The U.S. General Services Administration has chosen Trump Hotel Collection and Colony Capital’s proposal as the winning bid to develop the historic Old Post Office and Clock Tower in Washington, D.C. into a 250-room luxury hotel.
Trump Hotel Collection, a division of real estate mogul Donald Trump’s Trump Organization, New York City and Colony Capital, Los Angeles teamed up to invest US$200 million in acquiring and renovating the building, which dates from the 1890s and is included in the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.
“The selection of the Trump Hotel Collection is a tremendous validation of our plan for the highest and best use of this historic building and the hard work of our organization. The General Services Administration ran an extensive process and we are extremely honored to have been selected,” said Donald Trump.
The new hotel will be named Trump International Hotel, The Old Post Office, Washington, D.C. and include restaurants, a bar and lounge, banquet, ballroom and meeting facilities, a library, curated museum, indoor and outdoor gardens and spa facilities.
Approved by the U.S. Congress in 1880 and completed in 1899, the massive Richardsonian Romanesque Revival edifice is located at Pennsylvania Avenue and 12th Street, in downtown Washington. In 2008 Congress directed the General Services Administration to enter into a long-term lease for private-sector development and restoration. Companies that submitted proposals included Hyatt Hotels Corp. and Hilton Worldwide.
“After closely evaluating the submissions, we determined the Trump Organization proposal represented the strongest development team, best long term potential for the local community, and most consistent stream of revenue for the federal government. The Trump Organization plan will preserve the historic nature of the building and improve the vitality of Pennsylvania Avenue,” said Robert Peck, General Services Administration commissioner of the public buildings service.
