Omni History

Centuries of History at 15 Landmark Destinations, Each With a Story to Tell

From the colonial hot springs of The Omni Homestead Resort to the soaring peaks of Omni Mount Washington and the stone walls of the Omni Grove Park Inn, each property preserves the spirit of our shared history. Step into lobbies that once welcomed presidents, walk hallways alive with architectural brilliance and timeless stories, and experience the timeless hospitality that endures today. These are the places you will remember.

The Omni Homestead Resort | Est. 1766

America's first resort, founded in 1766, has welcomed 24 U.S. presidents and countless dignitaries. Known for its mineral springs and mountain views, The Omni Homestead Resort has defined Southern hospitality for over 250 years.

Omni Bedford Springs Resort | Est. 1796

Nestled in the Allegheny Mountains, Omni Bedford Springs Resort & Spa has welcomed travelers for over 200 years to its eight legendary mineral springs. Often called a “summer White House,” the resort hosted 13 U.S. presidents and remains a celebrated mecca of wellness.

Omni Parker House | Est. 1855

Boston's longest continuously operating hotel, Omni Parker House, is where Charles Dickens took residence and the Boston Cream Pie was invented. For over 160 years, it has welcomed leaders, writers, and visionaries across disciplines.

Omni Bretton Arms | Est. 1896

Originally built as a private summer home, the Omni Bretton Arms later became part of the Mount Washington estate. Its intimate charm and award-winning dining complement the resort's historic legacy.

Omni Mount Washington Resort | Est. 1902

Famous for being the site of the 1944 Bretton Woods Conference, this New Hampshire resort played a pivotal role in shaping the post-war global financial system. Its mountain setting offers year-round adventure and historic grandeur.

Omni King Edward | Est. 1903

Toronto's first luxury hotel, "The King Eddy," has hosted royalty, celebrities and dignitaries since 1903. Its grandeur continues to define Canadian hospitality.

Omni Severin | Est. 1913

Designed in part by Kurt Vonnegut Sr., this Indianapolis landmark has been a fixture of the city for more than a century. With its elegant architecture and Midwestern charm, it has remained a gathering place for generations.

Omni Grove Park Inn | Est. 1913

Opening its doors in Asheville with its distinctive Arts and Crafts design, The Grove Park Inn became a retreat for luminaries like F. Scott Fitzgerald. Blue Ridge views and legendary sunsets continue to inspire guests today.

Omni William Penn | Est. 1916

Upon its opening, Omni William Penn was the largest hotel between New York and Chicago. It has hosted heads of state, celebrities and Pittsburgh icons for over 100 years.

Omni Berkshire Place | Est. 1926

In this Midtown Manhattan landmark, Rodgers & Hammerstein wrote Oklahoma! within its walls. Today, Omni Berkshire Place continues to blend classic elegance with modern luxury just steps from Broadway.

Omni Shoreham | Est.1930

This Washington D.C. icon hosted The Beatles' first press conference in 1964 and has long been a favorite of presidents and world leaders. Its Rock Creek Park setting adds timeless appeal.

Omni San Francisco | Est. 1930

Located in the restored 1927 Parrott Building, which later became the Financial Savings Building, this hotel fuses 1920s elegance with modern sophistication in San Francisco’s financial district.

Omni Royal Orleans | Est. 1960

Built in 1843 as the St. Louis Hotel, this French Quarter landmark has survived war, fire and hurricanes. Restored in 1960 and reopened as the Omni Royal Orleans in 1986, it blends rich New Orleans history with timeless Southern elegance.

Omni La Costa Resort & Spa | Est. 1965

Omni La Costa debuted the world's most advanced destination spa in 1965, setting a new standard for wellness. Today, it remains a premier Southern California retreat for golf, relaxation, and rejuvenation.

Omni La Mansión del Rio | Est. 1968

Built in 1853 by Marianist brothers, this former St. Mary’s Academy and later law school now shines as a riverside hotel. Housed in historic Spanish Colonial buildings, it blends centuries of heritage with San Antonio’s timeless charm.

The First Choice of America's Presidents since 1766

Ever since George Washington took office in 1789, presidents have been touring the nation—and staying at some of its finest hotels and resorts. As America's Hotel Company, Omni has long been the favorite of past, sitting and former presidents. William Howard Taft, the nation's 27th president, was famously enamored with both the Omni Bedford Springs and the Omni Homestead Resorts, where he helped to popularize the sport of golf at both resorts' historic courses. He and his family often spent weeks, sometimes even months, escaping the summer heat at the Omni Homestead Resort, the site of his renowned Rights to Labor speech in 1908. The address was delivered at the resort's train station and captured by Thomas Edison himself on one of the first audio recordings ever made with his new invention, the phonograph.

Presidential Moments

America's First Resort

In 1818, Thomas Jefferson described the Omni Homestead resort as one of the best vacation spots in the country. Since then, it has hosted more than 24 sitting and former U.S. presidents. In 1943, President Roosevelt selected the resort to host the United Nations Conference on Food and Agriculture.

The Original Summer White House

Ten presidents have been hosted at the Omni Bedford Springs. These include Presidents Andrew Jackson, John Tyler, James K. Polk, Zachary Taylor, James Buchanan, James Garfield and William H. Taft. James Buchanan visited so often that the resort became known in the press as the Summer White House.

Boston’s First Family

Omni Parker House enjoyed a long association with the Kennedy family. Kennedy made his first speech here at the age of six, honoring his grandfather; he announced his bid for Congress in 1946 on the property, and proposed to Jackie Bouvier at Table 40 in Parker's Restaurant. She said yes.

Property Spotlight - The Omni Homestead Resort

The Omni Homestead Resort, EST. 1766

The history of golf at The Omni Homestead Resort centers on its two historic courses: the Old Course and the Cascades Course. The Old Course, which opened in 1892, features the oldest continuously used first tee in the United States and was designed by Donald Ross. The Cascades Course was designed by William S. Flynn and opened in 1924, becoming a favorite of golf legend Sam Snead, who also served as the resort's longtime head professional. Presidents William Howard Taft, Dwight D. Eisenhower, and George H.W. Bush have played here.

Milestones in American Golfing History

America's Most Famous Course Architects

The Omni Bedford Springs golf course was created by three of America's most legendary course designers. Spencer Oldham's original 18-hole course was later redesigned by A.W. Tillinghast in 1912, who reduced it to nine holes. Donald Ross then expanded it back to 18 holes in the 1920s.

Playground to Hollywood Stars and Golfing Greats

Omni La Costa Resort became a star attraction when it opened in 1965. Golfing greats of the day played the course, including Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player. The location also attracted famous and influential figures in its early years, including Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra and Richard Nixon.

An Icon From the Golden Age of Golf

Legendary golf course architect Donald Ross designed the 18-hole, par 72, 7,004-yard course at Omni Mount Washington. Scottish-born player Ross spent much of his career and life in the United States, and he designed many of the world's championship courses during the "Golden Age of Golf."

The Bretton Woods Agreement

Signed at the Omni Mount Washington Resort 1946

It is said that the conference was more important than the Treaty of Versailles after World War I. Versailles ended World War I, but devastated the German economy. The Bretton Woods Conference established the economic foundation, which led to prosperity after World War II. The German economy was rebuilt, and Europe was stabilized for the first time in centuries. It was the first time the victor of a major war helped rebuild a defeated country.

Poets and Painters

A Jazz Age Retreat

During the summers of 1935 and 1936, F Scott Fitzgerald was a frequent guest at the Omni Grove Park Inn seeking peace and inspiration at the historic resort.

Masterpiece in Manhattan

The Omni Berkshire Place was a popular destination for New York's creative class, including Salvador Dali, who famously painted an abstract mural on the walls of the exclusive Barberry Room in 1960.

Among Literary Greats

In 1867, longtime resident Charles Dickens gave his first American reading of A Christmas Carol at the Parker House. The event and its celebrated Saturday Night Club cemented the Omni Parker House's place in literary history.

From the Beatles to Old Blue Eyes

For More than 250 years, Omni has made some of America's most celebrated entertainers feel right at home

Omni has always provided a warm welcome to the stars of stage and screen, from Broadway stars at the Omni Berkshire Place, visiting opera sopranos at Omni Mount Washington, and Frank Sinatra and the rest of the Rat Pack lounging poolside at Omni La Costa Resort.

There's No Business Like Show Business

The Beatles at Omni Shoreham

When The Beatles arrived in America in 1964, they stayed at the Omni Shoreham. Their first U.S. press conference and performance would change music forever, and this Washington, D.C. hotel became the backdrop for the start of Beatlemania.

Where the Rat Pack Came to Play

During its early years, Omni La Costa Resort was a celebrity retreat where members of the Rat Pack, along with other Hollywood stars such as Bob Hope, would socialize and unwind.

Oklahoma was Born in the New York City

The Rodgers and Hammerstein Suite at the Omni Berkshire Place is a 1,000-square-foot suite named after the iconic duo because they first met in the hotel's former Barberry Room in 1942 to discuss a collaboration that would lead to Oklahoma!

Great Moments in American History

Some amazing things have come out of the parker house kitchen

Omni Parker House has a distinct culinary legacy. When the hotel first opened, its innovative chefs created the legendary (now famous) Boston Cream Pie, Parker House Rolls and Boston Scrod in the kitchens, and later, a young Malcolm X and Ho Chi Minh worked as wait staff in Parker's Restaurant.

Moments, Milestones and Memories

Navy Seals at Omni Shoreham

In November 1942, a small group at Omni Shoreham tested a new underwater breathing device. This experiment led to the creation of an elite American Commando unit and helped turn the tide against the Axis powers during World War II.

The Mansion Del Rio Story

Omni Mansion Del Rio's story began in 1852 when a religious order conceived the idea of building a school, which later evolved into a college campus. The building later became a luxurious hotel, opening in time for "Hemisfiar", San Antonio's 1968 World's Fair.

Omni Royal Orleans during the civil war

During the American Civil War, New Orleans was a target for both Union and Confederate militaries. In 1862, the Union requisitioned the hotel, then known as the St. Louis, to utilize as a military hospital.