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Verdict on DC's New Gaylord: "Ridonkulously Large"

Go To The Hotel's Web Site Where: 201 Waterfront Street [map], National Harbor, MD, United States, 20745
April 16, 2008 at 9:00 AM | by annie0007 | 2 Comments

Reviewing DC's shiny new Gaylord National Hotel, a writer for The Washington Post felt adjectives like "glorious" and "mesmerizing" weren't enough to describe the sheer enormity of this sprawling hotel and convention center.

"Ridonkulous" would have to do.

This $86 million dollar complex, part of the Gaylord chain, busts at the seams with atriums and banquet halls, 470,000 square feet of conference facilities, a four-star spa, even on-site shopping.

It's fair to say this place can brag it's a small city -- literally. There are 2000 rooms of all sizes (traditional, premium, and suites).  According to the Post, it's a half-million square feet, looking out over the National Harbor docks along the Potomac, and Old Town Virginia, where you can catch a water taxi to Georgetown or Mount Vernon.

And inside the gargantualific atrium are two full-scale recreations of Colonial-era buildings. Bloody hell!

There are a smattering of restaurants on site, including the chain's signature Old Hickory Steakhouse, as well an Italian restaurant. There's a chic lounge, a lobby bar, pool bar, sports bar, a coffee bar -- are you thirsty yet?

In short, the place has just about everything a tourist or conventioneer could want, without leaving the premises, even with all the attractions of the nation's capital (and environs) nearby.

But the article confesses this rollout has been anything but smooth -- first, the novovirus that made their new patrons physically ill (reports later determined it probably did not come from the hotel but whoa.) Then there were reports of rodents roaming the hallways (perhaps they were attending a conference, as well?) These snafus are being rectified as we go to press, leaving their next gloriating reviews mice-free.

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Return to » Verdict on DC's New Gaylord: "Ridonkulously Large"

  1. cdavids

    HotelChatter Member

    Re: Verdict on DC's New Gaylord:

    word is the behind the scenes operation (ie. food left out for hours, or even days, deer in headlights staff, etc...) and the rodent problem are not really improving. Management will need a slow period to catch their breath and gather themselves. Unfortunately with the schedule booked full, they many not have that luxury.
    May not sound like it here, but I really hope for the success of this building.
    May 7, 2008 at 7:57 PM
    #Permalink

  1. 1train

    HotelChatter Member

    Re: Verdict on DC's New Gaylord:

    The Gaylord's troubles are a case of karma coming around.  Their arrogant taskforce staff swept through DC and Virginia hotels, having the nerve (and clear lack of class) to be handing out business cards to the on duty staff in the lobbies, telling them to come to the Gaylord and we'll pay you more.  Pirating staffs from other hotels is nothing new, but Gaylord's management did in the lobbies and restaurants of their neighbors, not a cool act.  The low point was when a Gaylord staff member went to a Virginia hotel across the river and stuffed sales brochures under the guest room doors like they were menus; apparently the Gaylord's marketing plan comes from Pizza Hut.

    They can put their positive spin in the rats and novavirus, but they don't have many fans in this area pulling for them.

    June 7, 2008 at 10:05 AM
    #Permalink

Return to » Verdict on DC's New Gaylord: "Ridonkulously Large"

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