Donohoe Hospitality Services Announces the Management of the Newly Built Cambria Hotel Washington D.C. Capitol Riverfront

April 27, 2021
Donohoe Hospitality Services Announces the Management of the Newly Built Cambria Hotel Washington D.C. Capitol Riverfront Thumbnail
The Hotel Celebrats this Historic waterfront Community Offering Self-Guided Walking Tours

Thomas Penny, III, President of Donohoe Hospitality Services, a division of Donohoe, today announced the addition of the newly built Cambria Hotel Washington D.C. Capitol Riverfront to its growing portfolio. The 154-guestroom hotel is located at 69 Q Street SW, between Capitol Hill and the Anacostia River, east of The Wharf complex and west of Washington Navy Yard. Situated in one of the nation’s oldest and most diverse communities, the hotel was designed to celebrate the neighborhoods rich history and preserve the story of this historic waterfront community that dates to the 1700s.

“It was very important that this hotel celebrate the iconic local history of one of the nation’s most diverse communities as well as be inclusive to area residents,” said Mr. Penny. “We envisioned the hotel as a fulcrum of the community where visitors as well as locals can engage and learn about the important history of this area that is strategically located at the conflux of the Potomac and Anacostia rivers. We commissioned historians Marjorie Lightman, PhD, and William Zeisel, PhD., to write a history of the area that resulted in a book with compelling walking tours of the community. The illustrated book is available to guests and community members as a commitment to retaining and strengthening the culture of the neighborhood,” added Mr. Penny.

Prior to the hotel’s opening, the Cambria hotel began working within the community, engaging in outreach and support for local organizations, including D.C. Central Kitchen, D.C. Housing Authority, James Creek Residency, and Richard Wright Charter School. “It was critical for us to ensure that we were not only becoming part of the neighborhood but complementing and adding to the quality of life,” said Hotel General Manager, Elif Sen. Some of the ongoing outreach programs include inviting recent graduates of D.C. Public Schools to participate in an interactive training and mentoring sessions on careers in hospitality. The hotel also honored the legacy of Delores C. Mack, a staple in the Southwest neighborhood and passionate in her work with The Southwest Community House, by naming the ninth-floor meeting space in her honor as well as a special plaque hung outside the room. Mack’s original office can be seen from the hotel, just a block away on Q street, across from Fort McNair.

Committed to diversity and inclusion, women and minority leaders can be found throughout the hotel and in leadership roles, including Elif Sen, General Manager; Jenny Keuleman, Director Sales and Marketing; Chef Henry Dudley, Director of Food & Beverage Operations, Magdalena Zalejska, Food & Beverage Manager, and Candy Hernandez, Executive Housekeeper.

Tags: Culture, News