The Willard InterContinental hosts pardoned Thanksgiving turkeys before their White House visit
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.
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."
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.
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."
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.
Related reading:
- The award travelers guide to IHG Rewards
- The best credit cards to reach elite status
- What is IHG One Rewards elite status worth?
- Current offers on IHG One Rewards credit cards
- Which credit cards offer the most lucrative rewards for hotel stays?
- The best hotel rewards programs in the world
- Best hotel credit cards
TPG featured card
at Bilt's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 1X | Choose to earn up to 1X points on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee |
| 2X | Earn 2X points + the option to earn 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday purchases |
Pros
- Choice to earn up to 1 Bilt Point per dollar spent on rent and mortgage payments
- Elevated everyday earnings with both Bilt Points and the option to earn Bilt Cash
- $400 Bilt Travel Portal hotel credit per year (up to $200 biannually)
- $200 Bilt Cash annually
- Priority Pass membership
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- Moderate annual fee
- Designed primarily for members seeking a premium, all-in-one card
- Earn points on housing with no transaction fee
- Choose to earn 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday spend. Use Bilt Cash to unlock point earnings on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee, up to 1X.
- 2X points on everyday spend
- $400 Bilt Travel Hotel credit. Applied twice a year, as $200 statement credits, for qualifying Bilt Travel Portal hotel bookings.
- $200 Bilt Cash (awarded annually). At the end of each calendar year, any Bilt Cash balance over $100 will expire.
- Welcome bonus (subject to approval): 50,000 Bilt Points + Gold Status after spending $4,000 on everyday purchases in the first 90 days + $300 of Bilt Cash.
- Priority Pass ($469/year value). See Guide to Benefits.
- Bilt Point redemptions include airlines, hotels, future rent and mortgage payments, Lyft rides, statement credits, student loan balances, a down payment on a home, and more.