Baltimore's Historic Peabody Court Hotel Completes Restoration, Joins National Trust Historic Hotels of America

Located on what has been called the most beautiful Public Square in America, the Peabody Court features modern comforts with old-world grace and luxury. Featuring a Renaissance Revival façade, the Peabody Court is a testament to the style of the Twenties with a six-foot Baccarat chandelier and George Peabody's paneled library gracing the well-appointed lobby.

"This elegant, historic boutique hotel was a perfect candidate for membership in the National Trust by virtue of its impeccable restoration and architectural significance," said Thierry Roch, executive director of National Trust Historic Hotels of America. "These factors combine with operational integrity and attention to guest comfort to make a stay at the Peabody Court a premier lodging experience."

The 104-guest room hotel was originally built as a luxury apartment building in 1928 in the city's prominent Mt. Vernon neighborhood, Baltimore's educational and cultural center. Named for Baltimore philanthropist George Peabody (1795-1869), the Peabody Court, features George's on Mt. Vernon Square, the hotel's stylish restaurant and bar.

A program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Historic Hotels of America is an exclusive lodging membership and marketing association. To qualify for induction, hotels must be at least 50 years old, listed in or eligible for the National Register of Historic Places or recognized locally as having historic significance.

"Member hotels represent a variety of American experiences and provide a cross-section of Americana," said Mr. Roch. "Some member hotels were built originally for another purpose, and were later converted to lodging, an example of adaptive use. Altering a building's function, as was the case with the Peabody Court, often allows it to remain in use as the economic needs of a community change."

Positioned at the top of Baltimore's resurging Mt. Vernon Square Arts and Cultural District, the Peabody Court provides a centrally located, well-priced haven for Baltimore's business and leisure travelers. Featuring casual dining and fine wines, the hotel's restaurant and bar, George's on Mt. Vernon Square, named for the "Three George's" of Baltimore: George Washington, George Peabody and George "Babe Ruth" Herman, provides visitors and locals exceptional food and service.

The hotel's 104 guest rooms include a Presidential Suite and five Queen Suites. The rooms and suites all feature original French veneer marble-topped furniture, pillow top mattresses for luxurious comfort, duvet covers, pillow shams, full marble bathrooms with heated towel warmers, 2-line speaker phones, mini-refrigerators, data ports, voice-mail, coffee/tea makers, in-room safes and pay-per-view movies.

"The restoration project marks a return to the Peabody Court's grand presence of yesteryear," said Jim MacCutcheon, Sunburst's CEO. "It was conducted in concert with an entire revitalization of the Mt. Vernon Square District."

Other area projects include the $24 million Walters Art Museum renovation completed October 2001 and the current $5 million renovation of the Engineers' Club Beaux Arts Garrett-Jacobs Mansion and a $24 million renovation underway at the adjacent Peabody Conservatory of Music.

The Peabody Court's renovation project centered on restoring the hotel to its previous glory while adding up-to-the minute comforts for guests. The Peabody Court remained open to guests throughout the year-long project, offering nightly rates priced below that of its fellow deluxe hotels in Baltimore's booming market.

"We hand-finished the original furniture and woodwork throughout the public spaces and guest rooms, refurbished original artwork, marble, and tilework; as well as fitting the rooms with every desirable guest comfort," said Jason Curtis, general manager of the Peabody Court Hotel.

"This project has proven both consuming and compelling. We are proud to see it completed and proud to welcome guests to this glorious hotel as well as to George's on Mount Vernon Square."

With a superb eclectic menu and diverse, well-priced wine list, George's opened to significant local interest. Selections include roasted Vidalia onion and potato soup with brie crouton; penne pasta with blackened scallops; and herb-grilled flank steak with balsamic demi-glaze. With a direct street entrance on Mt. Vernon Square, George's bar features daily Martini Specials and wines from such notable vineyards as Grgich Hills, Groth, and Domaine Font De Michelle.

The Peabody Court's rooftop Washington Club, formerly the Citronelle Restaurant, is available for special events as is additional meeting space in the hotel. The Washington Club provides sweeping panoramic views of Baltimore through its stunning floor-to-ceiling windows and is poised to become the premier spot for wedding receptions.

Cultural and historic venues such as Meyeroff Symphony Hall, The Lyric, The Engineers Society of Baltimore, The Walters Art Museum, The Peabody Conservatory, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore Opera, Center Stage, Maryland Historical Society and Antique Row are just steps from the hotel's front door. The Peabody Court's complimentary shuttle is provided to all of these venues as well as Baltimore's Inner Harbor.

Reservations and further information on the Peabody Court Hotel can be obtained through the web link: or by calling the hotel at 410.727.7101.

About Sunburst Hospitality

Sunburst Hospitality Corporation is a leading hotel owner and manager of nationally recognized hotels and operates in 24 states. Sunburst's hotels are branded as Best Western, Clarion Hotels, Comfort Inns and Suites, Holiday Inn Express, MainStay Suites, Quality Inn, and Sleep Inn. The Peabody Court Hotel has been within the Sunburst Portfolio since 1995 as a Clarion Hotel prior to the decision to renovate and reposition the property as a boutique hotel, optimizing the hotel's natural advantages of location, architecture and market.

James A. MacCutcheon, the company's president and CEO, has been with the company and its predecessor organizations since 1987. Since that time, Sunburst has grown from a small portfolio of 11 hotels to 52 hotels. Annual revenues in 2001 exceeded $147 million.

Sunburst is committed to developing and successfully implementing strategies to maximize the value of its operating hotels. Mr. MacCutcheon and the executive management team have a successful record of managing ahead of industry cycles.

Prior to the most recent hospitality industry downturn, the Company was able to liquidate a substantial portion of its existing hotel portfolio. The Company capitalized on the distressed real estate and capital markets in the early 1990s by opportunistically acquiring hotels at significant discounts to replacement cost. These hotels benefited from significant investments of renovation capital. The hotels also benefited from the installation of professional management and aggressive sales and marketing systems. In 1995, the Company responded to changing industry cycles by shifting its growth strategy to construction of mid-market, all-suite extended-stay MainStay Suites hotels. As a result of these elements, Sunburst Hospitality is one of the strongest owners and operators of hotel properties in the U.S. today.

Sunburst recognizes that its best investments are those that it makes in its people. The Company is a recognized industry leader in developing and implementing best practices in the human resources area. Innovative compensation and benefit programs are in place at all levels of the company. Sunburst remains committed to developing opportunities for the career advancement of its associates while maximizing the value of assets in its portfolio.

About Historic Hotels of America

A program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Hotels of America is a marketing association. To qualify for membership, hotels must be at least 50 years old, listed in or eligible for the National Register of Historic Places or recognized locally as having historic significance. Established in 1989 with 32 original hotel members, Historic Hotels of America recognizes and promotes these hotels for their historic integrity, architectural quality and outstanding preservation efforts made by owners and managers.

Today, National Trust Historic Hotels of America encompasses 192 hotels in 44 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Canada. Representing nearly 33,000 rooms, Historic Hotels of America ranks as the 16th largest consortia in the world, according to Hotels magazine (July 2002).

A directory of member hotels can be purchased by sending a $4.00 check or money order to National Trust Historic Hotels of America, P.O. Box 320, Washington, D.C. 20055-0320.

About the Peabody Court and the Mt. Vernon Historic District

The Peabody Court is significant for its existing building, as well as the history

of the site prior to the current construction, and its place within Baltimore's Historic Mount Vernon Square.

The site of the Peabody Court was originally a home for Robert Garrett, one of the principal organizers of the B&O Railroad. The B&O Railroad was the first railroad in the nation, and became a dominant force in the economy of the Middle Atlantic region. After Mr. Garrett died he willed the house to his daughter Mary, who endowed it to the Johns Hopkins Hospital, on the requirement that they admit women to study medicine at the School of Medicine. The building was sold and demolished in the 1920s and the present building, an apartment house, was erected in 1928. It was an elegant address, and many of Baltimore's finest families lived in Mount Vernon at that time. The Peabody Court Hotel retains the spirit of elegance that typifies Mount Vernon. Its well-appointed lobby, library, and dining room recall the historical nature of Mount Vernon.

Mount Vernon Place, which the Peabody Court Hotel faces, has been called the

most beautiful public square in America. Designed by architect Robert Mills, who also designed its centerpiece, the Washington Monument in 1829, Mount Vernon Place was laid out as four squares surrounded by house lots. The earliest homes were built in the 1840s in Neoclassical style. The house at 8-10 West Mount Vernon Place, typifies that earliest construction. In the 1850's, brownstone construction was popular, with Italian influences over the doors and windows--the building directly across Monument Street from the Peabody, built by Decatur Miller, the brother of artist Jacob Miller, is a fine example of this style, replete with intricate ironwork balconies, an elegant entryway, and noble proportions.

In the 1860's the Peabody Institute was constructed to provide culture for the citizens of Baltimore. Philanthropist George Peabody envisioned a music conservatory, research

Library, art museum and lecture series. His lead was followed by William and Henry Walters, who established the Walters Art Museum, by Enoch Pratt who endowed the public library system that bears his name, and by Johns Hopkins, who endowed the great university which was first located in Mount Vernon.

From the 1870's through the early 1900's every imaginable architectural style was constructed in Mount Vernon Place. Located on Mount Vernon Place are a magnificent gothic church, a romantic French chateau, an elegant Beaux Arts apartment building and a splendid Stanford White building--the Garrett Jacobs Mansion, which stands just across the street from Peabody Court. Embellished with Tiffany windows, magnificent stone carvings, and elegant entryways the buildings are works of art in themselves--in short a museum of 100 years of architecture, from the completion of the Washington Monument in 1829 to the construction of the building now housing the Peabody Court in 1928.