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6 Business Profiles 2015 Worcester Business Journal www.wbjournal.com S ince its opening in 1989, the Beechwood Hotel has been synonymous with elegance, fine din- ing and luxury accommodations. An exquisite destination for guests to the Worcester area, the hotel represents a labor of love. Dr. Charles and Mrs. Janet Birbara, owners of the property, converted an empty lot at the corner of Plantation Street and Route 9 into one of the region's finest boutique hotels, complete with personal artwork, histori- cal artifacts and modern day amenities. Considered one of the most elegant accommodations outside of Boston, the hotel has hosted innumerable weddings, showers, special occasion parties and corporate meetings and reflects the Birbaras' passion for excellence. Since 1993, the Beechwood Hotel has undergone major renovation projects that have included gutting entire floors and replacing 1980s décor with upscale furnishings. The makeover included the addition of Ceres Bistro, an upscale restaurant with a dazzling 19th century stained glass dome, originally on display in the atrium of a Boston building. A quarter century after its grand opening, the Beechwood Hotel is slated for another facelift. Dr. and Mrs. Birbara have engaged the services of Sayed M. Saleh, president of International Hotel Management and Development, Inc., a consulting firm based in Boston that specializes in managing and developing luxury lifestyle hotels around the globe. He will serve as the Beechwood's Asset Manager & Managing Director, overseeing the reno- vation and day-to-day operations. A thirty-year veteran of the hospitality industry with a reputation as an energetic and visionary leader, Saleh is a pioneer in international tourism, having recognized this growing trend early in the 1980s. Locally, Saleh's group owned and managed the stylish Orchards Hotel in Williamstown, Massachusetts, a member of The Leading Hotels of the World and Preferred Hotels & Resorts, from 1993 to 2006. In 2008, Saleh developed the Sofitel Zallaq Resort, Spa and Marina in Bahrain, a 263-room five-star resort with seven palatial roof top suites, each with its own private infinity pool. The firm collaborated with the Jin Bin ERA Development Company in China on its $1.047 billion "First International Central Business District" development in southern Tianjin. Saleh Hospitality Group also consulted on the development of the Amrit Resort and Residences in Singer Island, Florida. Saleh cites the strength of the diverse culture in the area that encompasses top rated academic institutions, first class medical facilities and the growing biotech industry as good reason to move forward with the renovation project. "With the growing number of new companies coming to Worcester, the area is primed for an exquisite facility like this," he says. "We feel the time is right. Worcester's econ- omy is humming and the City will become a destination for visitors seeking a higher level of hospitality. The Beechwood is currently developing a final concept for the multi-million dollar refurbishment. Plans will include a change to the hotel's façade, bar and function rooms. "We are creating a wish list right now," Saleh says. At the present time, the Beechwood Hotel has 73 rooms and is considering the addition of more. Other potential amenities include a presidential suite and corporate suites, spa and pool. "We are still debating several options," he says. The Beechwood has won numerous awards to date and is the only hotel between Boston and the Berkshires to be named a Four-Diamond AAA hotel. The Beechwood is also a member of Worldhotels, an industry group that handpicks properties with a reputation for excellence, reflecting the local character. Although the Beechwood has enjoyed a reputation for high-quality customer service through the years, the envi- sioned "new and improved" destination resort anticipates taking luxury to a more grand scale. n Beechwood Hotel/Ceres Bistro: Central Massachusetts' Showplace w o r c e s t e r , m a Beechwood Hotel Address: 363 Plantation St., Worcester MA 01609 Phone: 508-453-1191 Fax: 508-792-5205 Website: www.beechwoodhotel.com Product or Service: Full service hotel, banquet facility and public restaurant No. of Employees: 115 Head of Company: Sayed M. Saleh, Asset Manager & Managing Director Year Founded: 1989 Revel in the harvest. P h o t o s / C o u r t e s y