Want to take advantage of Hilton Impresario benefits at no extra cost (when paying for your stay with cash), including a room upgrade, free breakfast, a hotel credit, and more? Contact Ford ([email protected]) for more details. He doesn’t charge booking fees, and may even be able to help if you already have a stay booked.
Hilton has a new luxury property. I first wrote about this a few days ago, but wanted to post an update, as standard room award availability has now been loaded.
In this post:
Trump Hotel Washington DC rebrands as Waldorf Astoria
The 263-room Waldorf Astoria Washington DC has opened its doors as of June 1, 2022. Not only is it exciting to have another luxury points property in our nation’s capital, but this property has an interesting backstory.
In November 2021 it was announced that the Trump Hotel in Washington DC would be rebranded as a Waldorf Astoria. Specifically, the Trump Organization had sold the lease for the property for $375 million (the land is owned by the government), and the new owners planned to have the property join Hilton’s most luxurious brand.
As you might expect, there was quite a bit of controversy surrounding the hotel, including the finances. The House Oversight Committee released documents showing that the hotel lost around $70 million while Trump was in office, while Trump claimed that the hotel made more than $150 million in profit.
The Waldorf Astoria is located on Pennsylvania Avenue, in the space of the Old Post Office, which was built between 1892 and 1899. The Trump Hotel initially opened in 2016, so this is still a fairly new property. The Trump Hotel only closed its doors a few weeks ago, so don’t expect any major renovations. Presumably the time was taken to retrain staff, change the branding around the building, etc.
This looks like a great property in terms of the history and “bones” of the building. The room decor is definitely a bit too blingy for my preferences, but the public spaces look great.
Waldorf Astoria Washington DC rates (in cash & points)
What’s pricing like at the new Waldorf Astoria Washington? When the hotel first opened several days ago, pricing was through the roof, with rates being $1,500+ for a standard room most nights. There’s an update on that front — pricing is still high, but not as high as before.
First of all, the hotel now has standard room award availability, and is charging 110,000 Hilton Honors points per night. Right now award availability is loaded for much of the summer and fall, but we’re not seeing much availability beyond that.
You can of course also redeem free night certificates at this property, which can be earned with Hilton’s co-branded credit cards. Since you can often acquire Hilton Honors points for ~0.5 cents each (also what I value them), I consider 110,000 points to be the equivalent of paying $550 per night, including all taxes & fees.
That compares favorably to the cash rates here, which start at $900+ per night including taxes and fees, and on many dates get way higher than that. While that’s steep, this is in line with what the top hotels in the area charge, so I guess for now we should expect rates to stay in this range. Lobbyists have deep pockets, after all…
If you are going to book a paid rate, I’d recommend doing so through the Hilton Impresario program, so you can get extra perks. Ford happy to help with these requests, and can be reached at [email protected].
Bottom line
Late last year it was announced that the Trump Hotel Washington DC would be sold, and that deal has now been finalized. The Waldorf Astoria Washington DC has opened its doors as of June 2022. It looks like not a whole lot has changed about the property other than the branding, which is fair enough, since this is still a fairly new hotel.
The hotel is also now bookable with points for standard free night awards, and paid pricing has also been loaded.
What do you make of the new Waldorf Astoria Washington DC?
I love President Donald J Trump! He has demonstrated unequivocally that he can outsmart the govt at every turn.....those govt parasites can't touch him....he is the ultimate Teflon Donald!
Maybe once its been fumigated I’ll stay there.
Tried to use a Hilton free nite - called just this week, and it was “no standard rooms available” - will there ever be? Dunno.
It’s a nice hotel but $900 for a room in D.C. is pricey.
Trump would be better off selling all his NY real estate holdings as the name has devalued those properties if they are run under the brand. Same with whatever ownership stake he has in any Chicago properties and etc. He still owns most of the parking garages, roof space, and retail space in buildings he developed 20-40 years ago in NYC...
It’s a nice hotel but $900 for a room in D.C. is pricey.
Trump would be better off selling all his NY real estate holdings as the name has devalued those properties if they are run under the brand. Same with whatever ownership stake he has in any Chicago properties and etc. He still owns most of the parking garages, roof space, and retail space in buildings he developed 20-40 years ago in NYC and sold.
Florida and other states with majority populations that support actual freedom are a better bet. Let him put $1 billion in index funds and continue his golf course building in those states. Trump proved to be incompetent, failed to give orders, and wasted 4 years tweeting as he was incapable of implementing any strategy. He’s a big talker who proved he can’t back it up. Still, he can make money in real estate if his kids manage everything. Again, he is cognitively impaired and incapable of making decisions.
I used to be by this building a lot when it was the Old Post Office building and the public areas were more a shopping center than anything.
I’ll likely return now that it’s a Hilton property, but I won’t be staying there if I am facing a nightly accommodation cost at such high rates as $800+.
Amex FHR is offering "third night free" here which softens the blow a bit/brings it more in line with the Rosewood or Four Seasons if staying three nights.
The price is outrageous. I wouldn't ever stay at a Trump property -- made that decision long before he moved into 1600; that just reinforced it -- and as a Hilton Diamond member, I won't be staying at the WA either...certainly not at those prices/redemptions.
Just because you can't afford it, doesn't make it outrageous.
Live a little Jason.
@Jason - You are 100% correct.
DC already has too many high-end properties, and with these rates at the WA, good luck, Hilton.
On visits to Washington, I always thought about trying the Trump hotel but always seemed to end up at the Willard instead. As I recall, the last time was about $450 per night. I'm certainly not paying $1,000+ for the Waldorf.
*Nobody* is paying $1,000 for the Waldorf…
Is there an executive lounge for breakfast and evening drinks and snacks? At that price there better be or has Hilton's cheapskate management done away with that as well?
What difference does it make? You spend $1,500 a night and looking for a place to get free wine?
Plenty of nice places in town for under $500 a night. The extra $1,000 would buy you caviar breakfast for the extended family.
@Crosscourt - No, there is no EL here.
Unless I am assured that a thorough fumigation/dininfection regime has been carried out for the very infectious MAGA virus, and a number of multi-denominational exorcisms too, I would not stay at this place irrespective of costs.
Some stains can never be removed.
Definitely MUCH higher prices than the days as Trump Hotel.
Had pleasure of attending a fundraiser dinner and staying there in late 2016, and a chance to see (then) President-elect Trump. I'm wondering how would this place stack up under Hilton management.
If they want federal government business then they need to be able to offer B&B rates @£500 per night which is the current cap in DC and £575 in NYC rest of the US is capped at £450. These rates are pretty standard across most diplomatic overseas missions working in the US.
£ or $
This is indeed a very high nightly rate for a DC luxury hotel. The market has been hit particularly hard by the pandemic, and it's been easy to stay at a 5-star hotel for under $500 lately (The Jefferson, 4S, Hay-Adams, St. Regis, Rosewood, etc.) Even before the pandemic, there were no hotels consistently charging above $800/nt. in DC.
Well this it could help me with Hilton Lifetime Diamond & Paying with the Hilton Aspire Card.
Right now I am looking at $3104 for a 3 night stay plus tax that’s a total of $3568. So for base points paying with Aspire Card that’s 31,040 + 49,952 = 80,992 Hilton base points that count towards the 2 Million requirement.
It’s going to be the greatest Waldorf Astoria the world has ever seen. Never been done before. And it’s all thanks to #45 and #47 President of the United States.
Happy pride month to the 99.6% OMAATers. Wonderful people. Just like the Spaniards who invented the taco salad.
Amen
AOC for #47.
The jokes on you.
@Eskimo
AOC 50 to 1. Creepy Joe is down to 4 to 1. I got him at 5 to 1
Go ahead and try your open carry (likely compensating for something...) in the lobby...won't go so well.
Can you reach out to Hilton Corporate and make them aware about the Award Game they Are playing?
Good luck with that, considering that we are talking about a luxury hotel with a very interesting history and a reat location in the nation's capital and seat of power, which has been open for business for barely a day...
@Will
I wouldn’t shell out that kind of HH points unless it was the grand reopening of the Waldorf Astoria NYC.
I work across the street and have no doubt, this hotel will be hottest property in Washington. It's gorgeous, sits between the WH and the Hill, and will be a hangout for the lobbyists/international set. I expect this hotel will eventually rival the Four Seasons in Georgetown as the new see and be seen spot.
I still think the Hay Adams is the best, though this is nice for sure.
I live in the area too, but at least for the time being I think most people will still avoid the property for political reasons.
Because we can't go around having hotels owned or named after racist, wealthy, republican politicians. Waldorf Astoria definitely doesn't fit that category.
(He wasn’t really wealthy)
Jared's probably now richer since the Saudis gave him $2B to play around with...no quid pro quo whatsoever, nope!
Whose that
@UA-NYC
This hotel looks like it's starting/asking high and trying to figure out where it can settle in terms of rates. For those looking for high-end Hilton properties in D.C., the Conrad Washington DC is nice.
Is this the same hotel that the thrice-married multiple-bankrupt morally-degenerate bible-wielding “Christian-conservative” President spermed all over a porn star? Or was that a different hotel?
Only democratic presidents in the white house do that.
At least that "degenerate" didn't start any wars, he kept the border secure, gas was under $2/gallon, mom's (both male and female) could buy formula for their infants, store shelves were stocked and you didn't need to take out a second mortgage to buy groceries, our adversaries where kept in check, and our 401K's looked much healthier.
Things are going great under the Democrat Presidency. Nothing to complain about.
Living proof that ignorance is bliss.
David, don't pretend to be obtuse. It's not a good look.
Quit blaming democrats. So much of this is because of the pandemic which Trump did nothing about. Don’t be an ignorant uneducated idiot. Learn economics. Supply and demand and idiot REPUBLICAN asshole Texas governor Abbott wouldn’t allow truckers through at Mexican border. Learn to read (and quit watching Fox) and you’ll understand what’s happening.
Adversaries "where" kept in check as Trump diminished NATO and thus his fascist buddy Putin felt warm fuzzies....less so once 46 took office, thus the invasion.
Helps to have half a brain, cuck.
You need help Sir
Are they going to rename the Ivanka suite?
Yes, it will be called “The Warm Dewy Cavern of Corruption” suite.
Old Willy sounds a bit bitter.
Chill Willy.
And @Big Al sounds more than a little umm.... Republican/MAGA.
Affirm old boy.
Presume that's illegal in this country these days?
Difference of opinion i mean.