A Season of Traditions:
How we Celebrate the Holidays

As Thanksgiving approaches, our hotel manager and others are busy transforming the hotel into the very essence of festive magic.

Seven Christmas trees find their places in the hotel, twinkling lights and elegant decorations beckoning our guests to come closer and feel the spirit of the season. The mantels in the Hay-Adams Room are adorned with oversized garlands. Off The Record’s legendary walls of caricatures are joined by thoughtfully placed pieces of holiday décor. Top of the Hay adds festive greens and several trees to its already spectacular view of the city. 

Most fittingly of all, our staff, who have spent many holidays here at the hotel, share some of their favorite Hay-Adams traditions:

“I love seeing our regular guests come into the bar over the holidays with their family and friends who are visiting from out of town. Off The Record always has a wonderful atmosphere during the holidays, and I really enjoy seeing guests coming together to celebrate. It makes me happy to see so many familiar faces and everyone having a great time. It feels like my own holiday traditions: one big family gathering.”  – Juan, Off The Record

“When guests see the lobby tree for the first time, it’s magical. We take a lot of photos for guests who want to pose with their family in front of the tree.”   – Sean, Lobby

“When the holiday season comes to life at The Hay Adams, all employees come together as one big family. We work hard to make sure that we provide the best holiday experience for our guests. Sometimes we spend more time here than with our own families, so we always make sure that we share our joy for this special time of year with each other!”  – Chef Mitch

“There’s nothing quite like our holiday brunches. Everyone works together to transform Top of The Hay, and then, when we see the guests' faces when they walk in and see the room, the theme, the food and display and of course that very special view, it’s truly unlike anywhere else in the city.”   – Alex, Food & Beverage

“I so enjoy unpacking our specially curated décor that I bought over the years, all hand-picked for The Hay-Adams, then seeing the lobby tree finished. That moment of seeing it for the first time in all its glory from all angles is pretty special. But so is the ambiance in the Hay-Adams Room: fireplaces blasting, music playing, and mantel décor sparkling. And then there’s the fun in Off The Record: putting up the large, funky reindeer-head figurine, along with penguins and snowballs. The entire hotel is joyful! ”  – Colette, Hotel Manager

 For me, there’s joy in spending the holidays here at my home-away-from-home. I never count the days, and suddenly a year has gone by again. I get to spend the season with my colleagues, and to see some of the same guests year after year. I love the ambiance in the hotel during the season, and we get to celebrate it together.   – Efrain, The Lafayette