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A Back Bay legend is getting a facelift and moving its welcome mat to Newbury Street.
Work is already underway at renovating the Taj Boston Hotel, which originally opened in 1927 as the first Ritz-Carlton in the U.S. Hospitality firm Highgate plans to move the main entrance from Arlington Street to Newbury Street and add 13 guest rooms, according to plans filed Monday with the Boston Planning & Development Agency. The updated hotel will have the most luxury suites of any hotel in Boston.
“Our new concept embraces both the rich history of the hotel and timeless details that, when partnered together, radiate a uniquely Boston feel,” Taj Boston General Manager Carlos Bueno said in a prepared statement. “Our guests will enjoy the sophisticated ambience and bespoke service that has been the hotel’s ethos since its opening in 1927.”
The hotel's food and beverage facilities will also get revitalized during the renovation, including the popular Boston Public Garden-facing The Bar. The hotel’s seasonal rooftop will be enclosed and turned into a year-round restaurant, and all 16K SF of event space will be updated.
The guest room count will rise to 286 with the added 13 rooms. The improved suite offering will include two presidential suites. The developer is retaining the original wood-burning fireplaces currently offered in 45 guest rooms.
Highgate and a team of local investors, including New England Development Chairman and CEO Stephen Karp, bought the Taj in 2016 for $125M. San Francisco-based wealth management firm Iconiq Capital bought a $190M interest in the hotel last year.
The hotel will remain open during the renovation, expected to be complete by early 2020.
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