Dive Brief:
- Hilton Boston Park Plaza, a 1,060-room hotel in Boston’s Back Bay neighborhood, has opened, Hilton announced this week.
- The property, previously known as Boston Park Plaza, has undergone a renovation to join Hilton’s portfolio. The hotel’s previous owner, Sunstone Hotel Investors, sold the property to Mexico-based hotel developer Parks Hospitality Holdings for $370 million, according to Boston Business Journal. PHH now owns the hotel while Hilton manages.
- CEO Chris Nassetta teased the opening of the “1,000-room conversion property” in Hilton's latest earnings call, citing it as an example of continued strength in conversions for the company.
Dive Insight:
Hilton’s takeover of the Boston Park Plaza represents its return to Boston’s Back Bay neighborhood. Conrad Hilton originally purchased the building in 1954, when he turned it into the Statler Hilton. The property, first opened in 1927, was conceived by hotelier E.M. Statler as “a city within a city,” according to Hilton’s release.
“Nearly 70 years since Hilton first arrived in Boston, we’re thrilled to welcome back visitors to this iconic hotel,” said Leonard Gooz, brand leader, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, in a statement. “We look forward to honoring the hotel’s legacy and serving as a destination for the next generation of travelers, galas and events for years to come.”
Now, Hilton Boston Park Plaza features contemporary and pet-friendly rooms, two restaurants and 70,000 square feet of meetings and events space.
Guest rooms, and 55 suites, include dedicated workspaces, smart TVs, blackout shades and Keurig coffee machines. The hotel also offers a 1,160-square-foot presidential suite with a full bar and soaking tub, and a “garden suite” with a private terrace overlooking the city.
The signature restaurant, Off the Common, serves locally inspired cuisine for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and Strega Italiano offers Italian dishes and cocktails.
Hilton Boston Park Plaza also includes a first for the city: a Topgolf Swing Suite that offers PGA-certified lessons and virtual golf courses for private events. Guests can also access the 20,000-square-foot Lynx Fitness Club, which holds fitness classes.
The property has a Leica Store and Gallery, too, offering rotating exhibits.
PHH’s acquisition of the property is a “significant milestone,” according to CEO Charles El-Mann Fasja, as it represents the company’s first asset in the Northeastern U.S.
“This addition to our portfolio marks a new era of expansion for PHH, bringing our expertise in hospitality development from Mexico to locations across the U.S.,” Fasja said in a statement.
In last week’s earnings call with analysts, Nassetta pointed to the Boston hotel as an example of “positive momentum in openings,” particularly conversions.
“We forecast conversions will account for approximately 30% of full-year openings,” Nassetta said.
In September, Hilton debuted the first location of its conversion-forward brand, Spark by Hilton. The premium economy hotel chain was designed to capture increasing demand for the more cost- and time-effective conversion model.
