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Tags: Cute Hotel Doggies / Pet-Friendly Hotels / Pet Concierges / Halloween Hotels / Kimpton Hotels / → All Tags

A Director of Pet Relations Gets Put to 'Work' On Halloween

Where: 480 King Street [map], Alexandria , VA, United States, 22314

More Hotel Halloween Doggies! What more do you want on this Friday afternoon before Halloween? These awesome photos come to us from the Hotel Monaco Alexandria, which held its Howl-o-ween Costume Contest on Thursday. And just to show anyone worried about puppy labor laws that canine concierges do have a chance to clock off and get loose, here is the hotel’s Director of Pet Relations, bichon frise Charlie getting into the Halloween spirit. He’s dressed as chef Derek Simcik from the hotel’s restaurant Jackson 20—right down to the tattoos.

Then there was Scooby, decked out in Oktoberfest lederhosen, who took home the Top Dog award of the evening. (Kudos for hitting two October festive occasions in one, Scoobs!)

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Tags: Hotel Video Tours / DC Hotel Reviews / Kimpton Hotels / Hotel Business Centers / → All Tags

A Worthwhile Hotel Business Center Does Exist in 2009

Where: 481 King Street [map], Alexandria, VA, United States, 22314

Earlier this month we found ourselves on King St. in Alexandria, Virginia and decided to stay the night at the Hotel Monaco Alexandria . Not only did this Hotel Monaco offer a great location and the usual Kimpton chic rooms but staffers also saw to it that our vehicle, which at the time had a U-Haul attached to it, was given premiere parking on the street right outside the hotel. Nice touch.

Want more? There was a community Wii where some guests were engaging in a digital boxing match, a tasty restaurant attached to the lobby, and an actually useful business center.

Hold up. A useful business center in 2009? No such thing right? That is what we thought, however, this small biz center had everything you might need. A web-connected Mac which was running both Windows and OSX and an ATM machine. Take a look at our video to see what we're talking about.

Tags: Hotel Video Tours / Hotel Openings / DC Hotels / Kimpton Hotels / → All Tags

Inside the Lorien Hotel and Spa's Standard Rooms

Where: 1600 King St. [map], Alexandria , VA, United States, 22314

On Friday we unveiled a few photos of Kimpton’s newest hotel, the Lorien Hotel and Spa in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia. All in all, we’re impressed by its, yes, dreamy details, from sweet clawfoot tubs to photography shot by the hotel’s iconic designer, Vincente Wolf. Today, enjoy this video of the hotel's standard guest rooms.

A few things we learned about the place on our tour: Instead of the usual Kimpton happy hour, the Lorien is working out the kinks for an alternative, since the Commonwealth of Virginia apparently prohibits giving booze away for free. Rest assured, the Lorien will be having some sort of convivial social hour, whether it involves drink coupons for use at the tasting room next door or s’mores around the courtyard’s fire pit.

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Skip Inauguration and Hit Lorien Outside D.C. in February

Where: 1600 King St [map], Alexandria, VA, United States, 22314

We've been anticipating the opening of Kimpton's Lorien Hotel & Spa in Old Town Alexandria, VA (right outside of D.C.) for a while now, and it looks like the dreamy-looking "crown jewel" of the D.C. area is set to open up on February 12th (long after the smoke has cleared from all the inauguration chaos).

To celebrate, the 107-room Lorien will feature Old Town Alexandria's first full-service spa, as well as a classic-meets-modern theme in all the rooms (which are decorated in robin's egg blue, gray, and white). The place is supposed to "celebrate the story of dreams" — which, in practice, means goodies like concierges who help dreams come true, and a "Dream Service Menu" packed with comfort foods plus an array of bath, aromatherapy, and pillow options to be brought to your room.

To help keep this dream within reach, the Lorien is offering a Grand Opening discount package until June 30th, which includes:

· 20 percent off the best available rate
· Guaranteed room upgrade
· $20 hotel credit for each night’s stay
· Welcome in-room arrival amenity from celebrated Chef Robert Wiedmaier

You can apply that $20 credit toward spa treatments, room service, dining at one of Chef Wiedmaier’s restaurants (BRABO by Robert Wiedmaier and BRABO Tasting Room) or toward gourmet items at The Butcher's Block (a Market by RW).

Standard room rates start at $279.00, and the Grand Opening package can be booked at Kimpton.com using rate code EMM.

Tags: Hotel Openings / Kimpton Hotels / DC Hotels / → All Tags

The "Dreamy" Lorien Hotel From Kimpton is Opening in February

Where: 1600 King Street [map], Alexandria , VA, United States, 22314

We’ve heard whispers about the new Kimpton hotel coming soon to the Washington, D.C., area, but we’ve now received official word (and an opening date!): the $50-million Lorien Hotel & Spa is set to open Feb. 12, 2009, in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia.

Marketed as Kimpton’s “crown jewel” in the Washington metro area, the 107-room hotel will reportedly “celebrate the story of dreams.” That means perks like a 24-hour “dream” button on guestroom phones, which goes straight to the concierge who can help coordinate the guest’s every happiness, apparently. Plus, a “Dream Service Menu” features comfort foods as well as bath, aromatherapy, and pillow options available via room service.

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