Presidents Day: Landmark Milwaukee hotel speaks on presidential guests and hotel traditions

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The Pfister Hotel has welcomed every sitting U.S president since William McKinley.

Feb. 20 was a day originally meant to celebrate the birthday of George Washington.

Over time, the third Monday of February has evolved into recognizing all of our nation's presidents.

The Pfister Hotel has become synonymous with presidential visits to Milwaukee.

"I've seen our current president, our current vice president, and our last president, Donald Trump, they've all stayed here", said Bernard Runo, golden key concierge of the Pfister Hotel.

Runo has been working at the hotel for four years.

The concierge went on to say the hotel was part of the origin story for one president.

"President Kennedy, in 1960, got notice here, in this hotel, he made the Pfister his headquarters, got notice that he won the election that year," said Runo.

It wasn't just JFK who has graced the hotel's grand hall, but presidents like Lyndon Johnson, Gerald Ford, Reagan, George H.W. Bush (when VP), Bill Clinton and George W. Bush (2001) with his wife, Laura Bush.

The then-presidential suite, modest in look, has now been renamed the governor suite.

The new suite is 19 floors higher than the original, decked out in modern touches, but despite the upgrades, the room holds true to the hotel's traditions and values.

"Find that comfort in knowing that this is a constant, that this will always be home, the doors are always open and the lights are always on, and we consider our lobby Milwaukee's living room," said Runo.

For more information on the Pfister, click the link here.