Colwen Hotels and XSS Hotels have completed a multiyear redevelopment of the historic “Castle Hotel” in Framingham, Mass., which marked the official launch of the Framingham Hotel Collection.
The repositioning turns the former single full-service hotel into a connected, multibrand development comprising the Renaissance Framingham Hotel & Conference Center, Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Framingham and TownePlace Suites by Marriott Framingham. The combined Massachusetts portfolio in totals 371 guestrooms and suites across full-service, select-service and extended-stay offerings.
The Framingham Hotel Collection includes the Renaissance Framingham Hotel & Conference Center as its full-service offering with extensive meeting and event space; the Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Framingham as a select-service option for short-term business and leisure travelers; and the TownePlace Suites by Marriott Framingham as an extended-stay product featuring suite-style accommodations.
“We are proud to expand our collaboration with Marriott and elevate this landmark as Renaissance Framingham Hotel & Conference Center and The Framingham Hotel Collection,” Stephanie Paschal, regional director of sales, Portsmouth, N.H.-based Colwen Hotels, said in a statement. “Housing three distinct brands in one destination allows us to serve guests and groups with incredible flexibility while honoring the castle’s legacy in MetroWest and the greater Boston area.”
Originally opened in 1975 as the Sheraton Tara Hotel, the Castle Hotel has served as a landmark along the Massachusetts Turnpike. The redevelopment includes updates to public areas and meeting facilities, along with the introduction of three food-and-beverage concepts: Malone’s Irish Pub & Social, Provisions Hearth & Kitchen, and Tara Cafe, which offers grab-and-go items and Starbucks-branded beverages.
“The Renaissance brand is about uncovering the unexpected in every stay, and few canvases are more distinctive than this historic castle,” added David Laurent, general manager of The Framingham Hotel Collection.
The Renaissance Framingham Hotel & Conference Center, meanwhile, is the full-service anchor of the collection with renovated guestrooms, updated public spaces and expanded meetings and events offerings. Guestrooms include refreshed furnishings and bathrooms, with design elements referencing the building’s original castle-inspired architecture. Public areas incorporate flexible workspaces, lounges and communal gathering areas aimed at both business and leisure travelers.
The property’s meetings and events platform includes more than 25,000 square feet of flexible space, accommodating events of up to 1,000 attendees. Renovations include updated ballrooms, pre-function areas and breakout rooms with upgraded technology.