American author Nathaniel Hawthorne once called the Willard Intercontinental Hotel “more the center of Washington than either the Capitol or the White House.”

The Willard brothers, Henry and Edwin, purchased the property rights in the 1800s, and redecorated it to make it an influential gathering place for the people of Washington. The hotel remains a desired location for many people looking to book events, and is one of the oldest and most historic hotels in the country.

Washington is a unique city to be working in the event-planning business. “It’s a very exciting city in the sense that there are so many national treasures here in the city,” said Steele Stevenson, director of social catering and events for the Willard. “The city is very formal and traditional, and I think that the people want their events to be both formal and traditional.”

When you catch a glimpse of the hotel from the street, it doesn’t look like it is capable of hosting large events, but inside, there is no shortage of space. According to Stevenson, the hotel has more than 20,000 square feet of “banquet space” set aside specifically for events. The largest of these spaces is the Grand Ballroom, which can hold up to 450 people. There’s also the Crystal Ballroom and a series of smaller rooms known as “The Nest.”

While most weddings are scheduled eight months in advance, The Willard Intercontinental is fully capable of putting together any event on short notice, provided the potential guest is organized. “In this city there are a lot of pop-up events, which are from callers planning an event for the next day,” said Stevenson. “When someone calls in with an event like that, we normally get started right away to accommodate them. We ask they return the contract and the menu details within the hour, but we work with them to make sure everything gets done.”

The Willard Hotel was established in 1847, and has been a staple of the inauguration dinner circuit ever since. Until the hotel closed for 20 years in 1966, The Willard used to host the presidential inauguration speech in the Grand Ballroom.

Not much has changed since the hotel reopened its doors in 1986. The hotel is located right on Pennsylvania Avenue, which means that the hotel is also conveniently right along the parade route.

The location, combined with the history of the hotel, makes it a favorite stop for inauguration events.

The hotel divides their events into “market segments,” which means that different staff members within the hotel handle different types of events. This practice helps expedite the process of preparing for, and hosting, events. The results show its effectiveness. The Willard hosts over 500 events in a single year and also is capable of bringing the event to you, with “Willard on the Town” a special catering offer that allows clients to host an event elsewhere.

For more information on The Willard, visit its website at www.willardintercontinental.com or call (202) 628-9100.