Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center facts for kids

Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center
Hotel facts and statistics
Location	National Harbor, Maryland, U.S.
Coordinates	38°46′54.5″N 77°0′59.5″W / 38.781806°N 77.016528°W / 38.781806; -77.016528
Opening date	April 1, 2008
Architect	Gensler
Management	Marriott International
Owner	Ryman Hospitality Properties, Inc.
No. of restaurants	3
No. of rooms	1996
of which suites	110
No. of floors	19

The Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center is a huge hotel and a place for big meetings, called a convention center. It is located in National Harbor, Maryland, which is in Prince George's County, Maryland, U.S..

This impressive building sits right on the Potomac River, not far from Washington, D.C.. It's also across the river from Alexandria, Virginia. The hotel is owned by Gaylord Hotels and run by Marriott International. It first opened its doors on April 1, 2008. It was built as part of a new area with offices, homes, and shops. The Gaylord National is the biggest hotel and convention center on the East Coast of the United States that doesn't have a casino. It cost about $870 million to build.

About the Gaylord National

Pool lounging area with National Harbor buildings in the background

The center was first going to be called the "Gaylord Potomac Resort." But its name was changed during the planning stages. This large hotel has 2,000 guest rooms where people can stay. It also has 95 rooms for events and over 537,000 square feet of meeting space.

The hotel features seven different restaurants and a 20,000 square foot spa for relaxing. About 2,000 people work there. A special part of the hotel is its 19-story glass atrium. This huge open space offers amazing views of the Potomac River.

Before it even opened in 2008, over 1.3 million room nights were already booked. Other hotels and buildings were being built nearby at the same time.

Hosting Big Events

The Gaylord National Convention Center is a popular spot for many large events. In 2011, it hosted the Republican National Committee Winter Meeting. This is where leaders of the Republican political party meet.

The center also hosts many fun festivals and conferences. These include:

• Katsucon: A big celebration of anime, which is Japanese animation.
• MAGFest: A yearly festival that celebrates video games, their music, and the culture around them. MAGFest has been held here since 2012.
• Scripps National Spelling Bee: This famous spelling competition for kids has been held at the Gaylord since 2011.
• Technology Student Association National Conference: This event brings together students interested in technology. It was held here in 2014 and again in 2019.
• MLB Winter Meetings: In 2016, the hotel hosted this important meeting for Major League Baseball.

Images for kids

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  The Gaylord National Resort in National Harbor

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  The beautiful Indoor Atrium Lobby

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  A hallway view inside the Gaylord National Convention Center, looking toward the Potomac River

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  The Gaylord Resort and Hotel at twilight

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  Looking into the Atrium of the Gaylord Resort and Hotel