WASHINGTON, DC
SHOP TILL YOU PLOP
By Jeremy Murphy
Ralph Lauren and room service. It’s every traveler’s dream, and in malls across America, it’s becoming a reality as retailers partner with brands like Ritz-Carlton to give their customers a more immersive experience—and new meaning to “shop to you drop.” Now, you can do it at a luxury hotel. Who doesn’t want the end the day of charging your plastic by soaking in a world of fantastic, preferably with Asprey bubbles.
New York’s Time Warner Center, now rebranded The Shops at Columbus Circle, includes a Mandarin Oriental as one of its tony tenants, while Las Vegas hotels have always mixed the slots with Chanel.
PENTAGON CITY
But the template is Washington, DC, where two Ritz-Carlton crown shopping malls within a stone’s throw from the Capital. Across from the Potomac, the Fashion Center in Pentagon City features three floors of top shops connected to the hotel, giving DC denizens the world’s best medicine—style, sweets and suites. “It is a huge draw for our group and transient guests because it offers additional dining options and shopping is always a favorite past time for leisure travel,” says Manuel Martinez, the hotel’s General Manager. “Most guests run into the mall at one point or another whether to grab a Starbucks or pick up something in one of the shops.”
The Ritz-Carlton, Pentagon City has always catered to DC’s elite, with 365 luxurious rooms and suites, the famous Club Level experience with delicious culinary delights throughout the day, and its signature Fyve restaurant where guests gather for afternoon tea and after-work cocktails. Its proximity to the actual Pentagon also guarantees a celebrity sighting or two, so practice that salute, soldiers!
One of its prime attractions, though, is the discreet entrance to the popular Fashion Center. A collection of 170 stores, including Nordstroms, Kate Spade and Stuart Weitzman, await guests—something few competitors can offer. And it’s not shy about saying so. “We partner on various promotions and are exploring options to allow merchants to display items in the hotel,” Martinez said. “We promote various packages throughout the year that tie into the mall and have a shopping element.”
To wit, guests in its top suites are greeted with gift cards to use throughout the mall, which also features a sky-lit food court and the popular Shake Shack, Café Nordstrom and Matchbox American, where wood fired pizza is ready for your Visa.
Bonnie Rubin-Schultz, a Florida journalist who covers the luxury market, calls it a “modern day fantasy. It’s the perfect girlfriend getaway, and even better holiday experience. Whatever the occasion, the idea of ending the day in a luxury suite is quite enchanting. And a great way for the hotel to distinguish itself.”
TYSONS CORNER
Deeper into the region is The Ritz-Carlton, Tysons Corner, which also connects to a luxury shopping experience: the Tysons Galleria. More intimate, the mall features top brands like Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Saint Laurent. “Washington proper doesn’t have a lot of shopping options,” says Susan Nixon, former publisher of CAPITOL File magazine and now a top DC and Virginia realtor. “People actually have to leave the city limits to find the best brands. Pentagon City and Tysons Corner are within driving distance and have everything you need right there. And a martini at the Ritz-Carlton afterwards never hurts.”
So, welcome to the future of travel. Instead of jumping in a car to shop or dine, it’s all within an easy escalator ride away.
For more information on Ritz-Carlton Hotels, visit ritzcarlton.com.
