Boutique Hotel with Progressive History to Open in Philadelphia in June

The Guild House, an historic property with roots extending back into the 19th century as a location of activity for the women’s rights movement, the abolitionist movement and other causes, will reopen as a boutique hotel June 6, 2021. The New Century Guild, founded in 1882, used this Philadelphia townhouse starting in 1906 as a hub for education, entertainment, and activism.

Now renovated and revamped as the Guild House Hotel, the boutique property seeks to celebrate its legacy by connecting the past with the present. This can be seen in everything from the 12 suites inspired by the leaders of the New Century Guild to the amenities provided by women- and minority-owned businesses. The sense of community created at the hotel is intended to honor the historic traditions and women’s empowerment initiatives set forth here beginning nearly 140 years ago.

The official opening day of the hotel, June 6, 2021, is exactly 115 years since the original New Century Guild opened its doors in the four-story Italianate rowhouse built in 1851. The building was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1993 in recognition of the guild’s history.

New interior features were composed by ROHE Creative, a Philadelphia-based and woman-owned interior design studio. Each suite reflects a notable member of the New Century Guild and her individual passions and contributions to the Guild, blending modern luxury with historic character and embracing the building’s original early 20th century architectural elements. Key design features include leaded glass windows, ornate fireplaces, wood paneling, and antique light fixtures, serving to complement the restoration and preservation work done to the Victorian-era rowhouse by the Philadelphia-based architecture firm Moto Designshop.

The Guild House hotel has partnered with women-owned businesses in Philadelphia and beyond, including: Coffee by Sip & Sonder, a Black woman-owned entrepreneurial and creative hub; tea by Blushing Wren, a Philadelphia-based, woman-owned business that sources locally and sustainably grown ingredients that are hand-harvested, and bath products by Fork & Melon, a “clean” line of skin and body care products.

The Guild House Hotel, 1307 Locust Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is in the historic Washington Square West neighborhood.