The Hotel Shakeup That’s Changing the Presidential Suite Forever

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Presidential suites have come a long way since they first made an appearance in luxury hotels in the early 1900s. Originally designed as comfortable, spacious dwellings for dignitaries and heads of state—with ensuite bathrooms!—a presidential suite may now occupy 3,000 square feet, a palace of one’s own. Expect multiple bedrooms, dining rooms, private art collections on display, wet bars, and personalized wellness rooms—all accessed by private elevator and served by a 24-hour butler and concierge.

John Clifford, a Virtuoso luxury travel advisor, says part of the allure of a presidential suite (beyond the opulence, personalized service, and additional security) is the history. “The term ‘presidential suite’ has historic roots that [date back] to President Woodrow Wilson, who demanded specific accommodations when he traveled,” says Clifford. “This legacy adds an intangible layer of significance.”

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Though it raises the question: Is a 120-year-old notion of dignified luxury still valid? Or is the presidential suite an outdated model that should concede defeat to its modern successors?

“Presidential suites are no longer the old, historical version of themselves,” says Clifford. “These days they encompass over-the-top, bespoke setups like a secluded, multi-bedroom ‘presidential villa’ only reachable by boat.”

And the use? Presidential suites aren’t just for sleeping. “The idea of entertaining in a luxurious suite is currently super popular,” says Jason Squatriglia, an Embark Beyond luxury travel advisor and concierge to celebrities. “It’s likely a combination of trend, culture, and psychology, but it is also about practicality—these luxury hotels know how to make anything possible in their esteemed spaces. Ultimately, I think it’s all about having prime space in a world-class setting . . . that makes it all worthwhile.”

“Clients are certainly still in the market for presidential-style suites, but the length of stay is almost always shorter than the majority of the other bookings made,” addsSquatriglia. “Most hotels will still include ‘presidential’ in their names for their largest and most luxurious suites, but they are no longer just ‘presidential suites.’”

What’s in a Name?

At the Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues, Geneva, the 1834 historic landmark that hosted the first assembly of the League of Nations has not one but three presidential suites. The Genève and Bergues Presidential Suites are the largest at 1,162 square feet, with views of Lake Geneva (through bullet-proof windows). Similarly, in the Four Seasons Madrid, the hotel’s Presidential two-bedroom and Royal Suites showcase more than a dozen contemporary Spanish art pieces, as well as museum-worthy artifacts like a fireplace dating back to the 19th century. The word “presidential” carries weight stateside, too, says Squatriglia: “For the Casa Cipriani in NYC, the Roebling and Bartholdi Presidential Suites are the most frequently booked presidential suites (for my clients). I think that’s in large part due to the fact they kept the suites “Presidential.”

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Some hotels are less emotionally attached to the word itself. St. Moritz’s famed Badrutt’s Palace has never had a need for a presidential suite in its 130 years of trendsetting. Meanwhile, a rebrand of the “presidential suite” is a natural progression for many luxury properties. The Peninsula Hotels maintain the “height of privilege” in their eponymous Peninsula Suites—the Tokyo edition is a “statement in understated opulence,” with a grand piano and dining table that seats 12. Though it pales in comparison (if you think size matters) to the largest private accommodation in the Peninsula London: a whopping 5,059 square feet equipped with a private gym, a living room with fireplace and baby grand, and a 13-seat screening room.

Clearly when designing a presidential suite these days, the term stands as pure inspiration for hoteliers; and setting an even higher bar for luxury is more relevant than a historical tribute.

“Everything from Celestial Refuge to Opulent Oasis, Grand Chamber, Regal Haven, Elysian Retreat, Velvet Echo, and Horizon Bliss [are on the market],” says Clifford. “Penthouse” might be the one to overtake the throne. “It’s chic, it’s sexy, and sort of rolls off the tongue,” says Squatriglia. “‘Oh, you’re staying at the Penthouse.’ The name says it all. It tells guests they’re going to get the best of the best.”

Goodbye, Presidential Suite. Hello, Penthouse?

Are penthouses slowly overtaking presidential suites? Contemporary hoteliers suggest that might be the case. In Madrid, a pair of Edition multi-story penthouses with private infinity pools are the city’s largest suites, and in Mexico, Edition Riviera Maya’s Sky Rooftop Villa is North America’s largest with a super-sized 27,000-square-foot penthouse. Within are five bedrooms with their own private terraces, a landscaped patio area and infinity pool—a new penthouse poster child for elevated standards. Stateside, W Hollywood, which recently reopened after a $50 million renovation, broke a company design rule and added a Penthouse, despite all other 68 W hotels worldwide having Presidential suites under the guise of Extreme WOW. “To elevate ourselves as a global luxury lifestyle brand, we have to imagine the W brand for the future,” says George Fleck, SVP of W Hotels and Edition group.

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Traditional hotels brands like the Dorchester, Oetker, and the Four Seasons, who consider the presidential suite part of their DNA, continue to inject large investments into their legacy suites. One of the world’s suite-only hotels, The Woodward in Geneva, an Auberge Hotel, didn’t fail to include a Presidential Suite when it opened a few years ago in the banking city. At the Four Seasons Firenze, two Presidential Suites underwent extensive refurbishments last year in both the 16th-century Palazzo del Nero and Renaissance building. And the St. Regis Venice recently unveiled its two- and three-bedroom Presidential Suite and Penthouse with views of St. Mark’s Tower, the Grand Canal, and Basilica of Punta della Dogana after a two-year renovation.

“Presidential suites are synonymous with the best of the best, and everyone knows these suites are usually the most grandiose,” says Squatriglia.

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