Hotel Updates
New in Town
Hotels are donning new digs and getting multi-million dollar facelifts just in time for the 2008 presidential elections. Two brands making their debut in DC include Affinia Hotels' The Liaison Capitol Hill and Thompson Hotels' Donovan House.
Opening in March 2008 on downtown's Thomas Circle, Donovan House (named for "Wild Bill" Donovan, the legendary general whose covert operations gave birth to the CIA), brings a new touch of modern sophistication to the DC hotel scene. This former Holiday Inn has been totally gutted and transformed into a sophisticated fashion-forward hotel. Each of the 193 rooms designed by Studio Gaia is styled with floor-to-ceiling windows and outfitted with 400-thread count SFERRA linens, bath products by Fresh, flat screen TVs, i-Pod docking stations, complimentary Wi-Fi Internet access and Dean & Deluca gourmet snacks. It will also feature an upscale restaurant, meeting facilities and a chic rooftop terrace and pool with unobstructed views of the cityscape. Donovan House is the latest addition to Thompson Hotels' collection that includes, among others, 60 Thompson in New York and the historic Hollywood Roosevelt in Los Angeles.
 Affinia Hotels' refined lifestyle hotel collection has also arrived in the District. Located on Capitol Hill just steps away from Union Station, The Liaison Capitol Hill features 343 guest rooms including 4 parlor suites. The hotel also has 10,000 square feet of meeting space able to accommodate from 5 to 500 people with the latest in audiovisual equipment, high-speed Internet access and complete catering services. The Liaison Capitol Hill is expected to open in April 2008 with a gorgeous new look that bears no resemblance to the Holiday Inn that once operated in its place. The hip, new renovated hotel comes equipped with Affinia standards such as a 6-item pillow menu, executive work area in each guest room, the Affinia Fresh and Jet Set Pets programs.
 In fall 2008, DC's fashionable Georgetown neighborhood will become home to a glamorous new hotel concept. LXR Luxury Resorts & Hotels is joining forces with a high-end furniture guru to open the Hotel Ralph Pucci in the former home of The Georgetown Inn on Wisconsin Avenue. Each of the 96-room hotel's five floors will bear the signature minimalist looks of one of Ralph Pucci's colleagues and contemporaries: Robert Bristow, Patrick Naggar, Jens Risom, Christophe Delcourt and Paul Mathieu. The hotel's lobby will host changing art exhibitions that complement its unique space. Artwork adorning the floors and walls will also come from top national and international talents.
New Looks for DC Classics
Built in 1926, the St. Regis Hotel is beginning to show off the results of an extensive renovation that's more than a year in the making. Staying true to the building's Italian-influenced design, designers have preserved the original, hand-painted ceilings in the lobby and ballroom, but they are also incorporating new technology to meet the needs of business travelers. New features of the property include wireless Internet, Pratesi linens, 32" Plasma televisions, DVD players and personal fax machines. Blending old-fashioned butler service with new technology, the hotel equips all St. Regis butlers with wireless handheld devices so that they can be easily accessible personal assistants for guests at any time. With more than 11,000 square feet of meeting space, the St. Regis is prepared for luxurious events and executive round table meetings alike. Currently taking limited bookings, the hotel expects to transition from soft opening to a grand opening in spring 2008.
Another historic gem, The Jefferson Hotel is also in the midst of a full-scale renovation. Re-emerging in late 2008, the hotel will feature 99 luxury guest rooms, a lounge and bar area, modern meeting spaces, an upscale dining venue, a state-of-the-art fitness center and a private spa for guests.
The historic Hotel Washington will undergo a complete overhaul over the next 12 to 18 months. The hotel is scheduled to re-open in 2009 as the W Hotel Washington, DC featuring 317 guest rooms including 32 suites, a spectacular rooftop bar and terrace, as well as more than 13,000 square feet of flexible meeting space. The Watergate and the Hilton Washington are also among the hotels scheduled to begin major renovations.
New Developments
City representatives, the WCCA and the development group headed by Marriott agreed to terms on which a new Marriott Marquis Headquarters Hotel will be built at 9th and L Streets, NW, just west of the convention center. The teams are now working to finalize the formal Funding and Development Agreement, necessary leases, and a bond issuance plan. Given the District's permitting and zoning process, groundbreaking is expected in 2009 with a 3-year construction period thereafter. Having now achieved a basic agreement, the parties are finalizing necessary documents and developing milestones and deadlines to assure the project moves forward as scheduled.
Familiar brands are also popping up in other areas of the city. Fairfield Inn & Suites has found a home in the vicinity of New York Avenue and Bladensburg along with Holiday Inn & Suites in the same area. Both hotels are scheduled to open in June 2008. Courtyard by Marriot is anticipating an April 2009 opening for its Florida Avenue, NE locale.
Kimpton Debuts Latest DC Area Hotel
 Just across the Potomac River in Virginia, the Hotel Palomar Arlington designed by world-renowned architecture firm Pei, Cobb, Freed & Partners features 154 guest rooms and more than 3200 square feet of meeting space. Each luxurious room is fitted with a 32" LCD flat screen TV, complimentary Internet access, White Frette triple sheeting, a variety of pillow choices, and L'Occitane custom bath amenities. With easy access to Metro, Hotel Palomar Arlington makes an ideal destination for business and leisure travelers alike, conveniently located near Georgetown, Arlington National Cemetery, hiking and biking trails and Reagan National Airport.
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