PARSIPPANY, NJ -- 05/02/08 --
Wyndham
Hotels and Resorts today announced the opening of the revitalized
90-room
George Washington Hotel -- A
Wyndham® Historic Hotel in downtown Winchester, Va.
The opening follows a transformational multimillion-dollar restoration of
the five-story building's existing exterior and public spaces that began in
late 2005 and includes the conversion of underutilized hotel areas into an
indoor swimming pool, new kitchen and restaurant, landscaped courtyard and
glass gallery connecting the hotel's two wings.
The hotel is owned by GW Development LLC, which purchased the building in
2003, and operated by Winchester-based CB Hotels.
Built in 1924, the hotel became an icon of elegant service and quality
accommodations playing host to celebrities including Ed Sullivan and boxer
Jack Dempsey.
The renovated George Washington Hotel offers modern comforts including
wired and wireless high-speed Internet access, included at no additional
charge to Wyndham ByRequest®
members; two-line cordless speaker phones; ergonomic Herman Miller® desk
chairs; plush-top mattresses; and suites with baths featuring full-body
sprays and overhead "rain" showerheads.
Highlights include The Dancing Goat restaurant, an exhibition kitchen that
enables diners to watch their gourmet fare prepared; elegant lobby bar with
11-foot murals portraying 1920s jazz club scenes, fireplace, piano and
original 12-foot windows overlooking the historic district; grand ballroom
with twelve opulent chandeliers; and an indoor swimming pool reminiscent of
a Roman bath with stone balustrade, fountains and columns.
The hotel also offers 6,000 square feet of meeting space including two
executive boardrooms, two breakout rooms and outdoor garden. For corporate
meetings and retreats, the hotel can host groups up to 150 and receptions
up to 300. The Grand Ballroom can accommodate 175.
The hotel is in the heart of Winchester's Historic District, within walking
distance of attractions including the Old Court House Civil War Museum, the
Museum of the Shenandoah Valley, George Washington's Office Museum and
Stonewall Jackson's Headquarters Museum.
The George Washington last operated as a hotel in the mid-1970s.
President George Washington came to Winchester in the 1740s as part of a
survey team and worked with pioneers who were mapping the Shenandoah Valley
region of Virginia. He went on to represent Frederick County in the
Legislature of Virginia, of which Winchester was the County Seat. Guests
can see remnants of Fort Loudoun where Washington lived and the office
where he worked as a surveyor and later as a military officer.
The George Washington is the eighth historic property to join the Wyndham
portfolio, which includes the Abraham
Lincoln in Reading, Pa.; Hotel
Galvez and Tremont House in
Galveston, Texas; The Roberts Mayfair
in St. Louis; The St. Anthony in San
Antonio; Union Station in Nashville
and The Whitney http://www.wyndham.com in New Orleans.
Peter Strebel, Wyndham Hotels and Resorts president, said Wyndham historic
hotels are a "very special part of the brand's DNA."
"Wyndham historic properties play a significant role in their local
heritage by maintaining their historic integrity, unique architecture and
ambience," he said. "We are honored to work with the dedicated hotel
staffs who labor tirelessly to preserve the historic roots of some of our
country's most celebrated hotels.
"We proudly welcome the George Washington into our distinguished family of
upscale hotels."
Wyndham Hotels and Resorts, a subsidiary of Wyndham Worldwide Corporation
(NYSE: WYN), offers upscale hotel and resort accommodations throughout the
United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Mexico and the Caribbean. All hotels
are either franchised or managed by Wyndham Hotels and Resorts or an
affiliate. Additional information is available at www.wyndhamworldwide.com.
