Hotel AKA Boston Common is being rebranded from Kimpton Nine Zero while in operation.
Design refresh
The 190-room hotel will undergo a design refresh to ensure all the touches of AKA and characteristics of the vibrant downtown neighbourhood are incorporated into the property.
The 19-storey building will offer a mix of short-term and extended-stay accommodations, aiming to showcase chic and eclectic design, as well as exceptional amenities.
Philadelphia chef Greg Vernick will oversee the refresh of the hotel’s popular neighbourhood restaurant and bar as part of the new Atelier AKA food and beverage programme. Additional amenities at the hotel include a contemporary lobby lounge, fitness centre, as well as flexible meeting and event space.
Slower approach
Larry Korman, CEO of AKA, said: “Hotel AKA Boston Common offers a contrasting design vernacular to that of our first property in Boston, Hotel AKA Back Bay.
“We are purposefully taking a slower approach to the design refresh to respectfully metamorphose the hotel into an AKA and ensure the cultural nuances of the lively downtown location are woven into the design fabric of the property. Each of our Boston hotels on the opposing ends of the city’s parks, Boston Common and Boston Public Garden, give us the opportunity to offer our guests different experiences to reflect the two neighbourhoods.”
Multi-million investment
This is the brand’s second hotel in Boston and 16th property in the portfolio. Other assets are in major metropolitan markets across the United States, including New York City, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Miami, West Palm Beach, DC, Old Town Alexandria, Boston, as well as in London’s Marylebone neighbourhood in the UK.
The acquisition of the property is a result of Electra America Hospitality Group (EAHG), a joint venture between AKA and Electra America, and marks EAHG’s seventh property. The property was acquired in an off-market transaction for an undisclosed price. EAHG will invest $15 million in renovations to the hotel.
In August 2022, EAHG acquired and converted the 225-room Loews Boston Hotel into Hotel AKA Back Bay, marking AKA’s entry into New England. Currently underway are projects to reposition the 152 key One Washington Circle Hotel into AKA Washington Circle Hotel in Washington DC and a refurbishment of the 194-room Hotel AKA NoMad in New York City, due for completion by the end of this year.
