Boston Responds To Increasing Biz Numbers
<B> Boston Responds To Increasing Biz Numbers</B>
By Kellie K. Speed
Meetings space in Boston was something of a limited commodity until this year. By year-end, however, 12 new and improved hotels will have opened in response to the increased number of business travelers to the greater Boston area.
After a $40 million facelift, for instance, The Wyndham Hotel Boston reopened in August, expanding its meeting space to accommodate up to 200 people. "We are located just one block from the waterfront," said David Ritchie, director of sales and marketing for the Wyndham Boston. "It's the perfect location for a business traveler. And all of our meeting rooms have windows, which makes it a more comfortable atmosphere."
Located in the heart of Boston's Financial District, each of the hotel's conference rooms contain videoconferencing equipment with Internet access.
One of the most popular services Wyndham offers is a full-service business center, which provides guests with access to computers, printers and photocopy and fax machines. Business travelers also may request individual PC rentals with Internet access.
Boston also is planning a major addition for its meeting planners with a new convention center to be completed within three years. Hilton Hotels is being considered for the hotel space slated for construction next to the new convention center.
Today, Hilton is enjoying its new location at Logan International Airport (<I>BTN</I>, Jan. 11). The newly constructed $100 million property is located between terminals A and E, and now offers in-room high-speed Internet access.
"The Hilton Boston Logan is heralded as a reinforcement of the Hilton brand in Boston. Combined with the major redevelopment of Boston Logan by the Massachusetts Port Authority, this is an important step toward enhancing Boston's role as a world-class business destination," said Dieter Huckestein, president of the hotel division of Hilton Hotels Corp.
The hotel selected its airport location so guests could go from gate to hotel checkin in just 10 minutes. "We have thought of nearly every available convenience to make our guests' stay as comfortable and productive as possible," said H.L. Bert James, general manager of the Hilton Logan. "As global business in Boston grows with the completion of a convention center, we'll be ready with space for a 300-room expansion."
The Hilton also features two ballrooms, six multi-purpose meeting rooms and 20 small conference rooms. The conference rooms and business center offer high-speed Internet access, dataports and a secretarial staff for administrative functions.
Other meeting options include the World Trade Center of Boston, which remains the largest convention center, with 250,000 square feet of meeting space. The Bayside Exposition Center in Boston offers four halls with 240,000 square feet for meetings. In addition, the Hynes Convention Center has 193,000 square feet available.