VisitMontgomery.com; @VisitMoCo
“Planners love Montgomery County’s energy, proximity to Washington, D.C., and diversity,” says Kelly Groff, CDME, president and CEO of Visit Montgomery. According to Groff, Germantown, Rockville, and Gaithersburg are some of the most diverse areas in the county. “We also offer a wealth of resources and venues to make successful events.”
The 455-room Bethesda North Marriott Hotel & Conference Center boasts 61,923 square feet of event space across 26 meeting rooms and 15 breakout spaces; its largest space can accommodate up to 2,500 guests reception or theater style. Marriott Bethesda Downtown at Marriott HQ has six event rooms and five breakout rooms; its largest space has a capacity of 200 people.
The 390-room Hyatt Regency Bethesda includes six event spaces; its largest space can accommodate up to 800 people. DoubleTree by Hilton Washington DC North/Gaithersburg features 298 newly renovated guest rooms and 16,356 square feet of event space; its largest space has a capacity of 600 people. Overlooking Rio Washingtonian Lake, the 284-room Gaithersburg Marriott Washingtonian Center has 9,288 square feet of event space, including a lakeside ballroom and an outdoor terrace; it largest space can accommodate up to 500 guests. The 315-room Hilton Washington DC/Rockville Hotel & Executive Meeting Center features more than 36,000 square feet of event space. It completed a multimillion-dollar renovation last fall.
Countywide hotel developments include the closure of Hotel Silver Spring and Kaylan Hospitality’s acquisition of SpringHill Suites by Marriott Gaithersburg. Homewood Suites Gaithersburg Washington DC North is undergoing renovations.
For group outings, Montgomery County’s “Tastemakers Trail” features more than 20 local producers of potable spirits, such as Song Dog Farm Distilling in Boyds and Fallen Oak Distilling in Olney, which offers a unique small-batch, “ground-to-glass” experience and a hidden speakeasy cocktail bar. Burnt Hill Farm in Clarksburg provides an elevated wine experience featuring tours, local wines, and cuisine (by reservation only).
Groups can also journey through history aboard the mule-drawn Charles F. Mercer paddleboat at the C&O Canal National Historical Park, which celebrates this vital waterway for Potomac River communities. Other attractions include the National Museum of Health and Medicine, featuring a display of the bullet that killed Abraham Lincoln. Notable Black history sites include the Josiah Henson Museum & Park and the Underground Railroad Experience Trail, which offers a two-mile guided hike along a portion of the perilous journey.
