New Seaport District hotel name remains in limbo

One of the biggest new projects underway in Boston—a $550 million hotel with 1,055 rooms at 370-430 Summer Street in the Seaport District—is having an identity crisis.

The crisis is courtesy of a legal dispute between Fidelity Investments, owner of the nearby Seaport Hotel, and the partnership developing the new inn, a partnership that includes the David Cos., New Boston Hospitality, and the Omni brand.

Fidelity had sued in May when the then-Omni Boston Seaport Hotel broke ground, contending that the name was too similar to that of its Seaport Hotel, which was a groundbreaker for the once-underdeveloped veld that became the Seaport District.

The partnership behind the newcomer came back with a fresh moniker: Omni Boston Hotel at the Seaport. The developers are marketing the hotel under that name, with a 2021 opening planned.

But! As the Globe’s Jon Chesto reports, Fidelity isn’t too keen on that name-change either. It’s the “Seaport” bit that apparently rankles. The company is suggesting its rival use Omni Boston Seaport District instead.

As Chesto notes, what’s at legal stake might not just be the name of a new hotel, but who gets to use “Seaport” commercially and how. Stay tuned.

• Fidelity rebuffs latest attempt for truce in fight over South Boston hotel name [Globe]
• Major Boston development: 9 projects transforming the city [Curbed Boston]