Marriott International has opened its 8,000th property adjacent to the company's soon-to-open new global headquarters in Bethesda, Md.
The Marriott Bethesda Downtown at Marriott HQ is a 12-story property owned by The Bernstein Companies and managed by Marriott International. The hotel has three innovative culinary concepts, including Bethesda's first high-rise rooftop bar. Public spaces include a fitness center, a library with books by local authorss, an art collection of work from the region's emerging talent. The property also has a commissioned large-scale mural by multimedia artist Liz Collins.
Constructed to be LEED Gold certified with custom and sustainable design, the hotel has five rooftop green spaces growing ingredients for hotel menus and is designed to reduce pollution, save energy and manage storm water.
Marriott's first lodging property, the Twin Bridges Marriott, opened in 1957 and was a four-story motor hotel in Arlington, Va.
"From the nine-seat root beer stand that my grandparents started nearly 95 years ago in downtown Washington, to the milestone opening of our 8,000th property, we have been fortunate to call this area our home," said David Marriott, director and incoming chairman, Marriott International board of directors, in a statement. "Marriott Bethesda Downtown at Marriott HQ reflects the continued transformation of the Marriott Hotels brand, and we are thrilled to embark on a new era of inspired travel and design with the opening of this hotel."