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About 10 months remain until opening, but the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland has set a record—it has sold its one-millionth room. Industry sources indicate the previous record for pre-opening room sales was held by another Gaylord Property, the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention in Kissimmee, Florida, where one million rooms were sold approximately one month prior to its February 2002 opening.

"No other resort in the history of hotels anywhere has sold this many rooms so far out from opening," said Mike Mason, senior vice president of sales, Gaylord Hotels. "It’s astounding when you consider we still have 10 months to go before a single guest walks through the door. I was very proud when we set a record in 2002 in Florida, but this is incredible. It speaks volumes about the convention demand for the capital region."

The Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center is scheduled to open April 25, 2008. The one-million rooms pre-sold in this comprehensive venue includes all room nights under contract with groups scheduled to hold events at the property beginning April 2008 through 2018. Currently, the resort is only accepting group reservations. Individual reservations will be accepted starting January 1, 2008.

 The expansive 41-acre venue is located along the Potomac River, just eight miles south of the nation’s capitol, in the 300-acre National Harbor waterfront development. The property features 2,000 guest rooms, including 110 suites, and 470,000 square feet of meeting, convention and exhibit space. A soaring 18-story, glass-topped atrium will offer spectacular views of the Potomac River, nearby Washington D.C. and Old Town Alexandria. In addition, the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center features seven restaurants and Relâche—a 20,000-square-foot European-style spa.

"This destination practically sells itself," said Tina Sampson, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center. "Once meeting planners see how special and incredibly exciting this property will be, coupled with the fact that we cater to their needs all under one roof, they want to know where to sign."

According to meetings industry members, record-breaking sales performance indicates not just a robust D.C.-area conventions market, but the reputation of Gaylord other three venues—large hotels with significant (400,000 – 600,000 square feet) of meeting space— among planners. "The model of providing meeting rooms, sleeping rooms, entertainment venues and much more all under one roof continues to resonate positively throughout the association community because it strategically addresses the unique and challenging logistical needs of associations holding annual meetings, conventions and trade shows," said John H. Graham IV, CAE, President & CEO, ASAE & The Center for Association Leadership. "Selling one million room nights 10 months out shows the incremental value associations find in the Gaylord brand."

The Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center announced its April 25, 2008 opening during a "Topping Off" ceremony last April (2007). During this dramatic event, a 15-foot-tall Gaylord Hotels signature "G" logo was raised to the top of the hotel, commemorating the fact that construction has reached the highest point of the project.

"We broke ground nearly two years ago, and today, we’re able to see a clear finish line," said John Caparella, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Gaylord Hotels. "I’m looking forward to the positive impact this resort will have on the region. It’s not only going to help drive economic growth, it will open up the Washington D.C. market to many of our convention customers who’ve never had the opportunity to meet here. It’s something meeting planners have been requesting for years."

Construction of the resort is on schedule and has reached a critical point. Workers are installing the 50-ton, 240-foot steel trusses that will stretch from one side of the resort to the other, creating the framework for a spectacular glass-enclosed atrium. When complete, the atrium will cover more than 1.5-acres of lush, indoor tropical gardens—a signature feature of all Gaylord properties.