US Sells Waldorf Astoria DC Building as Hotel Deals Heat Up

The US government sold the Old Post Office Building in Washington, DC.

The landmark property is now home to Waldorf Astoria Washington DC, a luxury hotel operated by Hilton.

The buyer is BDT & MSD Partners. The firm already controlled the hotel leasehold after taking over the property in 2024. The Wall Street Journal reported the sale price at $80 million. The deal gives BDT & MSD full ownership of the building and the land, not only the right to operate the hotel through a lease.

The hotel brand stays, but the real estate changes

The hotel itself is not changing for guests. It will continue to operate under Hilton’s Waldorf Astoria brand. The bigger change is behind the scenes. Before the sale, BDT & MSD controlled the leasehold. Now it also owns the real estate.

A high-profile hotel with a long history

The Old Post Office Building is one of Washington’s most visible historic properties. It stands on Pennsylvania Avenue, close to the White House and the US Capitol.

The building became a modern luxury hotel after the Trump Organization redeveloped it as Trump International Hotel Washington, DC. In 2022, the Trump Organization sold the lease to CGI Merchant Group for $375 million. The hotel was later rebranded as Waldorf Astoria Washington DC. After CGI defaulted on debt, BDT & MSD took control of the leasehold in 2024.

Why the government sold it

The sale fits GSA’s wider plan to reduce the federal government’s real estate portfolio. GSA manages federal buildings and has been selling properties that are no longer needed for direct government use.

Even though the Old Post Office is now a private hotel, it still has public and historic value. GSA said the deal keeps protections in place for the building’s architecture, public artworks, and access to the Old Post Office Tower.

A possible resale comes as hotel deals recover

The next question is whether BDT & MSD keeps the hotel or sells it. Recent reporting said the firm has discussed a possible sale at a valuation of around $400 million.

This deal also fits a broader hotel investment trend. Recent JLL data showed that US hotel transactions rose 17.5 percent in 2025 to $24 billion, signaling that investor interest is returning to hospitality real estate.

Photo by Frugal Flyer on Unsplash