. The real reveal is today, though, with the official opening. Luckily, those opening rates are in effect until March 22.
The hotel sent over some photos of the last minute preparations before today's big event. Workers were setting up furniture in the lobby, above, and picking up uniforms. The hotel also had to rig up an art installation by British designer Eva Menz, featuring a bunch of herons inspired by the water.
Rooms are starting at $149 a night, but you'll have to pony up $13 a day for in-room wireless.
After the jump, two more photos of the pre-opening finishing touches.
Tags: Hotel Openings / Hotel Opening Rate / Renaissance Hotels / Boston Hotels / → All Tags
Hotel Opening Rates :: The Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel
It seems like New York isn't the only town getting a bunch of new hotels. Boston has been unveiling several new hotels in the past couple of years and there's more on the horizon.
The Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel will soft-open in January followed by some seriously discounted room in February. The hotel is offering rooms for $149 on the weekends from February 15 to March 22nd. (Standard rates are at about $300.)
Of course, we typically tend to avoid Boston during these harsh winter months but should you stay at the Renaissance you might be impressed. The place has a very contemporary look and design inside and out. It's not the dark wood furniture and floral bedspreads we tend to think of when we hear "Renaissance Hotel."
Plus it has city and water views, high-tech room amenities such as wireless internet ($12.95 a day though), flat-screen TVs, iPod docking stations and a fitness center with a lap pool. That should ease the pain of a 10-degree day in Boston, shouldn't it?
Related Stories:
· Hotel Opening Rates [HotelChatter]
· Hotels in Boston [HotelChatter]
Tags: Westin / Boston Hotels / Convention Hotels / Hotel Technology / → All Tags
The Westin Boston Waterfront Tracks Your Flights
Boston has its share of geeky hotels, so it shouldn't surprise us that the Westin Boston Waterfront has installed a cool new gizmo: A flight departures tracking board. Guests at the hotel can check the status of flights out of Logan International Airport, which should come in particularly handy as fall turns to winter and the airport gets socked with bad weather.
The system is called FlyteBoard, and aside from the name it seems like a great innovation. The real-time info comes directly from the airport, meaning it gets some updates that you may not find by simply checking your flight status online.
It's too bad you can't check in for your flight at the hotel, too, but this is a good start. We'd definitely rather work in a comfy hotel lobby than in Logan's terminals.
Related Stories:
· Hotel Video Tours: Westin Waterfront [HotelChatter]
· Hotel Technology coverage [HotelChatter]
Tags: Hotel Video Tours / Westin / Boston Hotel Reviews / Convention Hotels / → All Tags
Hotel Video Tours: Scaring Valets At The Westin Waterfront
Recently, we decided to check out what was up at one of Boston's newest "conventioner" hotels, the Westin Boston Waterfront.
Flat panel televisions in every room, a pleasantly lingering new hotel smell, a big, wide open lobby, and that earthy tone decor that gets everyone at Westin so excited these days.
Want the downside? It is in Southie, so South Station is walkable, but kind of far and on-site parking is $36.00 a night--convention suckers. However, if you know the area--D Street cough--you can find a good meal at a reasonably priced restaurant within a couple blocks of the hotel.
Want to know what it is like to walk into this hotel? Well we attempt to show in in the hotel video above. And the answer is no, we did not take that valet's wallet, even though he gives us a look like we are about to pick his pocket.
Related Stories:
· Hotel Video Tours [HotelChatter]
· The Weston Waterfront Comments [TripAdvisor]
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