The Trump International Hotel in the US capital, Washington, closed just last month but reopened Thursday as the Waldorf Astoria. Prices are skyrocketing.
Just a month, the former hotel, owned by the structures of Donald Trump, was absent from the map of American accommodation facilities. The day before, on June 2, it reopened its doors, albeit under a new name: Waldorf Astoria. Considering how quickly the hotel returned to welcoming guests, it is unlikely, experts suggest, that the hotel has undergone many major changes. If anything, photos were published in the reopening news showrooms with decor similar to what it looked like under Trump.
True, accommodation in a renovated grand hotel managed by Hilton, and owned by CGI Merchant Group, cost space money. In the first month after opening, the Waldorf Astoria will cost over $1,000 per night if you pay with cash and not with Hilton Loyalty Points. The cheapest night will cost $1,095.
The hotel’s refurbishment is seen as a big win for Hilton, as the company gained a unique prime location for its ultra-luxury Waldorf brand.
According to local media, Trump’s people profited $100 million from the deal. It did not go unnoticed, however, that members of foreign governments and stakeholders who travel to meetings in Washington too often booked rooms at this particular hotel in the hope of wooing the White House while the Trump administration was in office.
During the pandemic, by the way, hotel occupancy dropped to almost zero.
According to the CGI Merchant Group, the $375 million acquisition of the facility is only a transactional deal, as the facility, a former old post office, is owned by the US Administration.
Recall that the reconstruction of the post office building worth $ 200 million was completed before the Trump presidency. And Trump International opened as a hotel just before the 2016 elections.
The Waldorf Astoria now features 263 rooms and suites, a 900 sq. m. and, most importantly, is located a few steps from the White House.
Perhaps the most notable change made over the past month is the addition of Waldorf hotels’ signature bar, Peacock Alley.
With a transaction value of $375 million, the price per room (there are 263 rooms in the hotel) exceeded $1 million. This is one of the most expensive hotel deals in DC history.