Boston Common - Niche Media - A side of Boston that's anything but common.
Issue link: http://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/603939
01 photography by Eric LEvin/Envoy A HospitAble buncH Boston's new wave of Boutique hotels Boast state-of-the-art amenities in the city's coolest neighBorhoods. by scott van voorhis Floating beds, craft bars, and rock 'n' roll décor are just some of the ame- nities at Boston's newest crop of boutique hotels. Thanks to a robust economy, Boston's hospitality market is booming, with average room rates and occupancy reaching new highs. Boutiques make up roughly half the hotels slated to open in 2015 and 2016 in Boston and Cambridge. "The boutique market is being redefined," says Thomas R. Engel, presi- dent of the T.R. Engel Group, a Boston-based hotel consulting firm. "It's more about urban, infill locations appealing to younger, hipper audi- ences. The target customer is someone who looks to their hotel stay for an experience." Here's a closer look at a trio of Boston's boutique hotels, which offer a sense of playfulness, novelty, and pleasant surprises. The envoy A new hotel eager to carve out a niche along Boston's bejeweled waterfront, The Envoy has its work cut out for it. Some of Boston's biggest brand-name hotels are clustered in and around the Seaport/ Innovation District, with the city's convention center the big demand driver. But the new Envoy is betting that small, cool, and dif- ferent could be a winning formula for attracting business travelers and tourists looking for a change from the typical big-box hotel. The artists: Group One Partners designed the hotel's interior, with an emphasis on "artisan-style décor" with a streamlined, cutting-edge look continued on page 116 Located in Boston's Seaport/Innovation District, the sleek Envoy stands out with funky, artisan-style décor and a rooftop bar serving craft cocktails and local beers. bostoncommon-magazine.com 115 HAUTE PROPERTY