Plan Your Meetings

Want historical accommodations?

Located across from the White House, The Hay-Adams hotel plays host to a myriad of historical figures and political powerhouses. The hotel is named after the distinguished residents who previously lived on the site: John Hay, private assistant to President Abraham Lincoln and later Secretary of State, and Henry Adams, an acclaimed author and descendant of Presidents John Adams and John Quincy Adams. The 145-room boutique property also was the temporary residence of President-elect Barack Obama and his family prior to the inauguration ceremonies on Jan. 20, 2009. Located just two blocks from the White House, the Capital Hilton, formerly the Statler Hotel, was purchased in January of 1954 for $111 million, the largest real estate acquisition at that time since the Louisiana Purchase. All 11 U.S. presidents since Franklin D. Roosevelt have stayed at the now 544-room hotel. It has 30,000 square feet of meeting space, and Washington’s premiere fitness club and day spa, the 11,000-sq. ft. Capital City Club & Spa.

Want covert group activities?

Attendees can infiltrate the International Spy Museum, the first and only public museum in the U.S. dedicated solely to espionage. The museum features the largest collection of international spy-related artifacts on public display. Through film and interactive exhibits, the stories of individual spies unfold, revealing the impact on current and historic events. Visitors can experience the life of a crime scene investigator at the National Museum of Crime & Punishment, which explores techniques used by the government and law enforcement agencies to investigate and solve crimes.

Want green venues?

The Walter E. Washington Convention Center employs a number of green initiatives including: 100 percent SCA post-consumer paper disposables; Green Seal-certified Cojo foam hand soap in all restrooms; 30 percent post-consumer, acid-free paper in all copy rooms; and use of Ecolab, an environmentally preferred vendor that provides cleaning and sanitizing products to food-service and housekeeping-service partners. Nationals Park is the nation’s first major professional stadium to become LEED Silver-certified by the U.S. Green Building Council. The project incorporates a variety of sustainable design elements. Other venues with “green” meeting packages include the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, the Willard InterContinental Washington and local Kimpton Hotels.

Want group dining?

Planners can reserve the Poste Moderne Brasserie’s main dining room for private banquets of up to 94 people (reception capacity: 200). The restaurant also has a 10-person chef’s table, a private 45-seat dining area and an outdoor patio. Rosa Mexicano caters contemporary Mexican food off-premise or on-site. Zola is a meeting-friendly American restaurant that has reception space for 250, banquet space for 150, A/V equipment and T1 Internet access. Off-premise catering also is available. If you want to shake up a meal function, CulinAerie is a culinary school that can create team-building programs such as amateur “Iron Chef” competitions. Other options include customized chef’s table experiences, wine tasting seminars and cooking classes. Just west of town in Tyson’s Corner-Vienna, Va., Chima Brazilian Steakhouse has private dining for small and large groups. Waiters dressed in traditional Brazilian gaucho (cowboy) attire roam the restaurant, offering a selection of 16 rotisserie meats. For non-meat eaters, there’s a generous salad bar.

Want venues with exceptional views?

Top of the Town is a reception and conference facility that overlooks the Potomac River and Washington’s most famous monuments. The venue accommodates up to 180 attendees for meetings, conferences, banquets or receptions. Amenities include a dance floor, an outdoor terrace and a large, private parking lot (parking fees are included in the rental rate). The USS Sequoia is a yacht that has ferried presidents since 1925. This is the vessel where JFK had his last birthday dinner, Nixon decided to resign and FDR fished. The main salon/dining room accommodates 49 people for a buffet dinner or 22 for a seated dinner around a mahogany dining room table. Four staterooms, including the Presidential suite, sleep a total of six guests. The Newseum, an interactive museum of news, has gallery space for up to 3,000. The museum’s top two floors house the Knight Conference Center, which has more than 13 meeting spaces (total capacity, both floors: 750 – 1000) and an open floor plan with unimpeded views of the U.S. Capitol and surrounding landmarks. Private dining for 70-90 guests is available in a dining room, which has an adjacent terrace.