Taylor Swift, Barbra Streisand & FDR: Stay Where Legends Slept at The Mayflower Hotel

The iconic Mayflower Hotel, Autograph Collection, announces its 100th anniversary, celebrating the occasion with a centennial proclamation, historical exhibits, sophisticated cocktails, and an exclusive once-in-a-lifetime bookable hotel package. Since opening its doors in 1925, The Mayflower Hotel has been a beacon of elegance and sophistication in Washington, DC. Dubbed 'Washington’s Second-Best Address' by President Harry Truman and affectionately known as the Grande Dame of Washington, the hotel has been the backdrop for countless historic events and has welcomed a notable array of dignitaries, celebrities, and guests from around the globe. This centennial celebration marks a significant milestone in the hotel's storied history, honoring its legacy of excellence and its enduring commitment to providing unparalleled hospitality.

"As the General Manager of this esteemed hotel, I am honored to be commemorating the hotel’s centennial with notable community members and our dedicated associates,” said Shelly DiMeglio, General Manager of The Mayflower Hotel, Autograph Collection. “This milestone is incredibly special to me and to our team. Our commitment to exceptional service, unforgettable experiences, and timeless charm has inspired guests from around the world for one hundred years, and we are honored to celebrate with them today.”

To celebrate this milestone, The Mayflower Hotel will host a series of special events and promotions, including:

• Centennial Proclamation: Washington, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser and Lawrence Horwitz, Executive Vice President of Historic Hotels of America (an official program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation), will join hotel associates to celebrate the hotel's centennial with a special proclamation commemorating the anniversary.
• Historical Exhibits: Displays highlighting the hotel's rich history, notable guests, significant events, and original Mayflower Hotel mementos and artifacts collected over the years, such as vintage photographs, elegant China dinnerware and silverware, are available for viewing on the hotel's Mezzanine level.
• Centennial Cocktails: The Mayflower Hotel will unveil a new collection of centennial cocktails that seamlessly blend innovation with the hotel's illustrious history. Among the highlights is the Mayflower’s Bathtub Gin, crafted with Wilde Gin, violet, Luxardo, and St. Germaine liqueurs, elegantly presented in a gold bathtub, garnished with a carnation in homage to Clyde Tolson, top deputy at the FBI and Hoover’s protégé and lifetime companion. Another standout is the reimagined Vieux Carre, featuring barrel-picked Whistle Pig, fat-washed barrel cognac, sweet vermouth, and creole-style bitters. Additionally, the Old-Fashioned, a signature cocktail at The Mayflower for decades, will be celebrated during the hotel's 100th Anniversary. The distinguished Old Fashioned, made with a 10-year Whistle Pig blend exclusively created for the hotel, will be served with a collectable Mayflower 100^th anniversary keepsake.

• Exclusive Packages: The Mayflower Hotel is offering an opportunity for guests to recreate the hotel’s extravagant opening gala held in the Grand Ballroom with a bespoke event. Guests can create a gala for an occasion of their choosing – whether it is to support a favorite charity, a ball to celebrate a milestone, or an elegant party, the package is an opportunity for guests to experience the historical grandeur of The Mayflower in their own unique way. This package includes all food and beverage, décor, dedicated staff, and an on-site photographer and social media curator to capture every moment. To book this one-of-a-kind package, guests can visit the hotel’s centennial celebration website.

As The Mayflower Hotel begins its next century, the hotel remains dedicated to keeping the legacy alive that has defined it for the past 100 years. With a commitment to providing unparalleled service and creating unforgettable experiences, The Mayflower Hotel looks forward to welcoming guests from around the world to continue its renowned tradition.

Unparalleled Service

The Mayflower Hotel's legendary service is brought to life by dedicated associates. Their wealth of experience and passion for service infuse every guest interaction with gracious hospitality, delightful touches, and genuine smiles. The service excellence delivered by our people ensures that every stay is memorable, reflecting the hotel's proud tradition of excellence.

Inspired Bites & Thoughtfully Crafted Cocktails

The hotel’s legendary Edgar Bar & Kitchen pays homage to Washington’s great power players, offering a carefully curated experience that encompasses modern brassiere-style cuisine and bespoke cocktails, seen-and-be-seen atmosphere and intimate spaces.  The restaurant's namesake is a tribute to J. Edgar Hoover, the first Director of the FBI, who dined at The Mayflower Hotel for over 20 years with Clyde Tolson.

Iconic Beaux-Arts Design

The Mayflower Hotel was designed by Warren & Wetmore with Robert F. Beresford during what was called “the Golden Age of hotel construction.” The Beaux-Arts style, known for its grandeur and elaborate detailing, is apparent in the hotel's ten-story structure, ornately decorated facade, grand public spaces, and opulent interior.  The hotel’s lavish lobby and 42,000 square feet of ballrooms and meeting space provide an elegant setting for large gatherings, executive retreats, receptions, or society weddings.

The hotel’s 23-karat gilding, present in the lobby and the Grand and Chinese Ballrooms, has been preserved to ensure future generations can experience the Mayflower’s stately design. The hotel boasts the most gold leaf in its public spaces in Washington, DC, second only to the Library of Congress.

Memorable Moments in History

The Mayflower Hotel has long been a popular choice for visiting foreign dignitaries and Hollywood royalty, including notable figures such as Charles de Gaulle, Winston Churchill, Queen Elizabeth, John Wayne, Jean Harlow, Amelia Earhart, Bob Hope, and Sophia Loren. It also holds a special place in American history as the location where FDR wrote his famous "the only thing we have to fear, is fear itself" speech.

The Mayflower has been the backdrop for many pivotal moments in American history. In 1927, Charles Lindbergh was awarded the Hubbard Medal by the National Geographic Society at a breakfast held at the hotel. In 1943, the GI Bill was drafted on hotel letterhead in room 570. During a 1945 state dinner in the hotel's Chinese Room, Winston Churchill's off color joke was unexpectedly amplified by the room's unusual acoustics, reaching and surprising distinguished guests, including President Roosevelt.  In 1983, the hotel was awarded a place on the National Register of Historic Places, and in 1989, it was added to the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Historic Hotels of America.

The Mayflower Hotel, with its rich history, elegant design, and storied past, epitomizes the Autograph Collection’s dedication to weaving the stories of the past, present, and future into its very fabric. Each hotel in the Autograph Collection is inspired by a clear vision, soul, and story, making The Mayflower Hotel truly: Exactly Like Nothing Else.