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East Coast's Largest Combined Hotel and Convention Center Gears Up for Grand Opening on Friday, April 25 |
NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. (April 1, 2008) – The newest monumental addition to the national capital region will soon make its public debut along the banks of the Potomac River. Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center will celebrate its official grand opening on Friday, April 25 at 2 p.m.
A massive $865 million facility, the Gaylord National is the largest combined hotel and convention center on the Eastern Seaboard. It boasts 2,000 luxurious guest rooms, including 110 lavish suites, and 470,000 square feet of meeting, convention and exhibit space.
It's the cornerstone of the exciting new National Harbor development, a 300-acre waterfront destination offering world-class dining, retail and entertainment venues. National Harbor is conveniently located just minutes south of the nation's capital in Prince George's County, Md.
Gaylord officials, including chief executive officer Colin Reed, will join Maryland-state officials, Prince George's County-representatives and other specially invited guests for the unforgettable April 25 grand opening. The private ceremony will take place in the resort's 18-story atrium.
Gaylord National will immerse guests in the lore and legacies of the historic mid-Atlantic region. Beneath its barrel-vaulted glass dome, visitors will find sophisticated guestrooms and suites situated around a climate-controlled atrium that pays homage to the area's famous sights and sounds. There's lush indoor gardens, winding pathways, a sparkling indoor river, and even life-size recreations of a federalist-style clapboard farmhouse and a two-story, red-brick colonial mercantile shop. Best of all, this picturesque setting can be enjoyed year round in perfect 72-degree temperature.
Seven sumptuous restaurants and eateries will offer culinary experiences unlike any other. Old Hickory Steakhouse, the resort's signature restaurant, is modeled after the interior of an elegant Georgian row house. It boasts a glass-enclosed cheese cave tended to by the restaurant's very own Maitre d' Fromage, a passionate and knowledgeable individual who guides guests in creating a customized cheese course featuring some of the world's most unique artisanal cheeses.
Savor the freshest seafood selections at Moon Bay Coastal Cuisine, where an indoor "river" and dockside setting transport guests to an early 20th century wharf resembling the region's early fish markets. Temptation awaits at Pienza Italian Market, where an ever-changing array of seasonal items is presented at six market-inspired stations. And, sports fans will delight with generous portions of comfort food served with a dash of gameday excitement at National Pastime Sports Bar & Grill, where a 30-foot wide, high-definition video wall won't let anyone miss a moment of the action.
When it comes time for relaxation, guests can indulge their senses at Relâche – a 20,000 square-foot European-style spa, salon and fitness center. Inside this sleek, modern setting of black and white marble, guests will find 12 treatment rooms, including a signature couple's treatment suite offering a 180-degree panoramic view of the Potomac River.
For an even more spectacular view, guests can dance the night away at Pose – the area's hottest ultra lounge situated high atop the resort's 18th floor. Aside from the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Washington D.C., the main attraction here is a one-of-a-kind vodka infusion bar. Inspired by the art of marrying fresh ingredients with premium spirits, the infusion process creates concoctions that are even more unique and seductive as the flavors used to create them.
The resort even boasts its own private marina where guests can catch a dinner cruise to view some of the area's famous monuments by water. Or, hop aboard a convenient water taxi to explore some of the river's most famous nearby destinations, including Old Town Alexandria, Georgetown and Mount Vernon. The water taxi service runs continuously throughout the day.
Meeting professionals will discover a total of 470,000 square feet of flexible meeting, convention and exhibit space. Four ballrooms, including the massive 50,000-square-foot Potomac Ballroom with its built-in Broadway-scale stage, stand at the ready to confidently host nearly any event imaginable. And, the 180,000-square-foot Prince George's Exhibit Hall, with its 17 dedicated loading docks, can easily accommodate simultaneous load-in/load-outs for even the most complex tradeshows.
Just steps from the resort, guests will discover National Harbor, a vibrant community offering world-class restaurants, retail shops and unique entertainment options. This destination will also host special events throughout the year, such as an upscale farmer's market, food and wine festival, art festival, outdoor concerts and movies along the waterfront, and much more.
The opening of Gaylord National underscores the resort's positive impact in boosting convention business in Prince George's County and the Washington D.C. region. In June 2007, ten months out from opening, Gaylord National announced that it had pre-sold more than 1,000,000 room nights to meeting and convention groups through the year 2018. The announcement broke the hospitality industry record for the highest number of room nights pre-sold before a hotel opening anywhere.
Gaylord National is the fourth convention resort to be owned and operated by Nashville-based Gaylord Hotels. Standard guest room rates start at $299 per night, and suites start at $1,100 per night. For more information or to make reservations, visit www.gaylordnational.com or call 301-965-2000.
ABOUT GAYLORD HOTELS
Gaylord Hotels™ is a pioneer in the hotel and convention industry with a collection of four upscale, meetings- focused resorts found near Nashville, Tennessee; Orlando, Florida; Dallas, Texas; and Washington, D.C. Every Gaylord property celebrates the geographical heritage of the destination in which it is located with regional themes and attractions designed exclusively for that resort. The company's hallmark – "everything in one place" - provides meeting attendees and leisure travelers with convenient onsite access to award-winning dining options, quality spa and fitness facilities, top-notch entertainment, on-site shopping and resort activities. Gaylord Hotels is owned and operated by Gaylord Entertainment (NYSE: GET), a leading hospitality and entertainment company based in Nashville, Tennessee. For more information, visit www.gaylordhotels.com.
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Media Relations Contacts:
Amie Gorrell, 301-306-5053, agorrell@gaylordhotels.com
Wayne Henninger, whenninger@redpegmarketing.com