WASHINGTON, DC—International real estate developer Euro Capital Properties has appointed Johnny So as managing director of The Watergate Hotel, which will reopen this summer following an extensive $125-million renovation.
The Watergate Hotel will offer 340 guestrooms, including five Diplomat Suites, 24 premier suites and two Presidential Suites, as well as 27,000 sq. ft. of meeting and event space, including a new ballroom and 10,000 sq. ft. of outdoor terraces overlooking the Potomac River.
Under the ownership of Euro Capital Properties, the hotel will feature select interiors by designer Ron Arad, along with sculptural furnishings from Italian designer Moroso. The hotel will also include a whiskey bar and rooftop with 360-degree views, in addition to a spa and fitness facility complete with an indoor pool.
“We are pleased to have Johnny join our team as our managing director. He will play a pivotal role in ushering in a new era of luxury for one of the most iconic hotels in American history,” said Jacques Cohen, principal, Euro Capital Properties. “With his expertise in hotel operations, employee development, budget control and revenue enhancement, he will surely be a valuable asset to our management team.”
Most recently, So was the general manager at the St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort in Dana Point, CA, where he resided for the past decade. Prior to his tenure at the St. Regis, So was VP and general manager at the Grand Wailea Resort in Maui, HI, and the La Quinta and PGA West Resorts in La Quinta, CA; and VP, hotel operations at the Desert Inn in Las Vegas. He began his hospitality career in 1978 as an assistant food & beverage director for Intercontinental Hotel Maui, and then transitioned to Loews Hotels where he held positions as food & beverage manager, resident manager and general manager.
“It is an honor to be a part of such a distinguished property,” said So. “I look forward to working together with the team to develop intriguing and refined experiences, catering to the world’s most discerning leisure and business travelers in Washington, DC.”