Gaylord National Resort, a Marriott brand hotel

I stayed at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center, National Harbor, Maryland about ten miles outside of Washington D.C. in February 2011. The four Gaylord Resort Convention Centers are now a hotel brand of Marriott International.

Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center on the Potomac, National Harbor, Maryland.

The aesthetic and architectural feature I most enjoyed at both Gaylord National and Gaylord Palms are their enormous glass atriums. There are water fountains, streams, trees and plenty of benches and tables in the lobby.

Potomac River view from lobby atrium of Gaylord National.

The 18-story Gaylord National glass atrium from outside.

Gaylord National is a huge hotel with 2,000 rooms and 110 suites. These properties are truly designed as convention center hotels.

Atrium facing rooms are premium view rooms at Gaylord Resorts.

The lobby fountain offered periodic bursts of water for an attractive colored light and water show in the evening.

Gaylord National atrium fountain at dusk.

Gaylord National Hotel Room

My room was located in a wing overlooking the convention center ceiling with less scenic views, but I did have a nice sunset view looking west across the Potomac.

Sunset view across the Potomac from room.

Desk area and TV at Gaylord National.

Coffee corner, Gaylord National standard room.

Bathroom in standard room at Gaylord National.

Restaurant Dining at Gaylord National.

Gaylord Resorts have several restaurants, fitness room, pool and Gaylord National has a spa. There are beauty shops and barber shops and stores and entertainment rooms. These resorts are designed to cater to several thousand guests daily and offer many services and food outlets.

My primary complaint about Gaylord Hotels are the high-priced restaurants. No problem when you are on an expense account, but meals add up when paying your own way as a family, even though rates can be quite low for this caliber hotel outside of convention dates.

National Harbor is a small community with a few blocks of hotels and restaurants. Several other hotels in the immediate vicinity outside Gaylord National include Starwood’s Westin and Aloft, Marriott Residence Inn, Hampton Inn and Wyndham Vacation Resorts.

Westin National Harbor is another waterfront hotel about 200 yards from Gaylord National. Marriott Residence Inn is right side behind flag. Aloft, Hampton Inn and Wyndham are also in this same area.

Gaylord National Convention Center on right is attached to the hotel resort.

Gaylord National, National Harbor, MD

Gaylord National reception desk.

Gaylord National lobby corridor to room elevators.

Window washing must be a continual task at Gaylord Resorts.

There are four Gaylord Resorts in the US and three are currently participating in Marriott Rewards. Gaylord Opryland, the flagship hotel, will join Marriott Rewards in a few months.

• Gaylord National, National Harbor, MD (just outside Washington, DC) enters Marriott Rewards as a Category 5 hotel at 25,000 points per night.
• Gaylord Palms,Kissimmee, FL (near Orlando, FL and DisneyWorld) enters Marriott Rewards as a Category 6 hotel at 30,000 points per night.
• Gaylord Texan, Grapevine, TX (on the outskirts of Dallas) enters Marriott Rewards as a Category 6 hotel at 30,000 points per night.
• Gaylord Opryland, Nashville, TN, will join the Marriott Rewards program in early 2013 and The Inn at Opryland will join the program toward the end of 2012.

Related post: Gaylord Resorts are Marriott’s new 14th brand (Oct 31, 2012)