Boston's Charles Street Jail to be Reborn as The Liberty Hotel, Stuart Meyerson Named General Manager / October 2006


Hotel Online News for the Hospitality Executive


Boston's Charles Street Jail to be Reborn as The Liberty Hotel, Stuart Meyerson Named General Manager October 27, 2006 - In keeping with the spirit of a landmark liberated, Boston's storied Charles Street Jail will be reborn aptly named as The Liberty Hotel. The hotel is a national historic landmark at the foot of Beacon Hill with spectacular views of the Charles River and Boston skyline. It will open as a four-star luxury destination during the summer 2007. Additionally, two industry veterans have been named to key management posts for the $120 million hotel project, now nearing completion. The hotel's extensive acquisition, historic renovation and construction process was spearheaded by developer Richard Friedman, president and chief executive officer of Cambridge-based Carpenter & Company. Once the storied Charles Street Jail, The Liberty Hotel will welcome guests to Boston with the spirit of a landmark liberated following an extensive $120 million acquisition, renovation and construction process. Commanding in scale, the original granite edifice was innovative for its day, comprising a beautiful cruciform-shaped structure complete with a 90-foot central rotunda and cupola built in 1851. Today, through meticulous planning reflective of the property�s colorful past, this strong and beautiful building is home to a variety of transcendent public spaces linked by historic catwalks � including lobby and reception areas, restaurant, bar, grand ballroom, and meeting rooms � as well as a limited number of guestrooms. Among the other dramatic features that have been preserved are vestiges of jail cells within the hotel lobby bar and magnificent, oversize windows. A new, adjoining 16-story tower houses the majority of guestrooms with every modern convenience. Hotel operator MTM Luxury Lodging of Seattle has tapped Stuart Meyerson as General Manager and Sean Reardon as Director of Sales & Marketing. Meyerson, who offers 30 years' management and leadership experience, comes from Hyatt Hotels and Resorts. Reardon is the former Director of Sales and Marketing for the Westin Copley Place, Starwood's flagship hotel in Boston. The Liberty Hotel is perfectly situated in the heart of Boston's Beacon Hill neighborhood near the world's best medical complexes. Just a footbridge away from the Charles River and its Esplanade, The Liberty Hotel offers easy access to a wealth of outdoor recreation, unique shopping, entertainment and downtown Boston. The original 1851 granite jail structure is being carefully preserved and restored. The commanding, 90-foot central rotunda is now complemented with a new cupola, built according to the original design which was never implemented to save construction costs. Among the dramatic features being preserved are historic catwalks linking public spaces, vestiges of jail cells within the hotel lobby bar and magnificent, oversized windows. The Liberty Hotel, when complete, will comprise 300 guestrooms, including 10 incomparable suites with dramatic river views; three distinctive venues for dining and cocktails; 6,000 sq. ft. of flexible meeting space within the original, historic structure; and a newly-constructed 16-story wing. The hotel's architect is Cambridge Seven Associates. Alexandra Champalimaud & Associates, Inc. of New York is responsible for interior design. The general contractor is Suffolk Construction of Boston. The Liberty Hotel is located at 215 Charles Street, Boston, MA 02114. For information, phone (617) 399-4260, or visit http://www.libertyhotel.com/. Contact: The Liberty Hotel http://www.libertyhotel.com/