We are giving you permission this week to embrace your inner scandal! Want to share a “scandalous” story from your own past? What intrigues are you fascinated by? Trysts and turns, sordid affairs, and ‘falls from grace’... everything is on the table in the “safe space” of our community!
Nixon and the infamous break-in was part of the origin story of the WaterGate complex, and our public figures have given us plenty of salacious stories since then! Channel your best scandalous character, show us your ‘Mad Men’ look from the 70’s, or channel that beguiling scandal “fixer”, Olivia Pope!
Jon Chocklett
The Watergate Hotel
2650 Virginia Avenue Northwest
Washington, DC 20037
O: 202-838-4479
M: 202-716-3126
E:
W: thewatergatehotel.com
With 20+ years of industry experience, Jon joins The Watergate Hotel after making his luxury rounds with the likes of Four Seasons, Mandarin Oriental, Montage and The Ritz-Carlton.
When he’s not selling and marketing The Watergate, Jon enjoys road trips and new travel experiences with his two kids - Cole, 10 and Emily, 21.
Favorite family trips to date:
Skiing with my daughter in Jackson Hole, Wyoming
Road trip with my son to the Professional Football Hall of Fame, Canton, Ohio.
Favorite work trip:
10 day whirlwind tour of Hong Kong, Shanghai, Macau and Guangzhou.
When I have an extra minute to myself, I’ll pick up my guitar and pick and hum along to classic rock or find a good history book… part of the allure of joining The Watergate!
Lori Holtzman
The Watergate Hotel
2650 Virginia Avenue Northwest
Washington, DC 20037
M: 202-340-4324
E:
W: thewatergatehotel.com
I recently joined the team here at the Watergate Hotel in October! Previously I was with The Ritz-Carlton hotels of Washington, D.C. for 24 years.
I married my college sweetheart and we have 3 kids. If anyone knows me they know that I have an absolute love for Penn State as my oldest child, daughter Megan attends PSU. We have a brand new puppy which keeps us very busy but certainly we have the time during COVID to all be home with giving her the attention she needs.
I am thrilled to join the team here and work again with Jon. I have been handling the Mid Atlantic Market for over 25 years and very much look forward to representing this fabulous hotel!
SCANDALOUS FROM THE START
Their name is synonymous with the country’s biggest political scandal. The Watergate, however, was controversial from the start. When it opened in 1965, celebrity architect Luigi Moretti’s curvy, sprawling design sent shockwaves through conservative DC.
Despite criticism, the hotel quickly became a playground for the fabulous. Actors and models hobnobbed with Congressmen and Supreme Court justices, who lived in The Watergate apartments.
Its glamorous reputation was eclipsed with political scandal on June 17, 1972, when five intruders were caught in the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee, leading to Richard Nixon’s resignation.
UNAPOLOGETICALLY MEETING THE MOMENT!
Welcome to the hotel’s newest chapter. The hotel has been restored with a dramatic undulating copper lobby and lush, mid-century modern furniture, by designer Ron Arad, a Moretti disciple. The staff—trained by the former White House Social Secretary—is poised to create a memorable experience for every guest.
DREAM IN COUTURE
The Watergate Hotel’s 337 guest rooms and suites define luxury with lavish finishes, sleek furniture and lush bedding, all artfully chosen with the guest in mind. Custom-made bath amenities, exclusively created by La Bottega, perfectly complement the floor-to-ceiling marble bathrooms. Champagne in hand, guests can revel in these extravagant surroundings while taking in striking views of the Potomac River on private balconies.
REWRITING THE RULES OF LUXURY
The Watergate Rules
- Celebrate everyday
- Champagne is a food group
- Kiss and make up
- Dream in couture
- Make sure the recorder is off
- Waterfront is the only view
- Dare to be BOLD
- Reach for the moon
- It’s all in the tailoring
- Good scotch makes good company
THE NEXT MANHATTAN
Our barrel-aged cocktails are all crafted in-house, following a meticulous procedure, as follows!
We start with an un-charred, white oak barrel, which is soaked in water for 24 hours to clean off any remaining sediment or debris. After the barrel has been fully drained, it is then flavored with Ramazotti Amaro, an Italian liquor made of a variety of herbs and spices, which then sits for a minimum of 20-30 days, to deliver that smooth and spiced flavor of our final-and perfect!-cocktail!
Recipe
- 2 oz Woodford Reserve
- ½ oz Carpano Sweet Vermouth
- 2 dashes of homemade spice bitters
- ½ oz of Martel VSOP
- Splash of Nonino Quintessentia
- Garnish
INTRIGUING SPACES
Among other beautiful spaces at TWH, here are a couple that really stand out:
Jim Morrison has been asking someone to show him the way here since the 1960s. Combining refined elegance with a modern twist, there’s no bar like The Next Whisky Bar in Washington, D.C. An undulating copper wall leads guests from the lobby to an illuminated wall of 2,500 whisky bottles awash in a soft amber glow. Your guests can sample from a high-end, curated selection of scotch or whisky.
Take the opportunity to book the Top of the Gate for your opening or closing night reception, after meeting cocktails, or late night soirée. Look no further than the Top of the Gate. The energetic and sophisticated rooftop bar and lounge at The Watergate Hotel boasts commanding 360-degree views of the Kennedy Center, the Potomac River, the Key and Arlington bridges, the Washington Monument and the rest of the DC skyline.
Kelly McAlister, Maui Jim
Kelly McAlister of Maui Jim will be with us on the calls each week as judge and jury to see which planner really goes all-in with the theme. So engage, be creative, and have fun... and you may be the winner!
She’ll be doing some gifting that will surely lift your shelter-in-place spirits!
