Site Scene

Massachusetts

• Hyatt Place Boston/Medford, formerly an AmeriSuites property, debuted in November. The hotel features 157 renovated guest rooms, each with a 42-inch flat-panel television, and offers two meeting rooms that can be combined, one with capacity for up to 30 and the other up to 25. Complimentary Wi-Fi access is available throughout the hotel. For more information, call 781.395.8500 or visit www.bostonmedford.place.hyatt.com.
  
  
• The Westin Boston Waterfront is expanding its meeting space with a 25,000-square-foot exhibit hall, an 8,500-square-foot ballroom and five breakout rooms. The hotel offers 793 guest rooms and suites and its current meeting space measures 32,000 square feet, including the 15,000-square-foot Grand Ballroom and 4,000-square-foot Commonwealth Ballroom. Once complete, the total amount of meeting space will measure 85,000 square feet. The expansion, which is slated for completion in early March, also includes three new restaurants at the lobby level. For more information, call 617.532.4600 or visit www.starwoodhotels.com.

• Crowne Plaza Somerset-Bridgewaterformerly a Marriott, debuted in October with 439 guest rooms. The hotel offers a 24-hour business center, the largest health club in the area, an indoor/outdoor swimming pool, wireless Internet access, and a restaurant and lounge. It also features 14,000 square feet of meeting space, with 22 meeting rooms. For more information, call 732.560.0500 or visit www.crowneplaza.com.
  
  
• The Newark Liberty International Airport Marriott recently concluded a three-month, $8.3 million renovation project. All 591 rooms and suites were completely renovated, as was the hotel’s 10th floor Concierge Lounge. The hotel features 19 meeting rooms, with a total of 13,008 square feet of event space. The Grand Ballroom is the largest meeting room, with maximum seating for 400 and a total of 6,264 square feet of meeting space. Meeting rooms offer high-speed Internet access. For more information, call 973.623.0006 or visit www.marriott.com.
  
  
• Courtyard by Marriott Atlantic City will open this spring with 202 rooms and four suites, each equipped with 32-inch flat-screen televisions. The property will offer 3,800 square feet of meeting space and complimentary Wi-Fi access. For more information, call 609.345.7070 or visit www.marriott.com.

• Taj Hotels Resorts & Palaces began in January a renovation of Manhattan’s The Pierre, which has forced the closure of the property for at least 12 months. All 200 guest rooms, including the 11 grand suites and 41 suites, will be upgraded and renovated, as will the corridors, public areas and the bar. The $100 million renovation is slated for completion early 2009. The first phase of The Pierre renovation was completed in January 2007 and included the second-floor Grand Ballroom, the Cotillion Room and foyer, all of which will remain open and operative throughout the second phase of renovation. The Pierre offers 18,000 square feet of meeting and event space and can accommodate banquets for up to 800. For more information, call 212.838.8000 or visit www.tajhotels.com/pierre.

• St. Regis Hotel, Washington, D.C. unveiled in January a renovation to the 1926-era building that took over a year to complete. Formerly offering 193 guest rooms, the renovated property features 175 rooms, allowing for 11 new suites. Each guest room features wi-fi access and a 32-inch LCD television and a DVD player. St. Regis butlers are available to guests staying in the suites. The hotel has a total 11,727 square feet of meeting space, including the renovated outdoor Astor Terrace. For more information, call 202.638.2626 or visit www.starwoodhotels.com.