Gaylord Celebrates Official Opening

The Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center held its official opening ceremonies today in the atrium of the $865 million facility. The Gaylord National is the largest combined hotel and convention center on the Eastern Seaboard. It houses 2,000 guest rooms, including 110 suites, and 470,000 square feet of meeting, convention and exhibit space.

Gaylord CEO Colin Reed, hotel general manager Sheldon Suga, Prince George's County Executive Jack Johnson and Maryland Lt. Governor Anthony Brown were joined by too many to count politicians praising and shaking each other's hands and then congratulating themselves. National Harbor developer Milt Peterson accepted his share of kudos although he was jokingly (we think) prevented from speaking to keep the program length manageable.

Then with a bang, a short blast of fireworks and a squirt of the fountain, the ribbon split and the hotel was officially declared open.