The history of our boutique luxury hotel, The Inn at Hastings Park, is entwined with that of Lexington, the Birthplace of American Liberty. Many landmarks are within footsteps of The Inn. Visitors can walk the path that Paul Revere and William Dawes followed on their Midnight Ride to the nearby house where John Hancock and Sam Adams bunked down. The Battle Green, where the Shot Heard Round the World started the first battle of the Revolution, is a short walk from The Inn. Just further down the road, The Munroe Tavern, where the British Redcoats established their headquarters for the duration of the battle, is worth a visit.
Innkeeping is another important aspect of Lexington’s history. Beginning in colonial times, inns and taverns have played an important role in the community. Travelers on horseback were eager to find a place to rest, eat and seek shelter from New England’s mercurial weather. Inns soon became gathering places for locals and travelers alike, serving as hubs for business, socializing and politics. Inn patrons came to mingle with neighbors as well as to exchange news about business and political matters. History books tell us that the local militia that fought the first battle of the Revolutionary War on the Lexington Battle Green mustered their courage by raising a few glasses at Buckman Tavern, which you can still visit right down the road today.
At The Inn at Hastings Park, we are bringing back the spirit of innkeeping to Lexington with the restoration of our three historic buildings. Built in 1888, the Main House was home to a descendent of one of Lexington’s first families, who settled the town in the 1600s. The second is the Isaac Mulliken House, named in honor of the spirited politician who lived there in the mid-nineteenth century. The third building at The Inn is the Barn, which served as Muliken’s original carpentry shop.
The Inn draws its name from another piece of local history. Maria Hastings was a beloved philanthropist who lived in Lexington in the nineteenth century. During this time, when books were precious and libraries were few, Maria founded Lexington’s public library. Maria’s impact on the town is lasting and a local park, Hastings Park, was created in her memory. Maria loved Lexington and folklore has it that her happy ghost still wanders today through her Cary Street neighborhood.
To know the Keneally’s is to know that home is truly where the heart is, and the heart of their home is the kitchen table. The family spends lots of time around their oversized farm table sharing meals and swapping stories with anyone who walks through the door and their vision for The Inn at Hastings Park is for it to be an extension of their lifestyle.
Trisha, Michael and their three children have lived and breathed every stage of the development of The Inn—and a lot of time, energy and love go into building an inn! Without the enthusiastic endorsement of the entire family, this dream to extend their hospitality to more than their circle of family, friends and community would never have come to fruition.
Trisha Pérez Kennealy, Owner
Although owning The Inn at Hastings Park is Trisha’s first official foray into hospitality, her life experience has perfectly prepared her for this profession. She’s one-part business entrepreneur with an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School and one-part chef having earned her Diplôme de Cuisine and Diplôme de Pâtisserie at Le Cordon Bleu Culinary School in London. However, it’s Trisha’s lifestyle and values that have prepared her above and beyond all else. Trisha grew up in Puerto Rico and spent much of her childhood with her multi-generational family sitting around the table sharing food and stories. From Puerto Rico, Trisha’s family moved to Lexington, and years later, when it was time for Trisha and her husband Michael to decide where they would raise their three children, the decision was easy. Trisha and Michael love Lexington for its sense of civic engagement, its reverence for its rich history, and its eclectic mixture of cultures, religions and people. With The Inn at Hastings Park, Trisha can share her love of Lexington and her passion for good food and gracious hospitality with travelers from far and near.
Christine Smith, General Manager
Christine Smith was appointed General Manager of The Inn at Hastings Park in March 2019. A hospitality executive with over 10 years of extensive luxury hotel industry experience, Smith’s responsibilities include overseeing day-to-day operations as well as the long-term strategic vision for the property. Prior to The Inn at Hastings Park, Smith held a range of leadership roles at Ocean House Management, the management company for a collection of independently owned, luxury properties in New England. Her most recent position included Group Director of Luxury Sales & Strategic Partnerships, where she developed and cultivated relationships with top luxury travel agents and brands like Mercedes-Benz USA and Veuve Clicquot.
Smith originally joined the Ocean House team as Guest Relations Manager in 2012 before taking over as Director of Guest Relations. She was promoted to Director of Rooms in 2013, where she joined Ocean House Management’s Executive Committee. Previously, Smith worked for The Grand Del Mar Resort in San Diego, CA, a Forbes Five-Star and AAA Five Diamond property, in a number of management roles including Front Desk Supervisor, Overnight Manager and Assistant Front Desk Manager.
Smith holds a Bachelor of Arts in Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Management from Mercyhurst College, Erie, PA. She has completed multiple years of executive management training, including Forbes leadership training. Smith has a passion for coaching, and as a former college field hockey player, she was a JV coach and mentor for a high school team in San Diego.