Today we’d like to introduce you to Rachael Solem.
Rachael, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
My partners and I found this property in 1990, an operating hotel two blocks from Harvard Yard. It was very run down (the worst house on the block–), but the guests and staff had good feelings about the owners, who had been running it for decades. In July of 1990, we purchased it and began renovations of both the physical property and the business operations. It was almost like starting a business, as everything needed attention.
Though I had done quite a bit of renovation of wood framed houses in the Boston and New York areas, I had no experience in hospitality. This guesthouse was built as a two family house in 1893. It was converted to lodging for Harvard students in the 1920s. The family who purchased in in 1943 continued to accommodate Harvard students for one year, and then Radcliffe students for the next, but decided to convert the house to hotel use in 1945.
It is the only business on a quiet residential street. The house has 44 rooms, some of which remain as they were converted in the 1920s: small rooms for one person, with a bath across the hall. Most of the other rooms we have changed to add en suite baths. Through several renovations over the past twenty seven years, we have upgraded all systems, renovated nearly all the baths (There remain two shared half baths that date to the 1940s but are in good shape.), installed central air conditioning, and put in a kitchen to provide breakfast and snacks for our guests. Alas, we have been unable to find a place to put in an elevator, so we have rooms on four floors, with dining in the basement, all accessible only by stairs.
While a guesthouse in this configuration would never be created now, guests who stay with us find the convenience, quiet and privacy accorded in our giant house to be just what they want when visiting the universities (Harvard, Lesley and MIT, among many others in the greater Boston area). Our renovations have included improvements to lighten our environmental footprint, with electricity, gas, water and waste streams all reduced. Because I knew nothing of the hospitality business, I made it a practice to ask our guests how we can improve. We continue this even now, regularly considering suggestions our thoughtful guests have made.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Because Irving House is the only business on the street, and the area was down zoned in the 1970s, our property is a ‘grandfathered in’ to continue our commercial operations. Every renovation plan has been subject to community and Historical Commission review. This can be a difficult process, especially in the beginning when the neighbors did not know what we were planning to do. Now those same neighbors are pleased with our improvements and sending their family and friends to us when they have reunions.
The house is old, was built for residential use. As noted before, we have not found a place for an elevator or even a dumbwaiter. And, the walls are thin as some guests have noted. While we provide ear plugs, and door snakes to block hallway light and sound, occasionally guests do complain of hearing their neighbors’ TVs or phone calls. As I have traveled and stayed in purpose built properties and found the same problem, I do not see that there are solutions at this time. I continue to seek new technologies in this area.
One big current challenge is that we have chosen to provide inventory to Booking.com and Expedia.com. This has sent guests to us, many of whom are happy to have found us, but sometimes these guests to not pay attention to the nature of the property and are expecting a more standard hotel. We have not found a way to present ourselves effectively on those sites to set guests’ expectations properly. And, of course, those OTAs buy our name as key words for searches, so some guests who know about us, have stayed or know people who have stayed, think they booked on our site, when they have actually booked through one of these third parties. So we pay high commissions on reservations we should have gotten directly. This is getting to be a big problem.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Irving House at Harvard – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Irving House enjoys a good reputation in the Harvard Square collection of hotels. We support many of the arts organizations which produce live performance, film festivals, and street fairs. We are locally owned and operated and well connected with the museums, restaurants, theaters and stores in the area so that our guests can discover the world class cultural delights within walking distance of our front door.
Because of the variety of room sizes and types and the diversity of activities in the neighborhood, we accommodate a wide range of travelers from the budget minded single person to the business and family travelers. Our guests can engage in conversations easily, or just keep to themselves, as we do not hover over them but are available to help when needed.
Our green operations include solar heated hot water for guests, locally sourced food, composting of food scraps, and other efforts evident and not, that allow travelers to enjoy their visits while still staying environmentally conscious.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
Irving House will always need attention to its physical plant and community needs and opportunities. In addition to the house at 24 Irving Street, we have another house up the street, Turner House, which accommodates longer term visitors, with weekly housekeeping and kitchenettes. And a bit further away, but still in mid-Cambridge, we opened Harding House twenty years ago. This is a smaller guesthouse of 14 rooms which we renovated with knowledge of what worked well at Irving House. The three houses all work to complement each other in providing friendly accommodations in the heart of Cambridge. We do not plan further expansion, but we will always be looking to maintain and improve ourselves.
Pricing:
- Single with shared bath (in the hall) $95-$155 per night
- Family room with queen, two twins, private bath $125-$400 per night
- Standard room with queen bed, private bath, $105-$350 per night.
- All rates include off street parking, breakfast, snacks & wifi.
Contact Info:
- Address: 24 Irving Street
Cambridge, MA 02138 - Website: https://www.irvinghouse.com
- Phone: 617-547-4600
- Email: stay@irvinghouse.com
- Instagram: irvinghouseatharvard
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IrvingHouseatHarvard/
- Twitter: @cambridgeinns
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/irving-house-at-harvard-cambridge
- Other: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g60890-d114148-Reviews-Irving_House_at_Harvard-Cambridge_Massachusetts.html
Image Credit:
Photos by Zoia Krastanova and Jumping Rocks Photography
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