FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 3, 2008

HOTEL UPDATES: RENOVATIONS & OPENINGS

DC's hotels are donning new digs and getting multi-million dollar facelifts just in time for the 2008 presidential elections. Two brands making their DC debut include Affinia Hotels' The Liaison Capitol Hill and Thompson Hotels' Donovan House.

Opening later this month, 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 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 finally arrived in the District. Located on Capitol Hill just steps away from Union Station, The Liaison Capitol Hill features 343 guest rooms including four parlor suites. The hotel also has 10,000 square feet of meeting space able to accommodate from 5 to 500 people providing the latest in audiovisual equipment, high-speed Internet access and complete catering services. The Liaison Capitol Hill is expected to open April 2008, highlighting Affinia standards such as a six-item pillow menu, executive work area in each guest room, the Affinia Fresh and Jet Set Pets programs.

Classic hotels also getting renovations
Built in 1926, the St. Regis Hotel has begun to show off the results of a renovation that's more than a year in the making. Staying true to its 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 will include wireless Internet, Pratesi linens, 32" Plasma televisions, DVD players and personal fax machines. Blending old-fashioned butler service with new technology, the hotel will equip 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 the most luxurious event to an executive round table meeting. Plans are currently under way for a grand re-opening this spring.

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 Four Seasons Washington, D.C., the District's only Mobil five-star property, plans to begin a $34 million renovation shortly. In addition to renovating 62 guest rooms, the plans also call for the creation of ten deluxe suites with marble baths and specialty lighting, along with a new 3,500-square-foot presidential suite with three bedrooms, a gourmet kitchen, fireplace and other amenities. The hotel also plans a complete makeover for Seasons Bar and restaurant and the addition of new on-site retailers, including a chocolate and wine specialty bar.

The historic Hotel Washington is undergoing 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 is currently under renovation and the Hilton Washington is expected to go under the knife in late 2008.

# # #