The Watergate Hotel – made famous for the scandal that brought down President Richard Nixon - has reopened after nine years.
The property in downtown Washington DC has finally reopened its doors for the first time since 2007 after a $125 million renovation project carried out by developer Euro Capital Properties.
The building gained notoriety in June 1972 when a group of burglars were apprehended as they broke into the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee, setting off a chain of events which would lead to Nixon’s resignation two years later.
The scandal was immortalised in the 1976 film, All the Presidents Men, starring Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman as the journalists who exposed Nixon's involvement with the help of an anonymous source known as Deep Throat.
The refurbished hotel features 336 rooms - the 32 suites include two Presidential Suites - as well as a restaurant, rooftop lounge, whisky bar and spa. There are also 11 meeting rooms including a grand ballroom.
Rakel Cohen, senior vice president of design and development for Euro Capital Properties, said: “The Watergate is undoubtedly one of the most glamorous and illustr
ious hotels in the world.
“We paid meticulous attention to every detail in its renovation and we’re excited to bring our vision to life. Its intrigue is driven by evocative design, from the deep-rooted retro feel to the mystique that lies behind every curve of the hotel’s architecture.”
The building also gained infamy for being home to White House intern Monica Lewinsky during the mid-1990s when she became personally involved with President Bill Clinton – a scandal that led to his impeachment in 1998.