Hotel Happenings

On the Verge:

• Salamander Washington, DC (Late Summer 2024): Middleburg, Virginia-based Salamander Collection, founded by entrepreneur Sheila Johnson, is expected to conclude a portion of its phased enhancements to the former 373-key Mandarin Oriental by the end of summer. The project will reveal a brighter and more residential design. The lobby and its stunning bar, pool and modernly refreshed guest suites designed by Washington’s Thomas Pheasant are on track to be completed in time to still take advantage of the warm weather. A luxury two-story spa and chef Kwame Onwuachi’s highly anticipated return to the nation’s capital, Dōgon, will follow. The restaurant is inspired by DC surveyor Benjamin Banneker and his heritage to the West African Dogon tribe. Salamander Collection was recently voted Best Luxury Hotel Brand by readers of USA Today and is the largest Black-owned luxury hotel company in the United States.

 

• Arlo (October 2024): The independent lifestyle brand is expected to debut its seventh property and first in Washington, DC in October. The 12-story, 445-room hotel will incorporate and preserve the city’s oldest conventional apartment building, The Harrison, which has stood since 1882. The hotel will boast a pool and rooftop lounge with retractable floor-to-ceiling windows leading to a wraparound terrace. A restaurant and bar helmed by an acclaimed DC chef will also be featured.

 

New Rebrands:

• Hotel AKA Washington Circle (May 2024): Located directly across from the Foggy Bottom Metro station, steps from The George Washington University Campus, the former One Washington Circle Hotel will reopen as a newly transformed boutique hotel. The 151-room contemporary property will feature newly designed guestrooms and suites perfect for both short and long-term stays, many with terraces and a full kitchen or kitchenette. Amenities include a welcoming lobby lounge, Technogym fitness center, private cinema, and a new restaurant from James Beard Award winner Ellen Yin.

 

• Hotel Nell – Union Market (May 2024): A 106-room boutique hotel in the heart of the bustling Union Market has relaunched with new branding and new spaces. The name honors the former owner of the Bolgiano Seed Company, which provided lawn seeds for the White House and National Mall from this site in the mid-1900s. Today, the design-centric hotel showcases a foliage-rich industrial charm. The reception, expansive lobby and Treehouse Rooftop lounge provide warm and welcoming communal spaces that capture the essence and authenticity of the burgeoning neighborhood. 

 

New Renovations to Historic Hotels:

• Four Seasons Washington, DC (May 2024): The property just unveiled a multimillion-dollar renovation to its famed spa. Newly enhanced features include state-of-the-art treatment rooms, a dedicated couples' massage room with a deep soaking bathtub for two, a co-ed lounge, and an updated indoor swimming pool, debuting later this summer. Guests will have the opportunity to experience Mind Sync Technology. The state-of-the-art equipment connects to the treatment tables and uses advanced technology to synchronize brainwaves, inducing a deep state of relaxation and mental clarity.

 

• St. Regis Washington, DC (April 2024): A staple of downtown DC since 1926, the historic hotel revealed an extensive redesign and renovation of its guest rooms, suites and select spaces. The 182 newly renovated guestrooms and suites offer spacious layouts and modern interiors. The guestrooms also received full updates to the bathrooms, complete with white and grey marbled vanities. The hotel’s suites have separate seating areas that integrate into the layout of the room designs. The Presidential Suite is the property’s largest, offering 2,510 square feet of space. Guests can utilize the hotel’s signature St. Regis Butler Service across all suite categories.

 

• Capital Hilton (March 2024): The hotel, opened in 1943, has completed a multi-million-dollar renovation to its 559-room property. The 13-month project aims to celebrate grandeur, glam, geometric form and repetitive patterns, bringing elements of the property’s interiors to the guestrooms and corridors. Layering art deco design with the hotel’s brutalist architecture, each new guest room weaves original design with the modern elements needed for today’s travelers. The property boasts an ideal location, just two blocks from The White House.

 

Recently Opened:

• The Westin Washington, DC Downtown (October 2023): The former Renaissance Washington, DC near Mount Vernon Square has undergone a nearly $80 million brand conversion, revealing a sophisticated, contemporary, warm and inviting property under the Westin flag. The 807-room hotel puts wellbeing at the forefront with all-encompassing health and wellness experiences, including the largest hotel fitness studio in the city, Peloton suites and the local RunWESTIN® program. The property also features modern meeting spaces and workstations, as well as Root and Vine, an open-kitchen concept with locally sourced menus, botanical-inspired cocktails and a biodynamic wine program.

 

• Royal Sonesta Washington, DC – Capitol Hill (September 2023): Located near Union Station, the city’s second Royal Sonesta became the first new hotel to open on the Hill since 1984. Part of a mixed-use complex that will include retail and office space, the 274-room upscale hotel embodies green, wellness and tech-forward design through LEED Gold certification and a WELL certified core. Features include a sweeping glass façade, 10-story atrium, vegetated green roof, state-of-the-art yoga studio and the city’s second Bistro Du Jour, an all-day Parisian bistro from locally acclaimed restaurant group Knead Hospitality + Design. The building offers rooftop and conference space with breathtaking views of iconic landmarks.

 

• Washington Marriott Capitol Hill (January 2023): A dazzling new Marriott property is part of a mixed-use project coined NoMa CNTR. Features of the 235-room hotel include a glass-enclosed two-story lobby, a large ballroom, an outdoor terrace, onsite restaurant with indoor and outdoor dining, rooftop bar and event space, fitness facilities and Marriott’s M Club.

 

Opening in 2025 and Beyond:

• The James (2025): From Royal Sonesta comes a high-end lifestyle option in top urban and resort destination markets. The James DC, a brand conversion from the current Royal Sonesta Dupont Circle, will be one of three properties nationwide under this flag. The James brand caters to both visitors and local guests, offering a unique experience and destination-worthy beverage and food.

 

• Tribute Portfolio Georgetown (2025): A five-story former office building will be combined with adjacent townhouses to create a 106-key property expected to be flagged under Marriott’s Tribute portfolio.

 

•  CitizenM Georgetown (2025): Just east of picturesque Key Bridge, along the Georgetown waterfront, the Netherlands-based chain plans to open its third property in DC. A 100-year-old building will be expanded, renovated and converted into a stylish 230-room, seven-story hotel.

 

• Moxy Hotel Southwest (2025): Situated on one of the last development sites between Nationals Park and Audi Field, the 163-key hotel will be part of a mixed-use property with residential, rooftop views and a farmers' market.

 

• MOB Hotel (2026): A stylish Paris-based chain by design team lead Philippe Starck is expected to open its first North American hotel in DC’s Union Market area. The brand embraces neighborhood culture and programs, art talks and regular concerts in its lobbies. The hotel will feature 144 rooms and rooftop views of the U.S. Capitol, along with live music, a cinema, restaurant and bar.

 

• Avid Downtown (2027): The first Avid Hotel in DC is in the proposal stage. Part of IHG Hotels & Resorts, Avid is a midscale modern-design brand focused on sound sleep, good value and complimentary breakfast.

 

Trendy Hotel Restaurants and Rooftops

Summer offers the perfect time to appreciate the beautifully decorated patios of DC’s most charming hotels. The Hotel Monaco’s Dirty Habit, known for its winter chalets, offers a seasonal pop-up: Riviera. It’s tough to top the terrace for an alfresco lunch at Café du Parc at the Willard InterContinental or the sunken garden at the Park Hyatt’s chic Blue Duck Tavern. From its signature black and white chairs, take in views of Lafayette Square from French brasserie Opaline at the Sofitel.

 

For monumental views from above, take the elevator to one of DC’s nearly 30 new rooftop experiences in the last five years. Underscoring the notion “there’s only one DC,” the city’s height restrictions ensure each establishment boasts an iconic backdrop.

 

Put simply, the most buzzworthy rooftops in the city are often atop its trendiest hotels. The newest addition, Sushi by Bou, opened in April at the citizenM Washington, DC Capitol. Embodying the lively spirit of the underground disco era, the popular micro restaurant concept of the same name serves its signature high-quality omakase menu.

 

In the burgeoning NoMa neighborhood, the new Treehouse Rooftop tops the Hotel Nell – Union Market – an homage to the building’s history as a seed factory. Upstairs at the Morrow, Nicholas Stefanelli invites guests with a Summer Roses spritz. Also consider Yara on the top floor of the Washington Marriott Capitol Hill. Diners can enjoy head chef Yuki Nakandakari’s Peruvian street food with a Japanese twist at the marbled bar.

 

For sweeping monumental views and signature cocktails, head to Vue in the Hotel Washington, overlooking the White House and Washington Monument. The updated menu includes a strawberry infused gin-based cocktail called “That Tea is So Fetch.” The YOTEL’s Deck 11, Conrad’s Summit and AC Hotel Washington, DC Capitol Hill’s Smoke and Mirrors overlook the awe-inspiring Capitol dome.

 

For elegant waterfront views, the Pendry’s Moonraker is a stunner, complete with a Japanese-inspired menu. Nearby options include Whiskey Charlie atop the Canopy by Hilton Washington, DC – The Wharf and 12 Stories atop the InterContinental Washington, DC – The Wharf. The Potomac River is also in view from the Graham Rooftop in Georgetown and Top of the Gate at the Watergate Hotel.

 

Instagrammable rooftops include Ciel Social Club at the AC Hotel Washington, DC Convention Center, serving brunch, small plates and Italian-inspired specialty cocktails. Lucha Rosa in the Moxy Hotel is the newest all-season venture from the Atlas Restaurant Group. The agave collection consists of over 130 bottles of tequila and menu offerings include tacos and ceviche.

 

photo credit: Salamander - Washington, DC