Too bad. I liked staying there. It was a favorite at my firm. Ames still seems to be up and running, and seems to have won some awards, too.
https://curiocollection3.hilton.com...?WT.mc_id=zLADA0WW1XX2PSH3DA4PPC5PPC6MULTIBR7
Is it not doing well? I remember it was first opened by the Morgans Group (flashy South Beach hotels) and then sold to some local guys that owned/operated some smallish hotels on the South Shore, then to Hilton.
How can Hilton not make a go of it in such a hotel room shortage market like Boston? Proximity to other Hilton properties?
I'll agree with liking it as well. Stayed a few times and one of my favorite hotels in the area.
Room rates lately seemed to be running below some of the other major, theoretically comparable properties, which was nice for me (and my employer who was paying), but probably not an indication that the hotel was doing exceptionally well.
It did have some potential disadvantages as a hotel, though:
- The on-site restaurant/bar (leased to a restaurateur) abruptly went belly-up with a string of unfortunate issues earlier this year (liquor license mistakes, IIRC), which took that off as an amenity. I'm sure they could have gotten it reopened eventually, but no bar and no food is definitely going to hurt you. I am very partial to the Ginger Man (bar) nearby, so not something that mattered to me on a personal level.
- Valet parking only and they stored the cars off-site. If you used it, it would take a fairly substantial amount of time to get your car if you didn't call ahead.
- Some aspects of the room design looked nice but may not have gone over all too well. Particularly the glass shower arrangement that was visible to the rest of the room. You could close a curtain, but even with it closed, it would likely be very awkward if you were sharing the room with someone who wasn't a romantic partner.
- I could be wrong, but I don't think there was a pool. Which isn't surprising given the property, but again, one less item on the checklist.
- I'm not entirely sure the average person (or even business traveler) knows where the "Curio" selection of properties sits in the Hilton hierarchy. Might lead to it being skipped over.