Officials from the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority (MCCA), CV Properties and Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. yesterday held a groundbreaking ceremony for two hotels near the South Boston Waterfront.
A 330-room Aloft Hotel and an 180-room extended stay Element Hotel will be located on D Street, directly across from the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center (BCEC). The $140 million, privately constructed and owned hotels will be built on land acquired by the MCCA and in a partnership between CV Properties, Starwood Hotels, majority equity partner Ares Management-controlled funds and the MCCA.
“These hotels will provide much-needed mid-priced hotel rooms not only to the South Boston Waterfront but to Boston as a whole,” James Rooney, MCCA executive director, said in a statement. “This is the first of several groundbreakings we hope take place as we push Boston and Massachusetts towards being among the top meeting and convention destinations in the world.”
CV Properties, Starwood and Ares Management team will be responsible for designing, financing, constructing and owning and operating the hotels. They must comply with detailed design guidelines developed jointly by the MCCA, a community-based Design Advisory Committee and the Boston Redevelopment Authority.
The hotels are expected to open in 2015.
