Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces has signed an agreement to buy the Ritz-Carlton Boston Hotel for a reported $170m (”89m). The deal is planned to finalise on January 11, 2007.
The Ritz-Carlton Boston, which sits next to the Boston Public Garden and features 273 rooms, underwent a $50m (”26m) restoration in 2002. The hotel has 16 private function rooms for business events or meetings, including a Grand Ballroom which can accommodate 300 for a sit-down dinner and 500 for a drinks reception. As a Club Level guest a number of business faciltites are available, including wireless internet connection, printing and faxing, as well as access to the Club Lounge on the 15th floor.
Aside from being renamed the Taj Boston, little will change at the hotel. There will be a new general manager, David Gibbons, who was formerly GM for Swiss”tel”s The Drake on Park Avenue.
Commenting on Taj”s new venture, Gibbons said: ”This is an extraordinary opportunity to bring the Taj brand of luxury and service to a building that already has a sterling reputation for refinement and taste. I think Taj Boston is going to be a very nice fit for this city and region, and I”m thrilled to be on board.”
Other Taj hotels currently under development are the Taj Exotica Resort, Spa and Golf (Doha); the Taj Exotica Resort and Spa Palm Beach Jumeirah Crescent (Qatar); the Taj Luxury Hotel Cape Town (South Africa) - all opening in 2008; and the Taj Exotica Resort & Spa in Phuket (Thailand) - opening in 2009.