That isn't true; read the article. There's also a Lux Lounge in NYC, and that's where they were heading right up to the point where they changed their minds at the last minute (at which point they were in NYC).

They were in regular contact with the person they were supposed to meet ("George"), who told them to meet in NYC. They took the greyhound to NYC. Given that there is also a Lux Lounge in NYC, what would make you think the existence of the lounge in DC is anything other than a coincidence? Everything we know about this situation indicates otherwise.