The Fairfax at Embassy Row
| The Fairfax at Embassy Row | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Hotel chain | Starwood Hotels |
| General information | |
| Location | Washington, D.C., United States |
| Address | 2100 Massachusetts Avenue |
| Coordinates | 38°54′38″N 77°2′50″W / 38.91056°N 77.04722°WCoordinates: 38°54′38″N 77°2′50″W / 38.91056°N 77.04722°W |
| Opening | 1927 |
| Owner | Pyramid Advisors LLC |
| Management | Starwood Hotels |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 8 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | B. Stanley Simmons |
| Other information | |
| Number of rooms | 259 |
| Number of restaurants | 2 |
| Website | |
| www.fairfaxhoteldc.com | |
The Fairfax at Embassy Row is a historic luxury hotel located at 2100 Massachusetts Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., in the United States. The Fairfax is designated as a contributing property to the Dupont Circle Historic District and the Massachusetts Avenue Historic District.
About the hotel
Built in 1927 to designs by architect B. Stanley Simmons, the hotel was originally known as The Fairfax. It operated as a combination transient/residential hotel and was the home of numerous government figures. Perhaps the most notable resident was Al Gore, whose father Albert Gore, Sr. was a senator from Tennessee. The hotel was owned at the time by Gore Sr.'s cousin, Grady Gore.[1] The Jockey Club, one of the city's most famous bars for the rich and politically powerful, was located in the hotel.[2]
The hotel was later renamed the Ritz-Carlton Washington, D.C. The Ritz-Carlton went bankrupt in 1986, which lasted until 1988.[3] Ritz-Carlton and the hotel's owner (Saudi Arabian Sheik Abdul Aziz bin Ibrahim)[2] argued over how much the management company should be paid to run the hotel, and the bitter dispute lasted two years.[4] In August 1997, the Ritz-Carlton organization terminated its management contract with the owner. ITT Sheraton Luxury Collection began managing the property later that month.[4][5] After ITT Sheraton was bought by Starwood, the hotel was renamed the Westin Fairfax, and then the Westin Embassy Row.[2]
In January 2006, Pyramid Advisors LLC purchased Westin Embassy Row for an undisclosed sum.[6] The name of the hotel was then changed to the Fairfax at Embassy Row in November 2008.[2]
Pyramid closed the hotel in 2007, and spent $27.1 million renovating the hotel. The renovation included the Jockey Club restaurant, the Fairfax Lounge, and all meeting room spaces. The hotel reopened in November 2008.[7] Although the hotel is managed by Pyramid Hotel Group, it is branded a Starwood Luxury hotel. As of 2012, the hotel had 259 suites, a fitness center, and bar but no swimming pool.[8]
Rating
The AAA gave the Fairfax at Embassy Row four diamonds out of five in 2009. The hotel has maintained that rating every year, and received four diamonds again for 2014.[9] Forbes Travel Guide (formerly known as Mobil Guide) awarded the hotel four out of five stars as well in 2014.[10]
References
- ↑ Maraniss, David; Nakashima, Ellen (October 10, 1999). "Al Gore, Growing Up in Two Worlds". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Brancatelli, Joe (November 25, 2008). "Business Travel: Hotel Reflaggings". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 9, 2014.
- ↑ Walsh, Sharon Warren (March 14, 1988). "Too Much Room at Inns Results in Hotels Industry Shakeout". The Washington Post. p. BF1.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Reath, Viki (August 15, 1997). "Sheraton Takeover Could Bring Back the Fairfax Hotel". The Washington Times.
- ↑ Deady, Tim (October 13, 1997). "Ritz-Carlton Eyes D.C. Sites". Washington Business Journal. Retrieved October 9, 2014.
- ↑ "Pyramid Purchase". Boston Business Journal. March 20, 2006. Retrieved October 9, 2014.
- ↑ Plumb, Tierney (November 19, 2008). "Fairfax at Embassy Row Reopens". Washington Business Journal. Retrieved October 9, 2014.
- ↑ Fodor's 2012 Washington, D.C. New York: Fodor's Travel Publishing. 2012. p. 253. ISBN 9780679009498.
- ↑ American Automobile Association (January 17, 2014). AAA/CAA Four Diamond Hotels (PDF) (Report). p. 7. Retrieved October 7, 2014.
- ↑ "The 2014 Forbes Travel Guide Star Award Winners". Forbes Travel Guide. January 22, 2014. Retrieved October 7, 2014.