DC INNS: A GATHERING PLACE FOR WORLD AND SOLO TRAVELERS

Washington, DC -- Bed and Breakfasts were once known as places where you could meet and enjoy the company of travelers from around the world.  Today, many B&B’s have changed their marketing strategies and operating models and are focused instead on guest privacy and seclusion, leaving minimal opportunity for interaction with owners, hosts and other guests.

With this change, the delineation between B&B’s, inns, boutique hotels and hotels has become blurred, and the unique opportunities offered by traditional B&B’s - to enjoy the company of hosts and fellow travelers while sharing food, conversation and experiences - are becoming rare indeed.  DC INNS return to tradition, by creating an environment in which guests from around the world are immediately and warmly welcomed into a community of travelers.
 
DC INNS are family owned and operated by third generation native Washingtonians Laura Saba and Courtney Lodico, along with their husbands Raymond Saba and Joe Lodico.  The two grand old homes are located in gorgeous, safe and convenient neighborhoods.  Embassy Circle Guest House B&B, located along Embassy Row in Dupont Circle, is an elegant and luxurious mansion; and the popular Woodley Park Guest House B&B, located in Woodley Park, is well known for its charm and value.

Both houses were extensively renovated with environmentally and safety conscious construction by Raymond and Joe, brothers-in-law and managers of Raycon Incorporated, the family construction company.

At both inns, the owners and their guests thrive on personal connections.  Here guests feel like part of a family as the owners personally introduce them to each other at breakfast or over wine in the evening at Embassy Circle.

“A highlight of the experience at DC INNS is the opportunity to meet people from all over the world and learn about their lives, travels, countries and cultures,” explained owner Laura Saba.  “We see our roles as hosts of a traveling community.”  Her sister Courtney adds, “Every day our B&B’s are full of interesting guests, and giving them the opportunity to meet each other and enjoy each other’s company is one of our top priorities. We believe that in order to have a true B&B experience where guests can feel welcome and like family, the personal attention of owners and hosts is essential.  We personally set the mood and comfort level.”

Breakfast is an event not to be missed at DC INNS. Guests travel from many different nations and continents to stay here. Tourists and business travelers, researchers and educators, artists, writers, politicians and political activists gather around the breakfast table daily. The conversation is wide-ranging and spirited and guests often leave the table with a list of exhibitions to see, restaurants to try, books to read, movies to view, issues to follow, new contacts to pursue - or new friends and new countries to visit.  Owners and staff are always present at breakfast to introduce guests, answer questions and facilitate conversation. “We all have favorite museums, restaurants, neighborhoods, shopping areas, and movie theaters, concert venues and outdoor activities – and we’re always willing to share our favorites with our guests,” explains Courtney.

The generous breakfast offers many options for the health-conscious guest. Both inns offer wonderful coffee from a local roaster, tea and juice, pastries baked fresh every morning at a friend’s bakery, organic yogurt, organic breads for toasting, hard boiled eggs, assorted cereals and a signature fresh fruit salad that includes at least a dozen kinds of fruit every day. An expanded list of choices at Embassy Circle includes smoked salmon with cream cheese and capers and a wonderful platter of assorted cheeses. Also at Embassy Circle, guests are invited each evening to mingle from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. for wine or beer and light snacks and guests are always welcome to invite a friend, family member or local colleague to join them for breakfast or for afternoon wine at no extra charge.

Whether you are staying at Embassy Circle or Woodley Park, owners and staff are always present to introduce guests, answer questions, provide information, facilitate conversation, and guide each guest’s DC experience.  In fact, guests can even communicate with the owners and staff in several languages in addition to English, including Spanish, French and Arabic.  Free WIFI and a guest laptop are available along with in-room phones for wake up calls, voicemail, free local calls, and long-distance and international calls (for a minimal charge), allowing guests to stay connected to the outside world.

To further facilitate communication, DC INNS do not have TV’s or radios.  As Laura puts it, “We attract people who prefer books and good conversation to television; and here at the end of the day, you know you can enjoy a deep, relaxing night’s sleep because the house is truly quiet!  “And if you need to catch up on what’s going on in the world, you can use the guest laptop and check out CNN or MSNBC, or you can read one of the great newspapers we receive every day,”  adds Courtney.

Sisters Laura and Courtney practically grew up in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History where their father Dr. Roy Clarke, was Curator of the meteorite and tektite collection until he retired.  “Daddy’s colleagues were a mini United Nations,” says Courtney Lodico.  “We grew up knowing families from all over the world.  It was exciting!”  It was during these influential years that Laura and Courtney became fascinated by people, culture and history – a love that continues to this day and translates into their work as hands-on innkeepers and owners.

When asked about the DC INNS philosophy of hospitality, owner Raymond Saba explains, “As owners we are very much involved in the day to day operations of our inns. Our business is personal – it’s about people – and we love hearing stories about how our guests came for a business or pleasure trip to DC and developed life-long friendships with people from all over the world at our breakfast table.”

Of course there are occasional guests who prefer to read alone in their room or want total privacy.  Guests can have that here as well, but along with privacy comes the reassurance of familiar faces and people who genuinely care about your well being. “When someone spends weeks or even months on the road for travel, that peace of mind can be very reassuring,” explains Courtney Lodico.  

Even the décor at DC INNS is personal.  Not only do the owner’s share their personal collection of art with guests, but the guests themselves also contribute heavily to the original artwork that adorns each inn – including original paintings, pastels, glass, decorative ironwork, wood and ceramic. At least a dozen former guests have contributed to the collection and the owners are always searching for new talent.

Embassy Circle Guest House is an elegant town home, noted for its gracious architecture, spacious rooms and luxurious amenities.  Located on a beautiful residential street in downtown Dupont Circle, this 11-room bed and breakfast inn is convenient to all of Washington DC’s many tourist attractions, as well as restaurants, art galleries, universities, and conference venues.   For more information visit www.dcinns.com <http://www.dcinns.com>  or call (877) 232-7744.  Rates range from $210-$275 per night.

Woodley Park Guest House is a 16-room B&B known for its warm hospitality, extraordinary convenience and exceptional value.  Located in the lovely and historic Woodley Park neighborhood with its many excellent restaurants, the inn is just steps from the Woodley Park-Zoo Metro station, making it incredibly convenient to all of the city’s attractions.  For more information visit www.dcinns.com or call (866) 667-0218.  Rates range from $130-$220 per night.