Our “Second Home” Tradition

Herb and Cyndy have been guests at The Hay-Adams for fifteen years. They visit often as they can, having lived in - and fallen in love with Washington, DC, earlier in their careers.

We have always loved Washington, DC. From the time we began our careers there 40 years ago, the nation’s capital has had an almost electrifying energy about it for us. Living and working in the heart of the political landscape, we realized that we were deeply interested not just in policy, law, and communications—but in using politics for the most public good.

We had each grown up away from DC, but Herb wanted to be a DC lawyer after his graduation from law school, and Cyndy knew she wanted to put her degree and skills to work in public policy. We were fortunate to both land jobs in the city after Herb finished law school. We lived in Arlington, but we worked and spent all our spare time in DC.

A relative treated us to lunch at The Lafayette at The Hay-Adams, and we were impressed, to say the least, by the restaurant’s cozy, warm ambience. We couldn’t help but notice it was filled with power players in politics, government, and law.

That lunch was our first taste of The Hay-Adams. We felt more than a glimmer of intrigue at the dynamic in the restaurant – we also had a sense that we could feel at home there. 

Our first visit as staying guests was on a business trip years later, after we had moved away. After that experience, we were hooked. We've stayed in countless great hotels in Washington, DC, but once we experienced The Hay-Adams, we never looked back. Even when our business associates stayed elsewhere, we insisted on returning to our beloved hotel.

Now that we’re retired and living in Kentucky (where Cyndy grew up), we consider The Hay-Adams as almost a second home. We've been coming back every chance we get, for over 15 years. 

What keeps us coming back? It's not just the stunning location or the beautiful building; it's the people. The staff at The Hay-Adams has become like family to us. They know us by name, remember our preferences, and always make us feel welcome. We've developed special bonds with some of the staff, like Saada, Sarah, and Paul, just to name a few, who have been a part of our visits for years. When we brought our grown children and their spouses, it was wonderful to see them connect with the people we've grown to love.

We always request the same room, with its charming French doors that open onto a view of St. John's Church. It's a tradition we cherish, especially during our summer visits. Over the years, we've explored D.C. like locals, enjoying Book Hill, Georgetown, the Waterfront and the Kennedy Center, visiting favorite restaurants, and taking in the sights and sounds of the city. But it's the simple things that bring us the most joy—room service breakfast, picnics in adjacent Lafayette Park, and people-watching in the intimate European-style lobby.

We’ve been so fortunate to have had the opportunity to travel extensively. But there's something about The Hay-Adams that keeps us returning. Perhaps it's the refined, yet welcoming, atmosphere, or maybe it's the way they always seem to make the impossible possible. Whatever it is, we know that our children will continue this tradition long after we're gone.

For us, The Hay-Adams is more than just a hotel; it's a part of our family's story. We look forward to many more years of creating memories here, surrounded by the people and the place we love.