Boston Sheraton Renovates Public And Meeting Spaces

<B> Boston Sheraton Renovates Public And Meeting Spaces</B>

By Frank Rosci

The Sheraton Boston Hotel & Towers earlier this year launched a two-phase, $30 million renovation that will add more spacious accommodations, high-tech productivity tools for transient and meetings guests, improved meeting space and a higher level of personalized service. The first phase is set to be complete in July, with a second phase scheduled to be complete by July 1999.

"The scope of the renovation will afford all our guests increased levels of comfort, space, technology and convenience, while providing the hotel sales staff with greater booking flexibility," in terms of more groups, said Carla Murray, the hotel's manager.

Conf. Center, Suite Upgrades

Phase I, which will center on the Sheraton's south tower, will include a facelift of the Executive Conference Center where, in addition to new carpeting and wall coverings, a number of Internet kiosks will be installed in the center's public areas.

The Conference Center--a concept the hotel chain is expanding to other properties (BTN, March 17)--is accredited by the International Association of Conference Centers and features seven meeting rooms, three breakout rooms and a boardroom.

On the technology front, the property is setting up T1 lines in all seven meeting rooms and in the second floor grand ballroom, a space that can accommodate up to 2,500 attendees. Other work will include revising the building's exterior.

The hotel also will equip all guest rooms with individual climate controls, new energy efficient windows and updated bathroom facilities.

Rounding out the first phase of work will be the opening of a new lobby restaurant. The hotel's existing restaurant, the Punch Bar, was rated the number-one cigar bar by Cigar Aficionado.

The property's 1,181 rooms--a number that will be reduced to 1,124 during phase II--already feature two telephones, voice mail, in-room iron and ironing board, coffee maker, hair dryer and 24-hour room service.

Thanks to an earlier renovation in 1996, 139 of the Executive Level rooms are equipped with printer/fax machines, task desks, lamps and chairs, Murray said. Guests staying at Executive Level rooms receive free continental breakfast, use of the executive lounge, personal valet and laundry services, shoe shine, car rental services, daily newspaper, tour information and in-room movies.

The hotel's Towers floor, designed for senior-level business travelers, includes an express elevator, private checkin, certified butlers, free breakfast, afternoon tea and evening cocktails, and a private library.

The second renovation phase will focus on the north tower, and will include a three-for-two room combination of 171 existing guest rooms that will be converted into 114 suites, reducing the number of room units by 57. Each new suite will offer work stations designed specifically for the business traveler.

Also during the second phase, workers will redesign the lobby and registration area, and increase the size of the grand ballroom from 13,153 square feet to 15,258 square feet. The improved meeting space will include state-of-the-art lighting and sound systems, a new airwall and a new 6,485-square-foot junior ballroom on the second floor.

"The area between the junior and grand ballrooms will create spacious, joint pre-function space for groups," Murray said, adding, "The junior ballroom will also increase our flexibility to host more local business." Plans also call for six new meeting rooms to be added to the property's current inventory of 40 meeting rooms. The hotel also will upgrade its fitness center.

The Sheraton is connected directly to the Hynes Convention Center, and five minutes from Logan International Airport. The hotel provides airport transportation every half hour.