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The Willard InterContinental hosts pardoned Thanksgiving turkeys before their White House visit

Nov. 25, 2024
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4 min read
Photo Nov 23 2024, 1 14 29 PM
The Willard InterContinental hosts pardoned Thanksgiving turkeys before their White House visit
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One of the glitziest hotels in the IHG Hotels & Resorts orbit hosted VIP — very important poultry — guests over the weekend prior to their high-profile pardon from U.S. President Joe Biden.

Peach and Blossom, the turkeys Biden pardoned Monday ahead of the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday, enjoyed a luxe stay at the Willard InterContinental, one of TPG’s top picks for a hotel in Washington, D.C. The gobbling pair hail from Minnesota and were plucked for presidential pardoning via the National Turkey Federation, which has celebrated the annual tradition for 77 years.

MATTHEW D’AGOSTINO FOR THE WHITE HOUSE HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION

The first presidential turkey pardon took place in 1947 with President Harry Truman.

“Preparing these presidential birds has taken a lot of special care,” NTF chairman John Zimmerman said Sunday during a press conference, per ABC News. “We’ve been getting them used to lights, camera and even introducing them to a wide variety of music — everything from polka to classic rock.”

MATTHEW D’AGOSTINO FOR THE WHITE HOUSE HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION

There are reports some presidents like Dwight D. Eisenhower and Lyndon B. Johnson actually ate the turkeys presented to them for pardoning, but we’ll try to gloss past that foul bit of fowl history from the West Wing.

The respect, honor and delightful turkey puns of the modern Thanksgiving pardon era picked up steam during the Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush White House years.

WILLARD INTERCONTINENTAL WASHINGTON, D.C.

The Willard InterContinental has been the longtime host of the pardoned turkeys each year on the eve of their trek to the White House for hobnobbing with the president. Oh, and just how are they as guests?

“We had those two wonderful guests staying with us last night after a long travel from beautiful Minnesota,” the Willard InterContinental’s general manager, Markus Platzer, said in a statement to TPG. “I have been told that they had a long sleep, that they had some nibbles out of the minibar. Don’t worry, we won’t charge them.”

WILLARD INTERCONTINENTAL WASHINGTON, D.C.

It’s unclear if the gobbling guests also procured IHG One Rewards Diamond status as part of their pardon package or if being spared from the Thanksgiving serving platter was benefit enough in the eyes of IHG and the White House. We suppose anything beyond that is just gravy.

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WILLARD INTERCONTINENTAL WASHINGTON, D.C.

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Featured image by MATTHEW D’AGOSTINO FOR THE WHITE HOUSE HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
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  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
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