BOSTON
Starwood Hotels & Resorts has announced plans for a dual-branded hotel development in Boston featuring its popular Aloft and Element brands. Set to open in 2016, the 330-room Aloft Boston Waterfront and 180-room Element Boston Waterfront will be ideally situated on D Street, directly across the street from the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center.
The hotels will be owned and developed by a partnership between majority equity partner Ares Management-controlled funds and CV Properties on a 5.2 acre-parcel of land leased from the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority (MCCA).
Construction on the $158 million project is already underway and, upon completion, the hotels will be operated by Starwood Hotels & Resorts under the Aloft and Element brand flags. Financing will be provided by RBS Citizens Financial Group and Santander Bank in the amount of $97 million.
“These two Starwood hotels will create 175 permanent jobs and 510 additional hotel rooms to help meet the rising demand for lodging within walking distance of Boston Convention & Exhibition Center," said James E. Rooney, MCCA Executive Director. "This is one of several projects underway that will help keep Boston in the list of top meetings and convention destinations in the world."
Catering to the next generation of travelers with loft-like rooms, accessible technologies and a line-up of innovative programming, Aloft Boston Waterfront will offer more than 10,000 square feet of state-of-the-art meeting space, a Splash pool, fitness center, and Re:fuel by Aloft - a one-stop grab & go food and beverage area. Guests will also enjoy free access to some of the hottest bands with Live at Aloft Hotels programming at the W XYZ® bar.
Room Design and Property Details
Element Boston Waterfront will offer a fresh perspective on extended stay lodging, with light-filled studios featuring a fluid design, fully equipped kitchens and spa-inspired bathrooms. Facilities will include a fitness center, pool, and approximately 1,000 square feet of flexible meeting space. Guests can stay on the move with Element's complimentary bikes to borrow and enjoy the brand's signature RISE breakfast and RELAX evening reception.
Consisting entirely of new-build hotels, Element is the first major hotel brand to mandate that all properties pursue the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification for high-performance buildings.
The 13-story Aloft Boston Waterfront will be separated from the eight-story Element Boston Waterfront by a hotel drive that runs perpendicular to D Street and provides access to the porte-cochere of both hotels. The Aloft and Element will share a 120-space parking lot and each hotel will include more than 8,000 square feet of street-level retail and restaurant space.
Aloft and Element Boston Waterfront will be less than three miles from Logan International Airport and convenient to the Back Bay, the financial district, and leading downtown attractions including Quincy Market and Faneuil Hall. It will be the second Aloft-Element dual hotel development in the Boston area, joining Aloft and Element Lexington, which opened in 2008.
