Washington's Howard Johnson's Motor Lodge/Restaurant opened in 1962, and later became well-known for the role that it played in the Watergate scandal that resulted in President Nixon's resignation. The Watergate complex, across from the Motor Lodge, housed the Democratic National Committee's (DNC) headquarters in 1972. In an event that altered the course of history, members of Nixon's re-election committee used room 723 at the Howard Johnson's as their listening post while the DNC's offices were raided and bugged.

The Motor Lodge was renovated in 1996, and room 723 was made into a museum of sorts for guests of the hotel. After 1996 the site was renamed as The Premier Hotel. Although it remained listed in Howard Johnson directories until 1999, neither its signage nor brochures indicated that it was a Howard Johnson.

In its last guise as a hotel, the Motor Lodge was owned by The Bernstein Companies. When Bernstein and a former partner ended their relationship in 1998, the old Motor Lodge was sold to George Washington University (GWU). The former Lodge was closed May 27, 1999, and after minimal renovation reopened in the fall of the same year as a dormitory called the Hall on Virginia Avenue. Unfortunately infamous room 723 was dismantled in 2002 after GWU allowed students enrolled in a special Watergate study course the privilege of using it as their living space.

Having become a popular choice as a residence hall for students, the future is grim for the historic site. Since the location is beyond the bounds of GWU, the local zoning commission has ruled that after 2006 it can no longer be used to house the university's students.