Destination Hotels & Resorts (DH&R), one of the nation’s largest hotel management companies with 26 independent, luxury hotels and resorts across the country, has made its first foray into the Boston real estate market. Destination Hotels & Resorts recently signed a deal to manage a new hotel, located at 90 Tremont Street, which is owned by Boston-based Intercontinental Real Estate Corporation. Currently under construction, groundbreaking for the new hotel took place in September 2000 and the hotel is slated to open in May 2002.
The soon-to-be-named 190-room, 19-floor hotel is being designed as a four-star, full-service property. Featuring only 12 rooms per floor, the hotel is intended to project an intimate, boutique-style quality and feel. The rooms, which will be artistic and modern in design and decoration, will also concentrate on comfort and convenience. All rooms will be equipped with multiple phone lines, fax, copier, high-speed Internet access, CD and VCR with bathroom speakers. Each room will feature either a king or two queen size beds. Hotel plans include one Presidential Suite and four junior suites.

“Destination Hotels & Resorts has for some time been looking to enter the bustling Boston real estate arena but we were waiting for the right property,” says Allen Goodman, Regional Vice President Sales & Marketing at DH&R. “The site at 90 Tremont Street fits well with DH&R’s philosophy of acquiring distinctive properties in key markets where we can enhance a neighborhood and offer a quality one-of-a-kind asset to our potential customers.”

The lobby lounge will be designed to be a comfortable, “fun” place to have a drink or meet guests. It is envisioned to become “Boston’s living room” and will feature marble floors, deep woods and rich blues and reds in the furniture treatment to contrast sheer window coverings.

The hotel will house original paintings and sculptures in the lobby gallery. It is undecided whether the gallery collection will be permanent or revolving but hotel owners are considering partnering with local art institutes and individual artists to host exhibit openings and other related events.

A second floor restaurant will be accessible from the hotel lobby as well as by a separate entrance on Tremont Street. The restaurant will seat 72 in the main dining room, and will feature an intimate bar and a private dining room suitable for small parties of ten or less. A translucent, custom designed glass wall behind the bar will provide liquor storage, as well as separate the bar area from the main dining room. Meanwhile, for those who take an interest in not only food presentation but in how their food is prepared, the kitchen will be visible to guests through a clear glass wall. The restaurant, which will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner daily, will compliment the 24-hour room service available from the kitchen. In addition to round-the-clock service, a top name chef will be hired to run the kitchen.

Managerial offices and three multi-function meeting rooms will be located on the third floor. The hotel’s largest meeting room will accommodate 50 for a seated dinner and two additional meeting rooms will accommodate smaller groups. All meeting rooms will be equipped with state-of-the-art audio/visual equipment, high-speed Internet access, comfortable furniture and natural lighting to meet all business needs. One of the smaller meeting rooms can be converted into a less formal “Idea Lab.” The meeting rooms may also double as private dining rooms.

While a small exercise facility will also be available on premises, a partnership with a neighborhood fitness center is likely for the convenience and use of the guests.

“Our main interest in the hotel at 90 Tremont is in creating a memorable experience for our leisure and business guests,” says Brian Windle, Senior Vice President of Sales & Marketing at DH&R. “One of DH&R’s value disciplines is to pay attention to detail by offering great service, comfort, quality and style in a soothing environment provided by a highly professional and personable staff. We plan to deliver on this value proposition at our new hotel at 90 Tremont.”

“We selected Destination Hotels & Resorts to manage our property because of its exceptional experience and success in managing one-of-a-kind, unique destinations with independent identities,” says Paul L. Palandjian, President of Intercontinental Real Estate. “I have every confidence that DH&R will bring its unique management philosophy and consistent high quality standards for which they are known to our new hotel to ensure its success from the opening to the daily operation.”

The planned hotel is also well-located with the main entrance facing Tremont Street and a valet entrance on Bosworth Street. It is situated near Boston’s best theater, shopping and dining, the Beacon Hill and Back Bay communities, the financial and government districts. The hotel is also close to the famous Freedom Trail.

It is expected that guests to the hotel will consist of approximately 60% business travelers, 25% leisure travelers (both domestic and international) and 15% group travel. Target markets include key feeder cities from the Eastern region, national and international businesses and leisure travelers age 25-60.

A pre-opening sales office that will feature two model rooms is currently under construction at 343 Congress Street where future guests may view hotel room design, layout and amenities. Projected opening date for the sales office is April 2001.

——-