Boston’s Music-Themed The Verb Hotel Evokes A Nostalgic Road Trip Vibe With Backstage

Located in the shadow of Boston’s famed Fenway Park, the rock-and-roll-themed Verb Hotel is expanding in September with the opening of Backstage, a fleet of 10 custom-crafted trailer suites inspired by rock-and-roll-road-tour life with a generous dose of retro chic.

The hotel’s owners and developers, Samuels & Associates in partnership with Spot On Ventures, created Backstage to add a unique music-themed guest experience to The Verb Hotel’s niche of paying homage to legendary rockers with an abundance of artifacts and collectibles at every turn.

“We wanted to expand on the nostalgia of travel and the music industry while offering a modern interpretation—a first-of-its-kind, urban trailer park,” said Steve Samuels, founder and chairman of Samuels & Associates, noting that they drew inspiration from The Verb’s history as a mid-20th-century motor lodge that housed touring musicians before breathing new life into the former Howard Johnson in 2015. “In seeking to expand, we took our cue from our popular Flxible Clipper bus—a landmark at the hotel, while drawing inspiration from the legacy of touring musicians and their fans traveling the open road to see them.”

Samuels purchased the circa-1947 bus in 2014, and it soon became a permanent mascot for the hotel. Since then, it has served as the set for a photoshoot with the Boston band Guster and for local music scene interviews and private acoustic performances.

Tucked between the hotel and Fenway Park, each trailer tells a unique story, weaving together rock influences with the vibe of a classic American road trip. Interiors are filled with curated artwork and rare music ephemera—reminiscent of keepsakes collected to immortalize one’s travels—carefully selected by David Bieber, the longtime director of special projects for the Phoenix Media Group and an inveterate collector of rock and roll memorabilia,

The retro trailers are appointed with king-size beds, private baths with rainfall showers, sitting areas and outdoor patios. They are also fully insulated with custom heating and cooling systems for year-round comfort.

Backstage’s semi-private outdoor spaces are landscaped with lush greenery, creating gathering spots for guests to hang out and mingle. In summer, when concerts take place at Fenway Park, music fills the air as musicians rehearse and perform.

According to Robin Brown, founder and principal of Spot On Ventures, every detail of Backstage was thoughtfully designed to give guests an evocative virtual experience of life on the road, while staying in the heart of the city’s vibrant Fenway neighborhood. “We were thrilled to work with Planeta Design Group to outfit each trailer with the custom amenities afforded to the VIP rock star – from a king bed, to a personalized minibar, Nespresso machine, Bose sound bar, gallery lighting and a 43-inch 4K TV. Hardware, stitching, and chrome exterior details that shine like the handlebars of a chopper evoke life on the road.”

Backstage guests have full access to all of The Verb Hotel’s amenities, from the onsite Hojoko restaurant, the second Boston restaurant by James-Beard-Award-winning chefs Tim and Nancy Cushman, to the outdoor heated swimming pool that stays open year-round. There’s even an extensive vinyl library for guests’ exclusive use on in-room record players, so they can fully immerse themselves in the rock ’n’ roll experience. Backstage rates start at $599 per night.