Omni Parker House Releases “Heaven, By Hotel Standards”

The historic Omni Parker House today released "Heaven, By Hotel Standards," a book detailing the rich history of the hotel since Harvey Parker first opened its doors in downtown Boston in 1855. The book was written and compiled by House Historian and acclaimed author Susan Wilson.

The Omni Parker House - located at the junction of Tremont and School streets - is the oldest of Boston's elegant inns and the longest continuously operating hotel in the United States. It was here where the brightest lights of America's Golden Age of Literature - writers like Emerson, Thoreau, Hawthorne, and Longfellow - regularly met for conversation and conviviality in the legendary nineteenth century Saturday Club. It was here where baseball greats like Babe Ruth and Ted Williams wined, dined, and unwound. And it was where generations of local and national politicians - including Ulysses S. Grant, James Michael Curley, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, and William Jefferson Clinton - assembled for private meetings, press conferences, and power breakfasts.

"Heaven, By Hotel Standards" takes readers through a historic Boston journey as seen through the eyes of the Omni Parker House and its many guests, dignitaries, authors, celebrities, and influential figures who have stayed at the property. From its famed employees like Ho Chi Minh and Malcolm "X" to the birthplace of the Parker House Rolls and the Boston Cream Pie, the book provides a comprehensive first-hand account of New England's antiquity from the last 159 years.

To launch the new book, the Omni Parker House held a party and signing with Susan Wilson in the hotel's historic Press Room. The same room where John F. Kennedy made his first public speech, announced his run for Congress, and had his bachelor party.

When not working as the official House Historian for the Omni Parker House, Susan Wilson spends her time as a writer, photographer, educator and consultant. She gained early recognition as a regular contributor on the arts, music and Boston history for The Boston Globe from 1978-1996. Her recent books include "Boston Sites and Insights" (Beacon Press, 2004), "The Literary Trail of Greater Boston" (Commonwealth Editions, 2005), and "A Brief History of Beacon Press" (Beacon Press, 2003). More information may be found on her website at www.susanwilsonphoto.com/books.

The book will be available for purchase on Amazon.com or at the Omni Parker House gift shop, Morsels. For additional information please visit omnihotels.com or call 1-800-The-Omni. Travelers or media can also follow Omni Hotels & Resorts at www.Facebook.com/OmniHotels and Twitter.com/OmniHotels.

About Omni Parker House

The Omni Parker House is America's longest continuously operating luxury hotel and remains one of its most elegant and refined. Located in historic downtown Boston on the Freedom Trail, the venerable Omni Parker House opened its doors in 1855 and offers distinguished décor and thoughtful amenities in each of the 551 luxurious accommodations.

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