Holding meetings and events at posh hotels isn’t a new concept; some of the toniest hotels in the world have served as backdrops to some of the most important gatherings in history. Whether it’s for negotiating peace, creating bodies of diplomacy or hosting heads of state — or certain A-list pop music chanteuses — these are some of our favorite hotels in the world with an important claim to history-making meetings.
Related: Hotels you’ve seen in movies you can actually book
Beau-Rivage Palace (Lausanne, Switzerland)
Consider this luxe getaway a palace of diplomacy. Switzerland’s Beau-Rivage Palace on the shores of Lake Geneva opened in 1861. Since then, the luxury hotel has been the backdrop to a variety of peace talks resulting in agreements such as the Treaty of Lausanne (the final peace document to conclude World War I) and the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, from which the U.S. withdrew in 2018.
If you’re one who chases high thread count over peace talks, have no fear: Beau-Rivage Palace is a traveler favorite for its manicured gardens fit for an alfresco meal, highly attentive service and tasteful rooms and suites (splurge on one with either a lake or Alps view).
The St. Anthony, a Luxury Collection Hotel (San Antonio, Texas)
A hotel meeting with one of the biggest impacts on U.S. aviation and discount airfare took place at San Antonio’s The St. Anthony, a Luxury Collection Hotel. It was at the hotel’s St. Anthony Club where Southwest Airlines cofounders Rollin King and Herb Kelleher — who had imbibed just a smidge, the story goes — mapped out the business plan for their future airline on a cocktail napkin. The rest is aviation history.
Guests checking into this downtown San Antonio hotel where Old Hollywood and Old Texas meet — everyone from John Wayne and Grace Kelly to the late President George H.W. Bush have stayed here — have far more awaiting them than Marriott Bonvoy points. Downstairs, public areas are dotted with French antiques and fine art while guest rooms and suites are clean, comfortable, and — if you pick the right one — overlook the city’s Travis Park. Don’t miss cocktails at the speakeasy-inspired St. Anthony Club, and drinks at the rooftop pool are a great way to bask in the sun while coming up with your own business plan on a napkin.
Willard InterContinental (Washington, DC)
Author Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote far more than “The Scarlet Letter.” For starters, he penned of Washington D.C.’s Willard Hotel (today known as the Willard InterContinental) that “Willard’s Hotel could more justly be called the center of Washington and the Union than either the Capitol, the White House, or the State Department. … You are mixed up here with office seekers, wire pullers, inventors, artists, poets, editors, Army correspondents, attaches of foreign journals, long-winded talkers, clerks, diplomatists, mail contractors, railway directors—until your identity is lost among them.” The White House Historical Association notes the joke of the 1800s was that so many VIPs frequented the hotel that “a gentleman passing by threw his stick at a dog. The stick missed the dog but hit six generals.”
So, what exactly of great importance took place at the Willard? The Peace Congress, a Hail Mary attempt to avert the Civil War, convened here in 1861. While the efforts failed, the Willard continued its grip on important meetings and events. Plans for the League of Nations, the precursor to the United Nations, gained steam here during meetings held by President Woodrow Wilson at the hotel in 1916. Martin Luther King Jr. also penned his “I Have a Dream” speech while staying at the Willard in 1963. Of course, don’t forget that the hotel hosts the two turkeys pardoned by the sitting U.S. president every November.
Check in to the hotel, and you can expect historic Federal and Empire architecture with impeccable service and a hard-to-beat location: If you were any closer to the White House, you’d be living there.
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Omni Bedford Springs Resort (Bedford, Pennsylvania)
Head to Pennsylvania for the Omni Bedford Springs Resort, a luxe getaway that was once deemed the “Summer White House” for U.S. President James Buchanan. The resort — Omni wasn’t involved until 2009 — also served as the backdrop to getaways and meetings by Presidents James K. Polk, Zachary Taylor and William Henry Harrison. The waters surrounding Bedford Springs were said to have “healing powers” and, therefore, garnered much leisure travel interest throughout the 1800s. The first transatlantic cable from England to the U.S. was received by President Buchanan in 1858.
Today, guests checking in to the resort are treated to charming guest rooms and suites (many of which include a balcony or porch), six bars and restaurants, and an entire spa wing with health and wellness activities and plenty of ways to pamper oneself. As a nod to those “healing” waters, the spa offers the “Bedford Bath” with products inspired by local herbs and botanicals.
St. Louis Union Station Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton (St. Louis)
St. Louis Union Station Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton, was once the world’s largest and busiest train station. Today, it’s a high-end lifestyle hotel in the heart of St. Louis. But the property also lays claim to one of the most iconic scenes in political history: It’s here where U.S. President Harry Truman (the surprise victor of the 1948 presidential race) held up a copy of the Chicago Daily Tribune that had a premature “Dewey Defeats Truman” headline in anticipation of a victory by New York Gov. Thomas Dewey.
Guests can expect historic archways and designs dating back to the 1894 train station, especially in the Great Hall lounge, where cocktails are served beneath the soaring ceiling. Splurge on Clock Tower suites for enhanced design and Waldorf Astoria bedding — and enjoy a good night’s sleep with a slice of transit history.
Fairmont San Francisco (San Francisco)
The Fairmont San Francisco is a palatial getaway in the city’s tony Nob Hill neighborhood. The property has as much of a story as the guests who pass through its posh lobby. The Fairmont, built by the daughters of the late U.S. Sen. James Graham Fair (and named in his honor), was nearly complete when the San Francisco earthquake of 1906 struck. The hotel opened a year later and went on to host the 1945 meetings that led to the creation of the United Nations.
Today, the hotel draws locals and visitors from around the world to bask in the fabulousness of this San Francisco institution, which features incredible views of the city and San Francisco Bay. The Diplomat Tony Bennett Suite is a spacious splurge where you can soak in the skyline and perhaps listen to “I Left My Heart in San Francisco,” the song Bennett first sang in the hotel’s Venetian Room in 1961. And while the hotel’s Tonga Room & Hurricane Bar tiki bar might seem a little out of touch with the ornate decor of the lobby, isn’t life about variety?
The Hermitage Hotel (Nashville)
The Hermitage Hotel in Nashville has bragging rights: It is the long-reigning queen of the city’s luxury hotel scene, and its team notes that “Meet me at The Hermitage” has been the line for scene-stealing social gatherings in Music City for more than a century. But this hotel is about more than a posh beaux-arts lobby and power dining. The hotel was the headquarters for both pro- and anti-suffrage forces leading up to the passage of the 19th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Tennessee was the final state with the power to ratify or nullify the amendment, and ultimately, the vote went in favor of giving women the right to vote — putting Tennessee and The Hermitage Hotel on the right side of history.
It’s a great time to check in to The Hermitage Hotel, as the property recently underwent an extensive renovation. Spacious, modern rooms still have historic touches like marble bathrooms and original crown molding, but you’ll also find stellar service and attention to detail — even personalized stationery. The hotel is even home to celebrity chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s only Tennessee restaurants: Drusie & Darr and The Pink Hermit.
The Watergate Hotel (Washington, DC)
The Watergate Hotel in Washington, D.C., is part of the broader Watergate office, hotel and residential complex. While Watergate is storied in scandal, it was known as the place where Washington and Hollywood mingled when it first opened in 1967. Lauren Bacall apparently balked at the hotel’s plastic hangers and demanded wooden replacements, and a concierge obliged with hangers from her own home, according to the book “The Watergate: Inside America’s Most Infamous Address.” Bacall wasn’t the most gracious of guests, as she reportedly packed the concierge’s wooden hangers in her bag and took them with her at checkout. But not everyone wanted to check in to the Watergate or live at its residences: Elizabeth Taylor refused to move into the apartment of her sixth husband, Sen. John Warner, on account of the Watergate’s pet restrictions.
Of course, the scandal of Watergate stems from the 1972 break-in of the Democratic National Committee’s headquarters at the complex. The ties of the break-in to President Richard Nixon ultimately led to his impeachment and resignation. Because of this, just about any scandal in America these days gets the “-gate” suffix attached to it.
But the Watergate Hotel of today is a modern, renovated luxury property with an indoor saltwater pool and spacious spa. Enjoy 1960s vibes with a cocktail at the hotel’s Top of the Gate rooftop lounge or check into the Scandal Suite (the hotel’s Room 214, which was a command center used during the break-in). Don’t worry: The only thing scandalous about the room these days is the inevitable oversleeping from basking in the luxe linens.
Four Seasons Hotel Austin (Austin)
The Four Seasons Hotel Austin is an ultraluxury getaway on the shores of Lady Bird Lake, but rewind to 1991 when it was a meeting place of some of the most powerful women in the world. Queen Elizabeth II stayed here during a U.S. visit, and the royal visit included the queen mingling with then-Texas Gov. Ann Richards and former first lady Lady Bird Johnson. It doesn’t appear the queen was a fussy guest: Her only food request during her short stay was a ham sandwich with the crusts removed, according to the Austin American-Statesman.
Today, guests at the Four Seasons Hotel Austin are treated to a hotel that is a blend of high-end lodging and boot-scootin’ fun in the great outdoors. The hotel’s backyard includes a mix of activities, and you can even enjoy a picnic on the lawn overlooking the lake. Upstairs, unwind in a guest room or suite (opt for one with a balcony and lake view) where you can press a button on the phone for afternoon margarita cart service. This feature may not have been around for Queen Elizabeth’s visit, but it certainly feels like modern Texas royalty to us.
Omni Mount Washington Resort (Bretton Woods, New Hampshire)
One of the last remaining historic grand hotels built in New Hampshire’s White Mountains, the Omni Mount Washington Resort opened in 1902 after two years of construction, including the consultation of 250 Italian artisans who finessed the stucco and granite masonry. The resort has hosted more than leisure travelers looking for fun in the snow and sun (depending on the time of year) of northern New England. The Bretton Woods conference took place here and established both the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.
The Omni Mount Washington Resort today knows how to roll out the welcome mat with its expansive front porch with views of the White Mountains (an excellent vantage point during fall foliage “leaf peeping” season). Whether you’re after a round of golf, a spa getaway or a luxe space to unwind after hitting the slopes, Omni Mount Washington is worth checking out (or in to).
Capella Singapore (Singapore)
Capella Hotels and Resorts is one of the most luxurious hotel brands in the world, and the company’s Singapore hotel was the backdrop to one of the more recent historic hotel meetings on our list. Capella Singapore hosted the 2018 United States-North Korea Summit, where then-U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un met — the first-ever meeting between heads of state of the two countries. Perhaps a more recent, less politically contentious happening at the hotel? Taylor Swift reportedly stayed in a $14,000-per-night villa at the hotel earlier this year during her six-show stop in Singapore as part of “The Eras Tour.”
The Norman Foster-designed hotel is an inviting spot for more than heads of state and pop musicians, however. The 112-room luxe property sports a network of lush gardens, spacious accommodations with rainfall showers and soaking tubs, and a variety of pools to cool off if the sandy shores of nearby Palawan Beach aren’t on your radar for basking in the sun.
Gleneagles (Auchterarder, Scotland)
There are country retreats, and then there is Gleneagles in Scotland. The property, built around the idea of being a palatial country house with a golf course, draws a mix of golfers, wellness enthusiasts and glitterati looking for a fabulous time being wined and dined. On the meetings and events front, Gleneagles hosted the G8 Summit in 2005, during which the late Queen Elizabeth II hosted a state dinner. In 2014, the resort became only the second venue in Scotland to host the Ryder Cup after the 1978 iteration was held at Muirfield in East Lothian.
Guest rooms and suites at Gleneagles feel like your own personal country getaway, with personalized and attentive service. Of course, don’t miss out on a day of pampering at the Spa at Gleneagles, which features an extensive treatment menu and packages including lunch in the Wellness Cafe. Feeling rejuvenated upon checkout is a must after a stay here.
Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac (Quebec City)
The towering presence of Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac lords over Quebec City’s Old Quebec neighborhood. But it’s about more than Chateauesque architecture at this property originally built as one of Canada’s grand railway hotels along the Canadian Pacific Railway. The hotel hosted leaders of the World War II Allies powers — including U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Canadian Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King — during the First and Second Quebec Conference to discuss war strategy.
The Fairmont, known for being the world’s most photographed hotel, is a draw for its views of the St. Lawrence River and cozy, modernized accommodations (the hotel underwent an extensive renovation in 2014).
Four Seasons Hotel Washington, DC (Washington, DC)
Hosting a head of state can be big business for a hotel — just ask the Four Seasons Hotel Washington, DC. The ultraluxury Georgetown hotel in 2015 hosted Saudi King Salman, who booked out the entire hotel while visiting the U.S. to discuss the Iran nuclear deal with then-U.S. President Barack Obama. Politico at the time reported the hotel was even redecorated to the king’s liking, including gold furniture and red carpets in the lower parking garage to prevent the royals from touching asphalt.
Of course, even the “average” Four Seasons guest is treated to royal treatment when staying here, with stately guest rooms featuring Ferragamo products and certain splurge-worthy suites including their own private terrace. Don’t forget to save room for a hearty meal at celeb chef Michael Mina’s Bourbon Steak to unwind after a long day of soaking in the U.S. capital.
