HotelChatter - Stories about The Watergate Hotel

Washington: The Infamous Watergate Hotel to Be Auctioned Next Week

KatieK — 2009-07-17T10:40:42-05:00

<![CDATA[<img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/1425/watergate_auction.jpg" class="top"> Uh oh. Theres trouble at the <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/The+Watergate+Hotel/local/602">Watergate Hotel</a>. Again. DCs most famous hotel will be auctioned Tuesday, <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/15/AR2009071503702.html">reports</a> the Washington Post. Ever since the landmark closed to undergo a <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2007/8/7/135356/1283/hotels/Break_In_News_The_Watergate_Hotel_Closes_for_Dramatic_Renovation">dramatic renovation</a>, news from the hotel has been pretty light er, at least because we havent been willing to tiptoe around the place with flashlights. Back in 2007, word was that the place would start accepting guests in late 2009. But last month the hotel received a notice of foreclosure after owning company Monument Realty defaulted on its loan. The Post reports that the notice lists an outstanding $40 million balance on the loan. Whoops? Monument fell victim to terrible timing, it seems: Fallen

U.S. Cities with the Worst Hotel Rate Inflation

Tim L. — 2007-12-04T14:00:47-05:00

<![CDATA[<img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/admin/watergate_renovations.jpg" class="imgborder"> If it feels to you like hotel prices have really gone up a lot this past year, you have probably spent some time in <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotels/city/us/NY/New%20York">New York City</a>, <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/browse/North%20America/us/DC">Washington D.C.</a>, or <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotels/city/us/MA/Boston">Boston</a>. Those are the three markets with the greatest year-over-year uptick in rates since last October, according to the number crunchers at <a href="http://www.smithtravelresearch.com/smithtravelresearch/">Smith Travel Research</a>. Prices in New York have gone up 15.4 percent, to a choke-inducing average room rate of $320.87. Rates in D.C. have risen 12.8 percent (average $171.20) and in Boston they have also risen 12.8 percent (average $182.18). We guess when the <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2007/8/7/135356/1283/hotels/Break_In_News_The_Watergate_Hotel_Closes_for_Dramatic_Renovation">Watergate</a>--pictured here--reopens, we shouldn't call up looking for a bargain. The rest of the top-10

Washington : Break-In News: The Watergate Hotel Closes for 'Dramatic' Renovation

barbarab — 2007-08-07T14:40:09-05:00

<![CDATA[<img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/admin/watergate_renovations.jpg" class="imgborder"/>It's official: <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/The+Watergate+Hotel/local/602">The Watergate Hotel</a> closed last week for a $170 million renovation. Hotel Chatter reported in early June that a major renovation was in the works. At the time, details were nonexistent, except that the hotel's website was only taking renovations through June 30. The hotel ended up staying open through July 30. Details remain sketchy. Michael Darby, principal of Monumental Realty, told The Washington Post that he plans to create a luxury hotel "probably higher-end than any other hotel in Washington." Probably? The website is more emphatic: <blockquote>We are currently undergoing a dramatic renovation and will not be accepting guests again until late 2009. While we are creating the most luxurious hotel in Washington, we

Washington: D.C. Hotel Scene 'Hopping' With Flips, Upgrade, Royalty

barbarab — 2007-06-14T16:00:01-05:00

Easy money and lustful entrepreneurs are transforming the D.C. hotel landscape, reports the Washington Post. (Okay, they didn't call the entrepreneurs lustful. We did.)

The sale of the Hilton Washington, announced late last month, prompted the obligatory hometown paper roundup that includes many of D.C.'s better known properties. The Post describes the scene as "hopping."

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Washington: Break-In News: Watergate Hotel Closing at the End of the Month for Renovations

barbarab — 2007-06-04T14:22:59-05:00

<![CDATA[<img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/admin/watergate_renovations.jpg" class="imgborder"/>[Ed. Note: Hotel Maven <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/user/barbarab">Barbarab</a> has the scoop on this infamous D.C. Hotel.]<a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/The+Watergate+Hotel/local/602">The Watergate Hotel</a> is closing this summer for renovations. Details - how major? how long? -- are sketchy. The hotel's website currently is not taking reservations past June 30. The front desk confirms as much by phone.The hotel, part of the complex known round the world as the scene of the crime that brought down Richard Nixon, nearly closed for good several years ago. In 2004, D.C.-based Monumental Realty acquired the hotel and announced it was converting its 250-some rooms to 100-ish luxury condominiums. The deal fell through after current condominium residents protested. Long a favorite with celebrities, especially artists performing at the nearby