A Haven for the Resistance: The First Activist Hotel Opens Its Doors in D.C.

Located only a short walking distance from Trump International, which has become a popular destination for young GOP politicos and lobbyists, Eaton Workshop bills itself as a millennial progressive counterpoint—a brand that merges hospitality with social activism. In an interview with Architectural Digest, founder and former Langham executive, Katherine Ro believes that Washington D.C. is the ideal spot for her flagship hotel. “Given that D.C. has the history of so many social movements, and people still travel here annually to lobby and march to make a difference, I thought D.C. would be the perfect place to plant our flagship,” says Lo. “I want to offer Eaton as the home or living room, so to speak, to today’s contemporary movements.”

With family roots deeply planted in the hospitality world (Katherine Ro’s father is Ka Shui Lo, real-estate magnate and executive chairman of the Langham Hospitality Group), the hotelier seeks to fuse environmentally-conscious aesthetics with real social change in a hotel and co-working space that celebrates the intersection of arts, consciousness and impact.

Located at 12^th and K streets, the 209-room Eaton D.C. boasts an organic rooftop garden and wind turbine-powered pasta machines, as well new age, holistic healing, alternative health and wellness programs. Other millennial-favorite amenities include a liberal radio station, a cinema that seats 50, a speakeasy, coffee shop, full-service restaurant, a 370-member co-working space, and a Radical Library, whose shelves are stocked with…you guessed it—a collection of radical and political tomes, as well as a selection of art, music, philosophy thoughtfully-curated by local non-profit, Teaching for Change.

A natural disruptor of the status quo, Katherine Ro is unphased by the potentially politically polarizing space. In a Vogue interview she says, “The brand is an extension of my values, and we don’t’ shy away from that. If you’re a guest at Eaton, you’re a patron of arts and activism.” Ro is actively pursuing a green-leaning LEED status as well as a B Corp certification, combing a for-profit mindset with values that align with transparency, accountability, and environmental/social awareness.

While the brand ethos might be a gamble Ro believes is worth pursuing, the stylish space speaks volumes. Designed by New York-based firm Gachot Studios, the space is warm and effusive with creamy leather banquettes, wood paneling, and a nod to mid-century modernism.

After a day of marching in the streets, Eaton Workshop is a respite and refuge, an inviting oasis located in the heart of frenetic Washington D.C.

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