New hotel opens at National Harbor

National Harbor’s newest hotel, the AC Hotel Washington, D.C., has opened, becoming the third AC Hotels by Marriott to open in the U.S.

The eight-story hotel at National Harbor, a mixed-use project on the shores of the Potomac River just across the Woodrow Wilson Bridge in Maryland, has 192 guest rooms and six suites, 3,700-square-feet of meeting space and a fitness center.

The hotel’s design taps into the nearby harbor. Upon entering guests will find a rope wall inspired by boats docked on the Potomac River, as well as nautical accents throughout.  The project offers complimentary WiFi, USB and power ports and smart TVs that can stream on-demand content.

 AC Hotels said in a press release that the project has created nearly 50 new jobs. Ryman Hospitality Properties owns the new property, which will be operated under a long-term management agreement by Marriott International.

One of National Harbor’s existing hotel properties, The Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center, is expanding. It’s building a $20 million, 24,000-square-foot, standalone ballroom —  enough space to accommodate gatherings of about 400 to 500 people.

The new ballroom, scheduled to open in fall 2016, will be situated on the banks of the Potomac with glass windows on three sides, offering views of the river, the Woodrow Wilson Bridge and Old Town Alexandria. It’s an addition to a 50,000-square-foot ballroom that is part of Gaylord’s convention complex.

“As National Harbor has grown, so too has the demand from our customers and the community for additional upscale event space for meetings and social functions,” Colin Reed, chairman and CEO of hotel owner Ryman Hospitality Properties, said in a statement.

The investment also includes an expansion of the current Orchard Terrace, enlarging this open-air events space to 39,000 square feet.  The expanded terrace, opening in September,  will be the new location for Gaylord National’s popular holiday programming.

The company has retained architectural and interior design firm BLUR Workshop to design the new facilities.