Historic Omni Shoreham Hotel Renovation Unveiled

Classic Luxury Hotel Enhances Guest Rooms, Suites and Renowned Regency Ballroom

WASHINGTON, DC, September 4, 2007 – The Omni Shoreham Hotel, which has hosted presidents, world leaders and entertainers since opening in 1930 as one of the premier hotels in our nation’s capital, today announced a multi-phased, multi-million dollar renovation to its 834 luxury guest rooms, suites and signature Regency Ballroom.

The Omni Shoreham is fully updating all of its guest rooms and 23 suites while maintaining its gracious, classic look in keeping with the unique setting of Washington, DC.  The new guest rooms incorporate rich gold and plum colors, accented by fresh spring green touches reminiscent of the beautiful, expansive gardens and Rock Creek Park which borders this urban resort destination.  The new guest rooms include lush bedding, rich cherry tones and granite countertops, creating a luxurious experience for its guests.  Each guest room also contains state-of-the-art technology, including 32-inch flat screen LCD televisions and WiFi connectivity.  Elegant sepia-toned framed photographs of Washington, DC’s most cherished landmarks also emphasize the historic venue.

The 17,130 square-foot famed Regency Ballroom is being renovated with red and gold toned carpet, golden fabric walls, elegant lighting and spectacular crown molding, trimmed in pearl white.  Custom wall panels further enhance the ballroom’s ambiance and acoustics.  The Regency Ballroom’s new custom designed flooring will mirror the room’s spectacular octagon-shaped ceiling.  The new crystal chandeliers will create beautiful lighting in the airy, sophisticated space.

The Regency Ballroom continues to play a central role in the social and business communities of Washington as it has for decades, serving as a venue for well-known performers, business conferences, high-profile events and weddings.  President Franklin Delano Roosevelt held his first inaugural ball at the Omni Shoreham in 1933 and, after that, nearly every Presidential inauguration during the 20th century was marked by a lavish ball in the Regency Ballroom. 

"In redesigning the Regency Ballroom, we forged a delicate balance between historic elements with a modern flair," said Joan Gunawan of the Washington office of Brennan Beer Gorman Monk (BBGM), which is handling the 2007 renovations.  BBGM is a full-service interior design firm ranked among the world’s leading hospitality design firms.  BBGM's design of new and renovated hotels has attracted critical acclaim and won dozens of international awards.
 
"We are extremely proud of the look and feel that this renovation has added to our legendary Hotel, bringing our overall investment to the facility in the past decade to more than $95 million" said Todd Scartozzi, Vice President and Managing Director of the Omni Shoreham Hotel.  "This renovation builds upon the hotel's premier status as a destination." said Scartozzi.  "The enhancements to the Regency Ballroom create another ideal location for important events, a long standing tradition for our hotel in the city."

The guest room portion of the project is expected to be complete by October, 2007, with the final ballroom efforts completed by January, 2008.

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