Overnighting in downtown Washington, DC, is about to get a whole lot more glamorous. On May 1, 2014, Marriott is set to unveil what will be the city’s largest-ever hotel: the Marriot Marquis Washington. Connected via underground concourse to the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, this 16-floor stunner spans nearly an entire city block.
An artist's rendering of the hotel's impressive exterior — Photo courtesy of Marriott
Geared toward both business and pleasure travelers, the hotel – which incorporates the historic Samuel L Gompers Building into its structure – sets itself apart not only with its scale, but with its grandeur. With a soaring atrium (whose spectacular skylight is the size of a football field) and 18,000 square feet of foyer space, the common areas alone are sights to behold. From there, it only gets better.
Vacationers staying at the new 1,175-room hotel will appreciate the valet parking (DC’s reputation for horrible traffic is well earned.), as well as Marriott’s signature Revive bedding package, flat-screen TVs and wireless internet in each room. They’ll also enjoy the state-of-the-art 8,000-square-foot fitness center and the five onsite dining options. What they’ll truly love, however, is the location.
The hotel's reception area provides a glitzy welcome to guests — Photo courtesy of Marriott
Situated in the heart of DC’s Shaw neighborhood, the Marriott Marquis Washington is just a bike, cab or Metro ride (or even a quick walk) away from some of the capital’s biggest draws, including the National Mall, the U.S. Capitol, the Newseum, the Lincoln Memorial, Union Station, Penn Quarter and the White House. The Verizon Center – home of the NBA’s Washington Wizards and the NHL’s Washington Capitals, as well as a popular concert venue – is nearby, too.
Something else visitors to the DC area will want to keep in mind: This year marks the first time the Library of Congress National Book Festival won’t be held at the Mall. Instead, the wildly popular annual event will take place at – wait for it – the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. That means guests staying at the Marriott Marquis need only stroll through the underground concourse to enjoy a day-long extravaganza of authors, illustrators and all things literary.
The sports bar will be just one of the hotel's many dining spots — Photo courtesy of Marriott
While the new Marriott is still a few months away from flipping its sign to "Open," the hotel is already taking reservations for the upcoming vacation season. (There’s a no-pets policy, however, so leave Rex at home.) If you’re planning a trip to Washington this summer, it’s a good idea to book your room now. The Marriott Marquis may be enormous, but summertime crowds in DC are even bigger!
