Boston is a hotbed of history, from famed Faneuil Hall to its compelling Common, but planners picking the locale for an upcoming event will discover anything but the same old story.
The city is undergoing a renaissance that will revamp everything from its hotel landscape to its vast array of venues, resulting in a metropolis that is charging into the future without leaving its past behind.
“Everywhere you look across the city there’s significant new investment being made in our visitor industry infrastructure,” says Patrick Moscaritolo, CEO of the Greater Boston CVB. “Boston has always been able in its development cycle to blend the historic elements of our city with the modern cutting-edge architecture, and that’s what’s happening in this development boom.”
Here’s a roundup of the major players in Boston’s current transformation.
Hotel Harvest
Talk about a room boom! There is the potential for about 2,700 new hotel rooms in the city over the next four years, and almost two dozen projects are in the works or have recently opened, not to mention endless upgrades occurring across the metropolis (see Latest & Greatest).
Among the major developments are an adjoining 330-room Aloft and 180-room Element, slated to open in 2015 across from the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center (BCEC).
The BCEC will get another boost from a jointly developed 1,200- to 1,500-room lodging complex masterminded by the Massachusetts Port Authority and Massachusetts Convention Center, with further details still to come.
Recently debuted properties include the 175-room Marriot Residence Inn Fenway and 128-room Residence Inn by Marriott Boston Needham—a short drive west of Boston and part of the New England Business Center.
While still in early development, Suffolk Downs racetrack submitted official plans to construct a $1 billion gaming resort in partnership with Caesars. It would include two hotels, meeting space and a casino.
Attraction Action
Even the city’s time-tested temptations are taking on fresh appeal, such as the Old State House—the oldest surviving public building in the U.S.—which began a major makeover this year in honor of its tercentennial. Similarly, the Boston Children’s Museum created new exhibits in honor of its 100th birthday, and the Harvard Museum of Natural History ramped up its Earth & Planetary Sciences Gallery to showcase some gems from its collection that have never been displayed.
Elsewhere, the New England Aquarium’s Giant Ocean Tank, a stupendous four-story underwater habitat, benefitted from a complete overhaul that added a remade coral reef, an education center atop the tank and countless new fishy friends. In Boston Harbor, the Odyssey, a premier event vessel celebrating its 20th year, rolled out a new Sky Lounge complete with an outdoor bar, renovated the third deck and added new entertainment options.
Boston’s museum scene is also getting a major boost, with the Museum of Science launching the three-story, event-ready Yawkey Gallery on the Charles River in late 2015 and the Hall of Human Life later this year. Meanwhile, Harvard Art Museums will open a revamped and enlarged museum complex in 2014.PageBreak
F&B Fun
The food truck revolution has hit Boston full force, and a Sunday outing in fair weather can be made to Copley Square, City Hall Plaza or the Rose Kennedy Greenway, where the tasty trucks tend to set up camp. From Lobsta Love to Roxy’s Grilled Cheese, attendees will have plenty of options for affordable cuisine at some cool gathering places.
A fresh offering that has already been well-received by dining critics is The Kirkland Tap and Trotter in neighboring Somerville. The establishment is all about creating a sense of place with its high ceilings and exposed brick walls, and its upscale pub fare, colorful craft cocktails and bounty of microbrews provide flavor to spare.
Another hot new addition is Empire, a dazzling Asian establishment in the Seaport district. Several singular areas transport diners to another world, and three private dining sections can host 40 attendees each.
Groups gathering in Cambridge’s Harvard Square shouldn’t overlook the new Beat Hotel, actually a restaurant by the team behind Boston’s popular Beehive dining spot. Accommodating 360 diners, it features globally inspired fare built around fresh local ingredients as well as live music nightly.
Plenty of buzz has also been building around Bastille Kitchen, which aims to offer fine French fare at moderate prices in the city’s Fort Point area upon its January 2014 debut. Chalet, a private dining section on the lower level, will seat up to 70.
Groups looking to “chill out” a bit will find the perfect setting at Faneuil Hall’s Frost Ice Bar, sculpted from ice and maintained at an eye-opening 24 degrees Fahrenheit, and craft beer fans should check out Castle Island Brewery, opening in South Boston in January.
Developing Stories
Also on the horizon are three major new projects.
New Brighton Landing, a $500 million real estate development created by the New Balance sneaker corporation, is under way in Boston’s Brighton district. The neighborhood aims to fit a niche for a “health and wellness” district offering recreational areas for public use.
Another biggie is Assembly Row, slated for a spring 2014 takeoff as part of the larger Assembly Square development about 10 minutes north of downtown. The project will include extensive retail and dining options, a massive movie complex and a LEGOLAND Discovery Center.
Most ambitious of all is the long-term development dubbed Seaport Square, projected to be several more years in the works. Upon its eventual completion the new neighborhood will cover 25 acres, including several new parks and as many as four new hotels totaling about 1,000 guest rooms.
North of Boston
The region due north of Boston, Essex County, has its own big news that planners will want to have on their event radar.
A 175,000-square-foot expansion is in the works for the Peabody Essex Museum (PEM) in Salem. PEM has raised $550 million, with the intention to bring in $100 million more. A groundbreaking has been set for 2015 and upon completion of the endeavor in 2019, the facility will stand as one the nation’s 10 largest museums in terms of gallery space. The venue plans to stay open during the ambitious undertaking until the final months before launch, when substantial reinstallation will need to take place.
Elsewhere, Springhill Suites by Marriott in Peabody spent $3.5 million refurbishing guest rooms, redesigning its breakfast area, fitness center and pool area, and creating a new lobby.
