The historic Hay Adams hotel, located in Lafayette Square across from the White House, has earned a reputation for refinement and world-class service. Even the cherry trees, whose blossoms are D.C.’s renowned sign of spring, bow to the hotel at the 16th street entrance and shed some of D.C.’s first buds.

Guests are greeted by a staff of young European recruits and long-time employees, all of whom add to the refined nature. Also, elegant function spaces are popular for hosting high-profile social events.

Hans Bruland, hotel vice president and general manager, explained that the upcoming fall and inaugural season will be a busy period as a new president takes office. “That’s the cycle for most hotels in our range,” Bruland said.

The Hay Adams has become a popular spot for political fundraisers, but other events include private weddings and receptions, and the annual Sake Dinner. The dinner is a $180-per-person fundraiser event featuring East-West cuisine paired with traditional Japanese Sake, and displays of Japanese art, all to celebrate the gift of 3,000 Sakura cherry trees from the nation of Japan nearly 100 years ago.

Part of the proceeds from this event help the National Park Service maintain the trees and their spring time blossoms. This donation traces back to several years ago when the areas around Lafayette Square were flooded, making a home for gnawing beavers that threatened the prized trees.

Kay Enokido, hotel chief operating officer and executive vice president, also began her “Select Author Series” this year. The series recently hosted Bob Bennett, lawyer to high profile D.C. clients and author of the memoir In the Ring: The Trials of a Washington Lawyer. Last fall, another event was held for the release of Ana’s Story: A Journey of Hope, a book by first daughter Jenna Bush.

These and other events are often held on the building’s rooftop terrace, which has a panoramic view of the White House, Jefferson Memorial and Washington Monument. Bruland said that the terrace will be a gathering spot for guests to view next year’s Inaugural Address. “You almost feel like you are part of the viewing stands for the event,” he said.

The hotel also has several interior function rooms, including the Jon Hay Room, Concorde Room and Windsor Room. The Lafayette Room serves as the hotel’s elegant dining room, but it can also be separated into three sections for private functions. According to Bruland, wedding receptions at the hotel typically have 75 to 125 guests.

A $22 million renovation project was started in September 2001, and involved gutting the hotel from the inside out, Bruland said. For several months, 24-7 work was done to enlarge guest rooms and modernize function rooms. And interior designer Tom Pheasant oversaw design improvements, which included replacing all beds and reupholstering furniture before the hotel reopened in the spring of 2002.

Though the hotel has reached an award-winning status, Bruland said staying competitive requires a constant process of improvement. “We need to look at our facility every three to five years,” he said.

And a busy event schedule for this year is an ode to the hotel’s heritage. “When we look back at the history of the hotel, this was really a social center of the city,” Bruland said.