The new Waldorf Astoria inside Washington, D.C., formerly Trump International

The nation’s capital has a new Waldorf Astoria, and it’s everything luxury guests can hope for. Located on Pennsylvania Avenue, just a few blocks from the White House and housed in the former post office building and clock tower, it is central and historic, one of the reasons Hilton decided to locate the luxury brand in Washington. , DC.

“Washington, DC is an amazing place and we are excited to expand our presence in the nation’s capital. Waldorf Astoria properties have a unique sense of place, and the impressive design of the former Washington Post Office, combined with its incredible legacy, creates an unforgettable experience,” shares hotel general manager Senih Gerai, highlighting the penthouses and doors. of the hotel’s original woodwork. historic property. in the rooms, as well as the opportunity to visit the clock tower of the former post office, recently opened and operated by the National Park Service.

The hotel was sold in May to CGI Merchant Group for $375 million, which took over the lease and turned it into Hilton’s famous luxury brand, the Waldorf Astoria. According to the Washington Business Journal, it is the best-selling hotel in Washington, DC, with room sales totaling $1.43 million per room.

Upon entering the lobby, guests will notice the ornate metal supports that support the hotel. Built between 1892 and 1899, it was the headquarters of the US Post Office and the DC Post Office. Nancy Hanks (second president of the National Endowment for the Arts) fought to destroy the hotel, just as Jackie Kennedy fought to destroy New York’s Grand Central Station in 1975. Old Post was added to the National Register. Historic Sites in 1973.

Rooms range from $675 to $26,700 a night (the Waldorf Townhouse Suite is the most expensive). The King Bed Room is 390 square feet, spacious and luxurious. A Junior Suite with 1 King Bed starts at $1,862 per night, offers city views and quintessential classic decor. The one-bedroom Capitol Suite is 1,645 square feet and features two marble bathrooms, a very large living room with an end table, and a large bedroom with a ceiling-mounted four-poster bed. The One Bedroom Franklin Suite, One Bedroom Presidential Suite and Waldorf Townhouse Suite all live up to the luxury standards of the Waldorf Astoria. Some rooms have dark or white wood paneling, and all rooms have a Nespresso machine, whirlpool tubs, bathrobes, electric drapes and drapes, safes, and clothes steamers.

“As we enter the Washington, DC market, our goal is to be the epicenter of the social scene. Clients looking to host a gala or wedding in our ballroom, which is the largest ballroom of any luxury hotel in the city, or residents who simply want to chat with colleagues after work at Peacock Alley, our dining concept. Offering all-day dining and a bespoke cocktail program, we look forward to welcoming travelers and Washington residents alike,” continues Geray.

The former Benjamin Bar & Lounge on the lobby level was remodeled as Peacock Alley when the hotel took over. This is the standard Waldorf Astoria restaurant you see in every hotel, complete with navy blue velvet sofas and lamps. Entrees include a classic Shrimp Cocktail, Miso Ora Salmon and Wagyu Ribeye, plus dessert, a rich and decadent Banana Foster Bread Pudding. With the lights on at night, Peacock Alley is perfect for an after-work drink at the Mammoth Bar or a romantic dinner.

This year, Bazar, from the José Andrés restaurant chain, arrives. The acclaimed D.C.-based Spanish chef owns other restaurants in Washington, including Jaleo, Zaytinya, Oyamel Cocina, and China Chilcanco. The chef announced in June twitterAnyway, the restaurant has been under construction for a long time. When it was the Trump International Hotel, Andrés was supposed to open a Spanish restaurant at the hotel, but it failed after then-President Donald Trump made negative comments about immigrants and Andrés left. The chef, an immigrant from Spain, later said that “the perception that Trump’s statements were anti-Hispanic made it very difficult to hire the right Spanish restaurant staff to attract the necessary number of Spanish food customers to a company.” .” Andre’s game led to a $10 million lawsuit by the Trump Organization. The lawsuit was settled out of court in 2017.

Regarding the collaboration with Andrés, Geray continues: “We continue that tradition with exciting food and beverage concepts at Waldorf Astoria Washington DC, including José Andrés Market, which reflects fine dining, artistic service and creativity. We are honored to work with José Andrés and look forward to sharing more about this partnership in the coming months.

The Waldorf Astoria Spa is a new service for the hotel. Spanning 10,000 square feet, it includes a ceiling-to-floor waterfall in the living room. Treatments range from massages, facials, body and detox sessions to salt therapy. “We introduce our first spa in the nation’s capital to our Hilton portfolio, with six rejuvenating treatment rooms, including a couples suite and a Himalayan salt therapy room,” said Gerey.

The previous owner, Trump, leased the former post office in 2013 to the US General Services Administration, a government agency, through a defunct trust. Because the US government owns the property, DJT Holdings Ltd., Trump’s company that obtained the lease, agreed to pay rent of $250,000 a month, with annual increases tied to the price index at the time.

In mid-2014, the Trump Organization began a $200 million renovation of the former post office, transforming it into the Trump International Hotel DC. During the Trump presidency, the hotel was a bastion of excitement; Many conservative groups in particular remained on the property and organized events. But like many things with COVID, the hotel’s traffic has slowed and the Trump Organization started talking about selling it in 2019. After selling the property in May, Hilton quickly renamed it without making too many design changes.

Geray insists that staff is one of the main things that make a hotel stand out at the Hilton. What really sets our hotel apart from our DC area properties is our service,” says Gerey. “Through our dedicated staff members and dedicated personal concierges, our sincerely elegant service provides guests with an unparalleled refined and personalized experience from the moment they write their guestbook to departure.