The Georgetown Inn, Washington DC, Celebrates 50 Year Anniversary

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The Georgetown Inn 1310 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Washington DC

Washington DC (PRWEB) June 11, 2012

On June 6th, the Georgetown Inn's new owner Nayan Patel of Your DC Hotels hosted a private soiree in celebration of the historic Inn's 50 year Anniversary. Previous owners, Georgetown residents, Georgetown & George Washington University executives and influential DC-media with fond memories at the Inn made a toast to the hotel's half-century birthday. During the 1960's and 1970s, the Georgetown Inn housed Hollywood stars, royalty and sports icons such as the Mercury Seven (the seven original astronauts), artist Andy Warhol, actors, Robert Stack and George Burns, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, and political luminaries like the Kennedy family. The Inn welcomed new ownership in November 2011 with Nayan Patel, who pays homage to the Inn's history and European charm as a quaint, 96-room alternative to the large luxury hotels that have flooded Washington.

Local VIPs such as ABC 7's Natasha Barrett, Kris Van Cleave and Jummy Olabanji, RB Properties' Richard Bernstein, Georgetown University Associate Vice President for External Relations Linda Greenan, Georgetown University Associate Vice President and Chief Benefits Officer Charles DeSantis, Georgetown University's Vice President & Chief Human Resources Officer Mary Anne Mahin, Georgetown University's Associate Director of Payroll & Finance Systems Marjorie Boursiquot, Previous Georgetown Inn Owner Collin Bird's wife & Georgetown socialite Mary Bird, Georgetown philanthropists Bob and Martha Vicas, Luxxery Medical Boutique's Hiba Hakki, Patton Boggs Lawyer Vinoda Basnayake, KStreetKate's Kate Michael, Pamela's Punch's Pamela Sorenson and Nevo Group's Kunal Shah among others enjoyed live, smooth jazz, complimentary cocktails and hors d'ouvres from the Daily Grill.

Georgetown Inn History
The Georgetown Inn became the talk of the town even before construction began. In October of 1959, the residents were agog when they heard the announcement by Sheldon Magazine, president of the American Mortgage Investment Company, of a new hotel to be built at the corner of Wisconsin and N Street in Georgetown neighborhood. It was the most exciting thing to happen in the town since Georgetown was taken into the District of Columbia in 1871. "Because of its location, construction and architecture", Sheldon Magazine said, "The Georgetown inn will fall heir to the traditions of the great inns of Georgetown's past." Further, Mr. Magazine stressed that the inn was conceived as more than just another hotel but rather a "national landmark." The Georgetown Inn was the first new hotel built in Georgetown in over a century. The Inn was designed by Washington architects Corning, Moore, Elmore and Fischer and was built by Magazine Brothers Construction Corp. This same team went on to build the now infamous Watergate Hotel. Construction on the Georgetown Inn began the first week of July, 1961.

On Sunday May 20, 1962 the Georgetown Inn introduced itself to society. The four days opening festivities ended with an afternoon champagne buffet for prominent Georgetown locals and visitors. At the time, Georgetown Inn featured many innovations new to Washington and American hotels in general, butlers on each floor, Rolls Royce transportation, overnight bootery care and many other features seldom found in any but the most exclusive hotels on the European continent. The Georgetown Inn quickly became the place to see and be seen in Washington, DC. The Inn became host to society fashions shows of Dorothy Stead's, a very successful women's fashion shop which catered to DC's elite. Washington's most honored residents, Hollywood stars, royalty and sports icons were spotted at the Georgetown Inn including: Astronaut Gordon Cooper and family. (Gordon Cooper was on the first manned space effort by the United States), actors Robert Stack (The Untouchables) and George Burns, and one of the greatest hitters in MLB history, Stan Musial. The most notable guests of the Georgetown Inn have to be the Duke and Duchess of Windsor.

Through the 70's until the late 80's the hotel continued to be the choice for discriminating travelers and pop culture icons. In 1976, the hotel hosted a party for Playboy Magazine as they featured their "Girls of Washington" edition.

After several years of neglect, the Georgetown Inn again changed hands in November 2011. Purchased by local Washington DC hoteliers the Inn was added to the portfolio of Your DC Hotels. The new ownership and management take pride in the hotel's history, past successes and present charms.

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