GM & DOS Named At Lorien Hotel & Spa, Set To Open February 2009

Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants and the DSF Group are pleased to announce General Manager Donald Anderson and Director of Sales Joy Whiddon to the executive team at the 107-room Lorien Hotel & Spa, a Kimpton Hotel. The four and a half star-caliber property is set to debut in Old Town, Alexandria on Feb. 12, 2009, bringing an elevated level of service and style to the historic area. Kimpton’s 11th property in the area, the Lorien Hotel & Spa will be the company’s crown jewel of the Washington, D.C. metropolitan region.

In his position as general manager, Anderson will be responsible for overseeing all personnel, business development and guest relations at the hotel. An Alexandria native, Anderson brings an intimate understanding of the local area that will be instrumental in creating an authentic Old Town experience. Anderson also brings a wealth of knowledge to his new position with a hospitality career spanning over two decades. Most recently, Anderson served as general manager of Kimpton’s Hotel Rouge in Washington, D.C., providing him with a deep knowledge of the brand’s exemplary, unscripted service that is calibrated to each individual. In his new position, Anderson will also draw from his luxury experience from five years at the Park Hyatt Washington.

Another key player of the opening team is Joy Whiddon, who provides an invaluable mix of regional knowledge and travel industry experience spanning over 10 years. In her new role, Whiddon will be responsible for overseeing all sales and marketing efforts for the hotel. She has held sales positions at D.C. area hotels for over seven years, and was most recently the director of business and travel industry sales for The Fairmont Washington, D.C. Previously, Whiddon was director of business travel sales for the Capital Hilton and the Hilton Washington. Whiddon is fluent in German and proficient in Spanish and French, which are key in attracting international clientele.

Featuring more than 3500 square feet of sophisticated meeting and event space, the Lorien Hotel & Spa will be courting business travelers, executive retreats and intimate meetings. Customized menus and meeting breaks, including private wine tastings and chef dinners, executed under the direction of celebrated chef Robert Wiedmaier, can be arranged with the hotel’s experienced meeting professionals. The design of the event space, including outdoor access and large windows providing plenty of natural lighting, lends itself to productive meetings and a wide array of social events and weddings.

ABOUT LORIEN HOTEL & SPA
In February 2009, Lorien Hotel & Spa will debut in Alexandria, VA, as Kimpton’s crown jewel of the Washington D.C. Metropolitan region. The distinctly luxurious urban retreat, owned by the DSF Group, will bring an elevated level of style and service to historic Old Town with unparalleled offerings including a full-service luxury spa and fitness center, world-class interior décor by acclaimed designer Vicente Wolf, and three culinary venues helmed by celebrated chef Robert Wiedmaier: BRABO by Robert Wiedmaier, BRABO Tasting Room, and The Butcher’s Block, a Market by RW. Lorien Hotel & Spa will feature 107 guestrooms and suites, and more than 3,500 square feet of sophisticated meeting and event space.

Lorien Hotel & Spa is located at 1600 King Street, Alexandria, VA 22314. For more information or reservations, please call (703) 894-3434 or (877) 856-7436 toll free or visit www.lorienhotelandspa.com


ABOUT KIMPTON
San Francisco-based Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants is the first and leading collection of boutique hotels, throughout the United States and Canada. Founded in 1981 by Bill Kimpton, every Kimpton hotel features personalized guest services, comforting in-room amenities, specialty rooms and suites, and provides a range of exciting culinary experiences through affiliated top-rated destination chef-driven restaurants. Kimpton takes pride in its commitment to social responsibility and leads the hospitality industry in ecological practices through its innovative EarthCare programs. Privately held, Kimpton received the highest ranking in customer satisfaction scores by the Market Metrix Hospitality Index for the entire year of 2007, exceeding all other hotel companies, including those in both the luxury and upscale segment. Among the company’s newest properties are the Hotel Monaco Alexandria and Jackson 20 restaurant in Virginia, which opened in January 2008, and the Hotel Palomar Los Angeles in Westwood and the adjacent BLVD 16 restaurant, which opened in May 2008. Additional projects are underway in Florida, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Baltimore and Chicago. For more information, please visit www.KimptonHotels.com or call 1-800-KIMPTON.


ABOUT DSF
The award winning DSF Group is a private real estate company making value added investments in multifamily and commercial properties, primarily in the high growth Northeast Corridor, between Washington D.C. and Boston. With over $1.5 billion invested in 4 million square feet since 2000, The DSF Group has quietly become one of the most successful private real estate investment firms in the country. For more information, please visit www.thedsfgroup.com