Hotel Heron, a design-forward boutique property operated by Aparium Hotel Group in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia, has joined Curio Collection by Hilton, marking a significant new chapter in the hotel’s evolution and in Hilton’s growing portfolio of high-character independent-style properties.

The announcement positions the 134-room hotel, which opened in 2024 in a restored 1920s building, to marry its strong neighborhood identity with the global distribution, loyalty reach, and sales infrastructure of one of the world’s largest hospitality companies.

More News

A Community-Focused Boutique Hotel Enters a Global Portfolio

The move brings Hotel Heron into a soft-branded collection known for selecting one-of-a-kind hotels that retain their own names, design language, and operational philosophies. Under the new arrangement, the property will be known as Hotel Heron Alexandria Old Town, Curio Collection by Hilton, signaling to travelers that they can expect a blend of bespoke local character with the consistency and benefits associated with Hilton’s systems and programs.

Hotel Heron will continue to be operated by Aparium Hotel Group, preserving the management team and brand DNA that have driven its local following. Aparium, which has built its reputation on adaptive reuse projects and a philosophy it calls “Hotels Done Differently,” remains responsible for day-to-day operations, guest experience, and community engagement. The Curio affiliation is framed as a partnership that amplifies, rather than replaces, that identity.

The hotel becomes only the second Curio Collection property in the wider Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia region, underscoring Hilton’s selective approach to adding hotels in the nation’s capital area and the strategic significance of Old Town Alexandria in the brand’s regional growth plans.

Adaptive Reuse of a 1926 Landmark in Old Town Alexandria

Hotel Heron occupies the former George Mason Hotel, a 1926 Colonial Revival landmark that long served as a social hub for Alexandria before later being converted to offices. The site underwent an extensive adaptive reuse and expansion, blending the original brick structure with a contemporary addition that houses guest rooms and event spaces, while preserving key architectural elements on the exterior.

The redevelopment, led by Washington, D.C.-based architect Antonovich Associates and design firm Streetsense, sought to respect the building’s early twentieth-century character while delivering a modern hospitality product. Inside, the interiors reference Alexandria’s history through color palettes inspired by eighteenth-century paint hues, custom tilework, and art that nods to the city’s riverfront and craft traditions, balanced with more contemporary furnishings and lifestyle-minded public spaces.

Located at 699 Prince Street, just steps from the King Street Mile and the Potomac River waterfront, the hotel offers guests a walkable base in one of the region’s most popular historic districts. Cobblestone lanes, independent boutiques, galleries, and waterfront parks lie within a short stroll, while central Washington, D.C. is only minutes away across the Potomac by car, Metro, or water taxi.

Rooms, Design Details, and Guest Experience

The 134 guest rooms and suites at Hotel Heron are designed to feel residential and intimate rather than corporate, reflecting Aparium’s boutique sensibility. Rooms feature a mix of warm woods, custom textiles, and curated artwork that continues the heron and river motifs seen throughout the property. Many accommodations incorporate architectural quirks of the historic building, such as tall windows and unusual room shapes, which have been embraced as part of the hotel’s character.

Bathrooms emphasize modern comforts with walk-in showers, plush towels, and premium bath amenities, while technology upgrades include high-speed connectivity, smart televisions, and flexible work and lounging areas aimed at both business and leisure travelers. The overall design aims to encourage guests to linger, with layered lighting, comfortable seating, and small details like bird-themed décor and books that resonate with the hotel’s “nest” narrative.

Public spaces are arranged to serve as a social hub for both visitors and Alexandria residents. The lobby, library-style nooks, and bar areas are deliberately porous and multifunctional, operating as coffee corners, co-working spots, or evening gathering places depending on the time of day. Aparium’s translocal hospitality philosophy, which emphasizes connection between guests and the surrounding neighborhood, manifests in programming such as wine tastings, book signings, and collaborations with local makers.

Culinary Concepts Showcasing Mid-Atlantic Flavors

A central part of Hotel Heron’s identity, and a key draw for the Curio Collection, is its trio of food and beverage venues, each crafted to highlight Mid-Atlantic ingredients and Alexandria’s culinary culture. KILN, the hotel’s signature ground-floor restaurant, is built around a wood-fired hearth and a menu that interprets regional classics with a contemporary lens, reflecting the agricultural and seafood bounty of Virginia and the Chesapeake Bay.

The concept’s name references Henry Piercy, regarded as Alexandria’s first documented potter, whose kiln once stood nearby. That local story is echoed in design touches such as ceramic pieces and earthy textures. Diners encounter dishes that feature seasonal produce, coastal seafood, and techniques that make use of open-flame cooking, with service offered from breakfast through dinner and weekend brunch to attract both hotel guests and neighborhood regulars.

Complementing KILN is Francis Hall, a craft cocktail bar tucked into the heart of the hotel, conceived as an intimate, slightly hidden refuge. Rich colors, layered textiles, and thoughtful lighting create a moody environment for classic and progressive cocktails, supported by a menu of shareable plates. The bar positions itself as a destination for Alexandrians seeking a sophisticated yet relaxed evening spot.

Above it all sits Good Fortune, an open-air seasonal rooftop bar that capitalizes on views of Old Town rooftops and the Potomac River. The rooftop focuses on frozen cocktails, a wine program with an emphasis on East Coast and regional vintners, and a rotating selection of limited-release beers from area breweries. The terrace-style layout is designed for warm-weather evenings, small gatherings, and events, adding to the hotel’s appeal as a venue for locals and visitors alike.

Strengthening Hilton’s Footprint in the Capital Region

For Hilton, adding Hotel Heron to Curio Collection is part of a broader strategy to expand its portfolio of distinctive, independently minded hotels in key urban and cultural centers. Old Town Alexandria, often cited among the country’s best small-city destinations, is an attractive market for travelers who want proximity to Washington, D.C., without staying directly in the federal core.

Curio Collection by Hilton, launched in 2014, has grown to encompass properties across major cities and resort destinations while allowing individual hotels to retain their own names and design identities. The brand’s pitch to owners and operators centers on access to Hilton’s distribution engine, sales network, and Hilton Honors loyalty program, combined with operational flexibility and the ability to maintain a unique sense of place.

Hotel Heron’s inclusion gives Hilton another high-touch, lifestyle-focused address in the region to complement its larger full-service and select-service hotels around the capital. It is expected to draw both domestic and international travelers who recognize the Curio flag and seek boutique-style stays backed by a familiar loyalty program.

What the Curio Affiliation Means for Guests

With the transition to Curio Collection, Hotel Heron is now bookable through Hilton’s channels and integrated into Hilton Honors, enabling guests to earn and redeem points for stays at the Alexandria property. This integration is likely to broaden the hotel’s audience, attracting loyal Hilton customers who may not previously have considered a smaller independent-branded hotel on the Virginia side of the river.

Operationally, the partnership introduces Hilton’s service standards, safety protocols, and technology platforms, layered onto Aparium’s existing boutique approach. For guests, that may translate to smoother digital check-in and keyless entry options, consistent Wi-Fi and in-room technology standards, and access to familiar benefits such as tier-based upgrades or late check-out for elite members, while the hotel’s experiential and aesthetic elements remain distinct.

Hotel leadership positions the move as a way to expand reach without diluting the property’s independent spirit. The Heron name, storytelling, and community programming remain central, while marketing now benefits from Hilton’s global footprint and loyalty-base communications. For a hotel already drawing interest for its architecture and culinary offerings, the visibility boost could elevate it further on travelers’ radar.

Aparium’s Growing Portfolio and Old Town’s Hotel Renaissance

Hotel Heron represents a flagship for Chicago-based Aparium Hotel Group in the Mid-Atlantic region, reflecting the company’s focus on adaptive reuse and city-defining, one-of-one hotels. Aparium has a pipeline of projects in cities across the United States, with properties that often reimagine historic structures into modern boutique accommodations that double as neighborhood gathering places.

In Alexandria, the opening of Hotel Heron and its subsequent alignment with Curio Collection come amid a broader renaissance in the Old Town hospitality scene. Recent years have seen the debut or repositioning of multiple boutique properties, as the neighborhood capitalizes on renewed visitor interest, expanded waterfront attractions, and its proximity to Amazon’s HQ2 development in nearby Arlington.

Local tourism officials have highlighted hotels like Heron as key to extending visitor stays and encouraging travelers who might ordinarily overnight in downtown Washington to base themselves in Old Town instead. With its combination of historic fabric, small-business ecology, and easy access to the capital’s museums and monuments, Alexandria is increasingly marketed as a complementary urban destination rather than a simple day trip.

Positioning Old Town Alexandria for the Next Wave of Travelers

As Hotel Heron embarks on this new chapter as part of Curio Collection by Hilton, the property’s operators and brand partners are signaling confidence in the long-term appeal of Old Town Alexandria. The neighborhood’s blend of preserved architecture, walkability, and riverfront setting aligns with post-pandemic traveler preferences that emphasize authenticity, outdoor spaces, and access to local culture.

At the same time, connectivity remains a core selling point. From Hotel Heron, guests can reach central Washington, D.C. attractions such as the National Mall and Smithsonian museums within a short Metro ride or scenic ferry journey, while Reagan National Airport sits only a few miles away. This dual identity as both a historic enclave and a gateway to the capital positions the hotel, and by extension the Curio brand, to appeal to business, government, and leisure segments.

For Aparium, Hilton, and Alexandria’s tourism ecosystem, the partnership at Hotel Heron is a test case in how a deeply local, design-centric hotel can plug into a large global platform without losing the qualities that first endeared it to the community. As the property settles into its role within Curio Collection, industry observers will be watching both performance metrics and guest feedback to gauge how successfully that balance is being struck.