HotelChatter

Hotel Music / W Hotels / Aloft Hotels / Hotel Trends / Hotel News / DC Hotels / Rock n Roll Hotels / → All Tags

Are Hotels Becoming The Next Rock 'n Roll Venues?

Where: 515 15th St Nw [map], WASHINGTON, D.C., United States, 20004

Yesterday, the widely-read indie music blog Stereogum published a second installment of their new "Stereogum x W Hotel Suite Session" video series, which features up-and-coming bands performing at a W Hotel of their choice. No fans, no stage, not even any fancy lighting or effects. Just a regular old rock band taking over a regular old hotel room—and making you wish you could be snuggled up in bed for a front row seat.

But this isn't the first time we've seen this. Back in April, Aloft hotels were running a near identical partnership with Pitchfork called the Video Surveillance Series, where the "footage" was made to look as though it "caught" the bands in action. Same idea, different effect.

And while the trend is certainly proving a success, we have to ask: what's going on here? Is this the next generation of live music? Will bands eventually give up on the traditional venues and just embark on national chain hotel tours?

more ›

Twitter / Hotel Snapshots / Hotel Cookies / Hotel Food / Holiday Hotels / DC Hotels / Celebrity Scoop / Conan O'Brien / Hotel Amenities / Hotel Gifts / → All Tags

Twitpic Of The Week: Look What Conan O'Brien Found In His Hotel Room

There is one particular trend @HotelChatter happens to quite enjoy: candid hotel photos. These pics range from stunning views to anti-views to celebrity tomfoolery and everything in between. And we can't get enough of 'em! Every Monday, we commemorate our favorite hotel-themed snapshot du semaine. Got a favorite of your own? Want to show off your sweet suite? Send it in!

We don't know quite what to make of this photo @ConanOBrien tweeted from his DC hotel room yesterday. On the one hand, we're happy that he was greeted by such a thoughtful, though slightly bizarre, gesture. On the other, we're a little jealous. Seriously, a phallic cookie? With frosting? Normally, we count ourselves lucky just to get a few apples when we check in. Ah, life at the top...

more ›

Thanksgiving Hotels / W Hotels / DC Hotels / Obama Hotels / POTUS Hotels / Animal Hotels / → All Tags

Obama Receives A Special Guest From The W Hotel. Again.

Where: 515 15th St Nw [map], Washington, DC, United States, 20004

For the second year in a row, the W Washington DC graciously offered to host the lucky turkey that had been spared his 400°F fate. The turkey traveled from Pennsylvania to Washington DC in order to get pardoned by the President himself, and while in town, got to spend the night at the hotel. Pet-friendly amenities and all.

A custom room was offered up to the turkey, including: added sawdust on the floor as well as a W-branded "munchie box" filled with soy, corn and cranberries. Wow, they really step it up for these birds! We can't remember the last time a hotel modified its regular room service menu options for us. Though we're pretty sure it involved some sort of extra fee.

more ›

W Hotels / Dominique Strauss-Kahn / Hotel Sex / Prostitutes / Hotel Scandals / DC Hotels / → All Tags

DSK's Own Version of Whatever, Whenever at the W DC

Where: 515 15th St Nw [map], Washington, DC, United States, 20004

While a porno spoof based on the life and trials of Dominique Strauss-Kahn seeks donations for filming, we think we may have a good location suggestion for the shoot--The W D.C. where DSK allegedly shacked up with a $500-a night prostitute, according to a new report in a French paper.

Apparently, DSK flew a Belgian hooker to the U.S. to accompany him on the job while he was head of the International Monetary Fund. And now one of the girls is talking. In an interview with Nord Eclair, the girl spoke of flying to DC in January of 2010, posing as DSK's "assistant."

more ›

POTUS Hotels / White House / DC Hotels / Virginia Hotels / Ritz Carlton Hotels / Hotel Jobs / → All Tags

Angella Reid Says Bye-Bye Ritz Carlton, Hello White House

Where: 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW [map], Washington, D.C., United States, 20500

Almost three years ago, America welcomed its first black president. This week, history was made again when the White House hired its first-ever female Chief Usher, Angella Reid.

OK, fine, not quite as ground-breaking as Obama's inauguration. But still! One small step...yada yada. Reid will leave her post as general manager of the Ritz Carlton Pentagon City to take over the coveted position, which entails housekeeping duties like property inventory, state dinners, and Inauguration Day house moves. That last one's gotta be a doozy—moving the president isn't exactly your standard U-Haul by-the-hour operation!

Two decades of work for the Ritz Carlton brand (at properties in Miami, New York, D.C., and Rocky Hill, CT) should have prepared Reid for the role, which former Chief Usher Gary Walters told C-Span is "not always easy".

more ›

Mobile Booking Apps / HotelTonight / Hotel Deals / Last-Minute Hotel Deals / Manhattan Hotels / Boston Hotels / San Francisco Hotels / DC Hotels / → All Tags

HotelTonight Bounces Back With New String of 'Getaway' Destinations

Hey Boston, wanna go here?

Amidst all the talk about Priceline's new last-minute mobile booking feature, Tonight-Only Deals, comes an announcement that rival HotelTonight will be adding new "getaway" destinations for four major cities. This should be particularly gratifying to those who feel slighted by the ever-soaring rates afflicting key cities like New York and San Francisco.

Under the listings for each of the four cities (Boston, San Francisco, New York and DC), you'll now find a separate listing for that city's "getaway" destinations. Want to go antiquing in Martha's Vineyard? No problem. Been itching to go wine tasting in Sonoma? Now's the time. Ready to shut out the world in a lodge in Coastal Maine? Done. These tucked-away spots are an over-worked, stressed-out city dweller's dream come true—mostly because they take the far-off fantasy of wanting to 'just get away for a night' and make it a solid reality.

OK, Priceline. Your move.

more ›

HotelChatter Questions / DC Hotels / Thompson Hotels / W Hotels / Affinia Hotels / → All Tags

DC Hotel Help: Where To Send A Stylish Teacher This Weekend

Where: 1155 14th St NW [map], Washington, DC, United States, 20005

Donovan House

HotelChatter Questions: In which, the intrepid HotelChatter editors and our hotel maven readers answer hotel questions that pop into our inbox. Have a question for us? Send it along. Think you have a better answer than we gave, or better yet, want to give a vote of confidence to our answer? Comment away below.

As hotel geeks we understand the concept of being teacher’s pet at school, which is why, this week, we’re helping out a teacher reader who’s looking for a hotel in Washington, DC. He writes:

I'm going to DC this weekend for Teach For America's 20th anniversary event. If anyone decides to annihilate DC off the map this weekend, this country is sh-t out of luck on the public education/social justice best and brightest front! Might try the Thompson Hotel (Donovan House) there; have you been and do you have a favorite DC hotel?

Yes, sir, indeed we have. We stayed at Donovan House when it was brand new, and we liked it a lot for its comfy beds, stylish digs, Kiehls amenities and, most importantly, its cocoon showers. And, of course, if you meet a lady teacher who gets you all hot under the collar (*Disclaimer: we know neither this reader’s marital status nor his sexual preference), you can smoosh in style at a teacher-friendly price.

Room rates are extremely reasonable, too – they start at $109 this weekend, and include free WiFi if you want to upload some photos to make your students jealous. In fact, the only thing we didn't like about the place, is that there was no view as such - you're looking at the street, and there's not much of interest on that street.

more ›

New Year's Eve Hotels / W Hotels / DC Hotels / Hotel Parties / Hotel Concerts / → All Tags

Doug E. Fresh to Break It Down at The W DC on New Year's Eve

Where: 515 15th St. NW [map], Washington, D.C., United States, 20004

Hip-hop heads who weren't lucky enough to reserve the New Year's Eve package to see Jay-Z at Vegas' Cosmopolitan Resort and Casino have the chance to see an old school performer instead.

Doug E. Fresh will headline the NYE party at the W Washington DC. Maybe he'll even teach you how to Dougie.

Fresh, who was hip-hop's first human beatbox, will tear up the hotel's rooftop party. The P.O.V. bash will also include three DJs, five violin percussionists, an open bar from 8 to 10 p.m., and some gourmet bar bites from Jean-Georges.

more ›

Edition Hotels / Hotel Opening Rates / Hotel Hype / DC Hotels / → All Tags

The Edition D.C. May Cost Around $400 a Night When It Opens in 2014

The Edition DC won't be happening until sometime in 2014 but that doesn't mean we can't start saving our pennies to stay there, does it? And it's a good thing that we start saving pennies one by one now because we're gonna need the time.

According to the Washington City Paper, whose offices would be demolished to make way for the hotel, this is how much staying at Edition DC will cost:

[T]he new Edition hotel would start out at an average per-night rental rate of $411, which would rise to $511 in four years. It would consider as its main competition the Ritz and the Four Seasons, and have no fewer than five bars, a cafe, and a restaurant.

Interesting. Edition blatantly competing with fellow sister-brand, the Ritz-Carlton.

In the meantime, we've got some other Editions to save up for--Istanbul, Barcelona, Mexico City, Bangkok, South Beach and London.

POTUS Hotels / Hotel News / Thanksgiving Hotels / W Hotels / DC Hotels / → All Tags

The W D.C. Spent Thanksgiving With Obama and a Turkey

Where: 515 15th Street NW [map], Washington, D.C., United States, 20004

How was your Turkey Day? Stay at any hotels this holiday weekend? The turkeys pardoned by President Obama did.

That's right. You know all about the Presidential tradition of saving a bird--but did you know that the turkey also gets an all-expenses-paid trip to D.C., complete with a stay at the W Washington D.C.?

In case you missed the pardoning ceremony held in the Rose Garden last week, this year's National Turkey is named Apple, and his feathered friend, Cider. As President Obama explained, the turkeys came from the Foster Farms Wellsford Ranch, just outside of Modesto, California. They made a shortlist and then the "big prize--life."

more ›

Hotel Openings / Hotel News / Virginia Hotels / Renaissance Hotels / DC Hotels / → All Tags

A Renaissance Is Coming To Arlington (A Hotel, That Is)

Where: 2800 South Potomac Ave [map], Arlington, VA, United States, 22202

Whichever way things swing in 2012, one thing's for sure: a new Renaissance is headed D.C. way. Well, a Renaissance Hotel, at any rate. The new hotel, scheduled to open next March or April is actually in Arlington, VA, but conveniently close to Reagan National Airport and just over the Potomac from D.C.

The Renaissance Arlington Capital View Hotel will be LEED-certified and, according to its website, have "the soul of a boutique hotel with the location and amenities suited for business in and around the nation's capital."

more ›

Snapshot / DC Hotels / W Hotels / Hotels Near the White House / Killer View / → All Tags

Spying on the President From The W DC

Where: 515 15th Street NW [map], Washington, DC, United States, 20004

We’ve watched the President of the United States from our hotel bed many a time, but that’s usually via the magic of TV. But on a quick overnight stop in DC on Sunday, we found ourselves spying on the White House from our bedroom at the W Hotel.

Room 1017 of the hotel looked over 15th Street, with the Treasury in the foreground but, behind that, the White House itself. At first we got very excited because the flag was at half mast on Sunday night, but raised to full height on Monday morning so we assumed that it was like the flag on Buckingham Palace and meant that POTUS, FLOTUS and baby OTUSes had come home overnight. But then a DC insider person told us that it only meant that the Treasury had been mourning someone on the Sunday.

more ›