Capital Revival: Inside the Mayflower’s New Look

As it celebrates the past with its centennial in 2025, the iconic The Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C., also looks to the future. 

The Marriott Vacation Club^® at The Mayflower, Washington, D.C., is undergoing a historic renovation of the 71 rooms and suites on the seventh floor of the hotel. These updates offer a “brighter, more open, and modern” stay for Owners and Members, according to Erac Priester, regional assistant vice president of architecture and construction at Marriott Vacations Worldwide. 

The three-year project, which included input from Baltimore-based Studio Partnership interior designers, also sought to boost the property’s sense of place by more directly connecting to its lineage and prime position in the nation’s capital. 

History Revisited

The new look is immediately obvious in the corridors. There lies a series of portraits that use hand-scrawled passages from speeches like George Washington’s “Farewell Address” and Susan B. Anthony’s “Women’s Right to Vote” to outline the facial features, hair, and clothing of the impassioned men and women who delivered them. 

When guests step into their own rooms**, they’ll immediately notice another piece of custom artwork. Each bed is framed by a marble-patterned wall covering that surrounds a large, two-toned wood headboard adorned with a backlit, opaque cameo. The latter represents a participant in a love triangle — between John and Priscilla Alden and Myles Standish — drawn from the records of the Mayflower, the 17th-century sailing ship that gives the hotel its name. 

The whole arrangement “creates a focal point for the room,” says Priester, “and we had fun taking some artistic license with the story and fleshing out the characters.”

While staying on the seventh floor, Owners and Members enjoy full access to the rest of The Mayflower, whose combination of historic significance and Beaux-Arts architectural treasures has earned it a spot on the National Register of Historic Places. Highlights include strolling along the block-long lobby and savoring a (preferably gossipy) dinner at Edgar Bar & Kitchen. This classic American brasserie is named after former FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover, who dined there every day. 

On the mezzanine level, display cases filled with photographs and artifacts encourage guests to unpack the stories of the famous names who’ve gathered in the hotel’s gilded halls. These historic figures met to celebrate inaugurations and milestones, draft bills and speeches, and host foreign dignitaries and local bigwigs.

Enhanced Stays

When it’s time to retire, visitors will now enjoy rooms featuring neutral walls, luxury vinyl plank floors, and dual roller shades for a fresher, more allergen-free respite. Refinished cabinetry, a coat of light blue paint, and a new backlit LED mirror and wall-mounted makeup mirror have completely transformed the bathrooms.

Most notable are the modern furnishings and uncluttered footprints that define the rooms. Televisions are now wall-mounted, and chic, black-and-gold nightstands are integrated into the accent wall, presenting a cleaner room layout. A new desk and luggage rack feature the same light-wood grain and gold accents found elsewhere in the room, while a wheel-less chair of white faux leather offers an upgrade that feels homier than the standard desk chair.

The floor’s redesigned King Suites are the “creme de la creme,” says Priester, with apartment-like comforts that include a marble and granite basketweave-tiled foyer with a wet bar, and a large living room outfitted with a black sleeper sofa, two lounge chairs, a desk and chair, and an ornate dark blue fireplace mantle. Accents like area rugs in black and white with graphic patterns and a custom artwork of cherry blossoms made of punched white leather finish out the space.

“The hotel does a great job of tapping into its historical nature,” notes Priester. “From a design perspective, though, our goal was to be local but not literal, to add a little whimsy and glamour.”

Where to Stay

Experience a memorable vacation as part of The Marriott Vacation Clubs City Collection at Marriott Vacation Club® at The Mayflower, Washington, D.C. This historic building, situated in the bustling heart of downtown Washington, D.C., serves as your gateway to the city’s sites, attractions, shopping, and dining.

Based in Philadelphia, JoAnn Greco writes frequently on travel, hospitality, and design for publications such as AAA’s The Extra Mile and Traveler, where she is a contributing editor, and Hospitality Design magazine.