HotelChatter - Tag: Historic Hotels http://www.hotelchatter.com/ Hotel Reviews, Hotel Ratings, Hotel Openings en-us Copyright 2008 - SFO Media 2012-02-14T18:50:34Z HotelChatter HotelChatter HotelChatter http://www.hotelchatter.com/images/hcwhite.jpg http://www.hotelchatter.com/tag/Historic%20Hotels Washington : Trump DC Will Open Across The Street From The White House http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2012/2/8/81215/85970 <![CDATA[<p><img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/61268/OldPostOfficeWashington.JPG" class="top"><p>It was announced this morning that, after much consideration, <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/tag/Trump%20Hotels"><b>Trump</b></a> will be the one to revive DC's floundering architectural relic, the Old Post Office, by <b>turning it into a 250-room hotel</b>. According to the <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/capitalbusiness/trump-to-turn-old-post-office-into-luxury-hotel/2012/02/07/gIQAlS9gxQ_story.html"><i>Washington Post</i></a>, quite a few investors and developers (including <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/tag/Hilton%20Hotels"><b>Hilton</b></a>) had their eye on the building, which dates back to the 1890s. <p>Though Trump and his daughter Ivanka have plans to do it up Trump-style (think wall mosaics, <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2012/1/3/94755/41185/hotels/Trump_Takes_Toronto_in_Typical_Trumponian_Technique">temperature-controlled</a> chocolate labs, <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2012/2/6/74135/25462/hotels/Inside_a_Room_at_Trump_Ocean_Club_in_Panama">Louis Vuitton-inspired</a> wine bars), the plan&#151;for now, at least&#151;is actually to preserve the hotel's heritage. <p>"I think <b>the historic facade of the building will be the greatest signage of all</b>," Ivanka told journalists yesterday. Because, as we all ASchechter 2012-02-08T08:41:32-05:00 New York: Before the Empire State Building, There Was a Hotel at 5th Avenue and 34th Street http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2012/2/7/11510/16716 <![CDATA[<P><img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/6193/WAhotel34.jpg" class="top"> <P>Here's a fun fact for today: <b>Did you know that the original Waldorf-Astoria Hotel was in the spot where the Empire State Building now stands?</b> It's true! The first version of the ritzy hotel was a combination of the Waldorf and the Astoria Hotels at 5th Avenue and 33rd/34th Streets, which stood and welcomed the most well-heeled guests from 1893 to 1929, when it was knocked down to begin the skyscraper ESB we now know and love. <P>You won't hear much about that first building of some 1,300 rooms (with bidets) unless you pick a nice documentary from your Netflix queue; we recommend "Modern Marvels: The Empire State Building." <P>Of course, history is history and we all JetSetCD 2012-02-07T11:25:15-05:00 New York: The Veil Has Been Lifted From Waldorf-Astoria's Presidential Suite. Now What? http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2012/2/7/13545/51483

Barring the possibility that you're a former President—or that you don't mind spending $10,000/night—then you've likely never caught a glimpse of the Waldorf-Astoria's Presidential Suite. Why? Because until recently, the hotel has never allowed photography inside the suite.

Lucky for us, the NY Daily News has taken on the oppressive task of video touring the entire space—from gleaming top (the crystal chandelier in the master bedroom) to well-polished bottom (the black-and-white tiled bathroom floor).

Now, the goods are out in the open for all to see. So, what do you think?]]> ASchechter 2012-02-07T09:20:01-05:00 Taos: Like Staying In A Museum (In A Good Way): Inside the Mabel Dodge Luhan House, Taos http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2012/1/31/93830/7839 <![CDATA[<p><img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/21888/mabeldodgeluhanfront.jpg" class="top"><p> <p><strong>If you&#146;re going to northern New Mexico and you have any kind of artistic or cultural sensibilities, you need to stay at the Mabel Dodge Luhan house.</strong> As the name would suggest, it&#146;s the former home of Mabel Dodge Luhan &#150; who was not only a writer, but a facilitator and gatherer of art in Taos. This is where pretty much anyone literary or artistic who&#146;s traveled to New Mexico has stayed. <strong>DH Lawrence spent loads of time here,</strong> and even painted the windows of one of the bathrooms with bright murals (today, some rooms still have access to that bathroom). <strong>Georgia O&#146;Keefe, Ansel Adams, Dennis Hopper, Carl Jung </strong>&#150; the list of illustrious guests is long juliab 2012-01-31T13:48:26-05:00 Miami Beach: The National Hotel Miami is Getting a Little Work Done http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2012/1/23/123329/956 <![CDATA[<p><img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/30451/NationalHC.jpg" class="top"><p><b>** UPDATE: We hear from the National's PR reps that the Airstream is no longer part of the renovation plans. Sounds like the Preservation Board nixed those plans after all. But the backyard kitchen is getting a reno--with a new sundeck for daybeds on top--so that's something.</b><p> As you can see from our snapshot, Miami's <a href='http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel/local/2799'><strong>National Hotel</strong></a> is getting a little top-work done. Perhaps in an effort to keep up with the Joneses--or, on this stretch of Collins Ave, with next-door neighbor <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/Delano+Hotel/local/16"><strong>Delano</strong></a>, the newly glammed-up <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/Shelborne+Beach+Resort/local/2624"><strong>Shelborne</strong></a> and the soon-to-open <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/The+SLS+Hotel+at+South+Beach/local/4744"><strong>SLS South Beach</strong></a>?<p> As an historic property, the National has to adhere to restoration preservation guidelines and it's from the Miami Beach Preservation Board's MsRebecca 2012-01-23T13:06:57-05:00 Search HotelChatter Search HotelChatter string http://www.hotelchatter.com/search/