Salamander Hotels & Resorts may be getting its Washington, D.C. property into business with Marriott.
The news was reported by the Washington Business Journal earlier this week. Details on the Salamander DC potentially partnering with the major hospitality behemoth are sparse. However, there are reportedly talks of the Salamander gem rebranding as a Marriott property.
Serial entrepreneur and media titan Sheila Johnson established Salamander Hotels & Resorts in 2005. According to NBC4 Washington, the brand acquired its D.C. site – formerly a Mandarin Oriental property – in September 2022 for a reported $140 million. The purchase was a collaborative move with the London-based private equity real estate firm Henderson Park.
Neither Salamander Hotels & Resorts nor Marriott has publicly commented on a potential partnership.
What Else Is There To Know About The Salamander DC?
The Salamander DC is in the Southeast Waterfront area of the nation’s capital, near The Wharf and the National Mall. It includes 373 rooms, a two-floor on-site spa, and Tidal Basin views. It is also home to acclaimed chef Kwame Onwuachi’s Dōgon, a restaurant that serves and celebrates flavors of the Afro-Caribbean diaspora.
Johnson’s empire is widespread and has spanned decades. She is a co-founder of Black Entertainment Television (BET). The company completed its sale to Viacom in 2001 for reportedly around $3 billion, making her the first Black woman billionaire in America. She is currently the founder and CEO of Salamander Hotels & Resorts, which owns and/or manages properties in Anguilla, Colorado, Florida, Jamaica, Virginia, and South Carolina, as well as one in Washington, D.C. The Middleburg, Virginia, property hosts the Family Reunion, a popular annual festival centered on food, community, and culture. Notably, organizers canceled the 2026 edition of the festival, which had been scheduled for August.
In addition to her business moves, Johnson is a stakeholder in three major sports teams: the Washington Mystics, Wizards, and Capitals. The multihyphenate is also a philanthropist, whose charity work has impacted various sectors in need of support, such as education and the arts.
