News

Still No Truce In Boston's Seaport Hotel War Of Words

Photo credit: Courtesy of Elkus Manfredi Architects
Rendering Of The Omni Hotel Across The Street From The Boston Convention & Exhibition Center

The name game isn’t so fun if you are a hotel developer looking to use the word “Seaport.”

Fidelity Investments is still not happy with what the developers behind what will be one of Boston’s largest hotels want to name their project. When construction began on a 1,055-room Omni hotel in the Seaport in May, Fidelity sued after the development team that includes The Davis Cos. revealed it planned to call it the Omni Boston Seaport Hotel. The financial services company argued it was too similar a moniker to its own nearby Seaport Hotel and would confuse travelers.

The Omni team responded by agreeing to change the name to the Omni Boston Hotel at the Seaport, but Fidelity said that is still too similar to the Seaport Hotel name it has trademarked, the Boston Globe reports.

Fidelity responded in federal court last week that it remains unsatisfied with the similarity since both hotels will cater heavily to visitors attending conferences at the nearby Boston Convention and Exhibition Center. Fidelity has suggested Omni Boston Seaport District, and the Omni team said it has tried to please its future neighbor.

“When we heard of Fidelity’s concerns, we sought to come up with a name that we believe would be responsive,” The Davis Cos. founder and CEO Jonathan Davis told the Globe. “We’re disappointed that they’re not satisfied with what we’ve proposed.”

While the Seaport’s hotel waters remain choppy, Fidelity indicated it still hopes it can reach an agreement with Omni.

Continue reading this story with a free account

Log in or register
Sign up for more articles like this
Subscribe to Bisnow's Boston Newsletters
Related Stories

More Hotel Owners In Need Of Cash Are Getting It From The Big Brands

Boston Property Owners Raise Alarms About Cost Of Electric-Building Push

Clarion Under Contract To Sell 18-Story Seaport Office Tower

How A New Financing Model Helps Spur More Mixed-Income Housing

Law Firm Relocating To South Station Tower: The Boston Deal Sheet

Hilton's Q2 Results Barely Beat Wall Street's Expectations

Boston Waterfront Property Planned For Hotel Project Put Up For Sale

BioMed Hands Boston Lab, Office Property To Lender

The World Cup Filled Stadiums. Hotel Rooms Were A Different Story

Blackstone's Industrial Arm Sells Revere Warehouse For $45M

Affordable Housing Developer Plans $63M Newton Project: The Boston Deal Sheet

Pharma Company Moving Headquarters From Suburbs To Downtown Boston