WASHINGTON D.C. HOTEL BUSINESS. has learned that the existing Hotel Sofitel, located here on Connecticut Ave., is up for sale in a transaction that is scheduled to close some time in the next few months.
When the sale of the 144-room hotel closes, according to David Snell, vp/development for Accor Lodging North America, parent company of the Sofitel brand, Accor will give up management of the property, and it will no longer fly the Sofitel flag.
Accor, however, will maintain Sofitel s presence in the D.C. market with a new 237-room Sofitel hotel located within the city s financial district, and a short walk from the convention center, as previously reported by HOTEL BUSINESS..
The new property the Sofitel Washington D.C. Shoreham slated to open in January 2002, “is an adaptive reuse of a 1920 s office building and is consistent with new Sofitel development projects,” according to Snell. Accor is converting the Shoreham Building, which previously served as office space, into a five-star Sofitel hotel.
The new Sofitel will feature 6,000 square feet of meeting space, a French restaurant and lobby/lounge bar, and health club. According to Snell, Sofitel s “new generation of guestroom design with four-fixture baths and marble vanities” will be found at the new property. (3/23/01) Kelly Wayne