BOSTON—Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino, Hostelling International USA (HI-USA) officials, community leaders and travelers last week celebrated the grand opening of the new Boston hostel located in the heart of downtown Boston at the intersection of the Midtown Cultural District, Theater District, and Chinatown. The new 480-bed Boston hostel, which replaces the 208-bed hostel currently located in Boston’s Fenway neighborhood, has been built to LEED green building certification program standards and is expected to be the first LEED Certified hostel in the nation.
“I congratulate Hostelling International on this great new facility and welcome the many new visitors it will attract,” said Governor Deval L. Patrick.
Hostelling International Boston will welcome more than 46,000 guests annually, 60 percent of which will be international visitors, mostly between the ages of 18 to 30. The influx of hostellers will generate more than $16 million of direct spending by hostel guests at Boston restaurants, entertainment venues, and sightseeing spots across the city, greatly enhancing the local economy.
“I applaud the efforts of Hostelling International Boston to create affordable accommodations for travelers to the city,” said Mayor Thomas M. Menino. “This hostel, located right in the heart of our downtown, will draw visitors from all over, but I am equally impressed with the possibility of this being the first LEED Gold certified hostel in the country. That speaks volumes about Hostelling International and Boston’s status as a green city.”
Located in Heart of Downtown
“I applaud the efforts of Hostelling International Boston to create affordable accommodations for travelers to the city,” said Mayor Thomas M. Menino. “This hostel, located right in the heart of our downtown, will draw visitors from all over, but I am equally impressed with the possibility of this being the first LEED Gold certified hostel in the country. That speaks volumes about Hostelling International and Boston’s status as a green city.”
“We are thrilled to open the doors to this state-of-the-art facility, which provides travelers safe, affordable and eco-friendly accommodations right in the heart of Boston,” said Deborah Ruhe, executive director of Hostelling International New England. “The celebration was a wonderful kickoff to a summer tourist season and our hostel will enable us to share the mission of international understanding through travel with more guests.”
The $43 million project is funded through a combination of New Market and Federal and State Historic Tax credits, private financing, and proceeds from an ongoing capital campaign.
With prices starting at $29 per night per guest and with enhanced amenities, such as common space and private bathrooms adjacent to each room, budget travelers will be able to experience Boston’s culture and history without sacrificing comfort or safety. The building caters to the growing international trend toward more environmentally-conscious travel. The adaptive re-use of the historic building integrates new and efficient green technologies and features, including recycled building materials, green elevators, and Energy Star appliances and equipment.
Design Promotes People Interaction
The new hostel’s lobby, with floor-to-ceiling windows, a coffee bar and a community room is open to the public and supports Hostelling International’s mission to promote intercultural exchange between guests and the community by providing a place to congregate and connect. Community space will also serve as a platform for educational and service programs such as Alternative Spring Break (ASB) which gives volunteers from high schools and universities across the country the opportunity to visit the city of Boston and perform community service at local nonprofits.
“The International Youth Hostel Federation is honored to celebrate the opening of the new Boston Hostel, the newest addition into our international network of 4,000 hostels in 80 different countries affiliated with Hostelling International,” said IYHF president Edith Arnoult-Brill. “I commend Hostelling International New England for their dedication to sustainability, and their effort to provide safe and affordable travel for youth all over the world.”
Suffolk Construction oversaw the construction of the project, which involved the renovation of a 55,500 square foot six-story building, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The hostel was designed by Boston architectural firms Bergmeyer Associates and Stegman + Associates.
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