in January

Located in the center of historic Old Town Alexandria at 480 King St., the site was originally developed back in 1975. While ING Clarion vice president Marc C. DeLuca shared with GlobeSt.com in February that the hotel would undergo significant changes, it is news of the cost of the upgrades and particular specifics that has just emerged. Most notable among the changes will be an increase in the number of rooms by 14, bringing the total to 241. The 150,000-sf property will also feature a new restaurant, as well as a new ballroom. Additionally, Gensler has been tapped to serve as the architectural firm on the project.

Hotel Monaco, scheduled to make its debut in mid-2007, will mark Kimpton's entrée into the state, although the company's Monaco brand and other boutique hotels can be currently found at other locations in the Metropolitan Washington, DC area. "Washington DC has proven to be a highly successful market for Kimpton," Mike Depatie, Kimpton president, says. "Our style of boutique hotels and level of personalized services is unparalleled in this region and the addition of another Hotel Monaco will further establish Kimpton's presence as a hospitality leader in this area." DeLuca tells GlobeSt.com that work is scheduled to begin this summer.