Royal Sonesta Washington DC Dupont Circle
Royal Sonesta Washington DC Dupont Circle is a 335-room boutique hotel in Washington, D.C.'s Dupont Circle neighborhood.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Royal Sonesta Washington DC Dupont Circle is a boutique hotel located at 2121 P Street Northwest in the Dupont Circle neighborhood of Washington, D.C. The property has 335 guest rooms and is part of the Sonesta hotel portfolio. Its identity has changed several times during a history shaped by ownership transfers, financial distress, redevelopment, and management affiliations with major hotel companies. The hotel opened in 1967 as the Georgetown Hotel. It was developed by Washington banker Leo M. Bernstein, who was associated with the redevelopment of Georgetown as an upscale residential district. In 1985, Bernstein sold the property to Omni Hotels, which renamed it the Omni Georgetown Hotel. Omni subsequently sold the asset to Bethesda-based Nordheimer Brothers Co., while continuing to manage it. The property later became involved in a complicated debt and foreclosure process. In December 1988, Perpetual Savings Bank, which already held a $10 million second mortgage, acquired the hotel's $20 million first mortgage from Connecticut Mutual Life Insurance Co. Perpetual foreclosed in 1991 and became the owner, but the bank soon failed. The hotel entered receivership and became an asset of the U.S. government-owned Resolution Trust Corporation in January 1992. The Resolution Trust Corporation auctioned the hotel in August 1992. Spanish hotel company Hoteles Barceló S.A. won the auction with a $13.7 million bid and renamed the property the Barceló Washington Hotel. Barceló later engaged Radisson Hotels to manage the hotel, leading to the name Radisson Barceló Hotel Washington. Kimpton Hotels acquired the property in November 2004 for $40 million. During a major $32 million renovation, the hotel was temporarily called the Dupont Circle Hotel. The project added 34 guest rooms, increasing the total to 335. On August 22, 2006, the property reopened under the Kimpton name as the Kimpton Hotel Palomar Washington DC. In 2019, the hotel was sold to Massachusetts-based Service Properties Trust for $141.5 million. Service Properties Trust owned a one-third interest in Sonesta Hotels, linking the property to the Sonesta system. On December 1, 2020, the hotel was renamed Royal Sonesta Washington DC Dupont Circle. The current brand positioning is therefore that of a full-service, urban boutique hotel operating under the Royal Sonesta flag in a prominent Washington, D.C. neighborhood. Available reference material does not establish a separate standalone corporate structure for the hotel, a public listing, or a detailed set of proprietary product lines beyond its lodging and hospitality services.
History
The hotel opened in 1967 as the Georgetown Hotel. Its developer was Washington banker Leo M. Bernstein, who was involved in the redevelopment of Georgetown as an upscale residential area. The property was subsequently sold to Omni Hotels in 1985 and renamed the Omni Georgetown Hotel. Omni later sold the hotel to Nordheimer Brothers Co., a Bethesda-based company, while retaining the management role. A period of financial and institutional instability followed. In December 1988, Perpetual Savings Bank acquired the hotel's $20 million first mortgage from Connecticut Mutual Life Insurance Co.; the bank already held a $10 million second mortgage on the property. Perpetual foreclosed in 1991 and took ownership, but the bank soon failed. The hotel entered receivership and was transferred in January 1992 to the Resolution Trust Corporation, a U.S. government entity established to manage failed savings-and-loan assets. The Resolution Trust Corporation sold the hotel at auction in August 1992. Hoteles Barceló S.A., a Spanish hotel company, won the auction with a bid of $13.7 million. The property was renamed the Barceló Washington Hotel. Barceló later retained Radisson Hotels to manage the operation, producing the name Radisson Barceló Hotel Washington. Kimpton Hotels purchased the property in November 2004 for $40 million. In July 2005, while a $32 million renovation was under way, the hotel was temporarily called the Dupont Circle Hotel. The renovation added 34 rooms and increased capacity to 335 guest rooms. On August 22, 2006, the hotel took the name Kimpton Hotel Palomar Washington DC. The property changed ownership again in 2019, when Service Properties Trust purchased it for $141.5 million. Service Properties Trust held a one-third stake in Sonesta Hotels, creating the basis for the hotel's subsequent affiliation with the Sonesta system. On December 1, 2020, the property was renamed Royal Sonesta Washington DC Dupont Circle. It remains a 335-room boutique hotel in the Dupont Circle neighborhood of Washington, D.C. The available reference material does not provide a fuller account of its current management structure, facilities, restaurant concepts, event operations, or later performance.
- 2020
Royal Sonesta rebranding
[1]The hotel is renamed Royal Sonesta Washington DC Dupont Circle on December 1.
- 2019
Service Properties Trust becomes owner
[1]Service Properties Trust buys the property for $141.5 million.
- 2006
Kimpton Hotel Palomar identity begins
[1]The hotel adopts the Kimpton Hotel Palomar Washington DC name on August 22.
- 2005
Renovation expands room inventory
[1]A $32 million renovation adds 34 rooms, bringing the total to 335.
- 2004
Kimpton Hotels acquires the property
[1]Kimpton Hotels purchases the hotel for $40 million.
- 1992
Resolution Trust Corporation sells the hotel
[1]The U.S. government-owned Resolution Trust Corporation auctions the property, which is acquired by Hoteles Barceló S.A. for $13.7 million.
- 1991
Foreclosure follows lender distress
[1]Perpetual Savings Bank forecloses on the property, but its subsequent failure leads to receivership.
- 1985
Omni acquires and renames the property
[1]Omni Hotels purchases the Georgetown Hotel and operates it as the Omni Georgetown Hotel.
- 1967
Georgetown Hotel opens
[1]The hotel opens at 2121 P Street Northwest in Washington, D.C., developed by banker Leo M. Bernstein.
Products and positioning
An urban boutique hotel serving visitors to Washington, D.C. from a Dupont Circle location, with its current identity derived from the Royal Sonesta hotel brand.
Hotel accommodation · 1967
Guest rooms
The property's principal offering is overnight accommodation in a 335-room boutique hotel. The available reference material identifies the room count and location but does not provide verified details about room categories, suites, amenities, or pricing.
Hospitality · 1967
Boutique hotel services
The hotel provides urban lodging and associated hospitality services from its Dupont Circle location in Washington, D.C. Specific restaurants, meeting facilities, wellness services, and event packages are not documented in the supplied reference material.
Brand decisions
2020
Rebranding under the Royal Sonesta flagStrategyBackground
Following Service Properties Trust's 2019 acquisition of the hotel and its connection to Sonesta Hotels, the property received a new brand identity.
Action taken
The hotel was renamed Royal Sonesta Washington DC Dupont Circle on December 1, 2020.
Aftermath
The property became part of the Royal Sonesta-branded hotel portfolio.
2005
Expansion and renovation programStrategyBackground
Kimpton undertook a major renovation after acquiring the hotel, temporarily using the Dupont Circle Hotel name during the work.
Action taken
The property received a reported $32 million renovation and gained 34 guest rooms, increasing its inventory to 335 rooms.
Aftermath
The renovated hotel subsequently launched under the Kimpton Hotel Palomar Washington DC identity in 2006.
Renovation cost. $32 million (2005 renovation)
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