BETHESDA, MD—Marriott International Inc. has revealed its intent to remain headquartered in Montgomery County, MD; its real estate search for a new corporate facility has been narrowed to the downtown business district here. Several sites are still being considered and negotiations are ongoing.
A final decision on a location is expected in the first half of 2017. However, pending successful site selection, lease negotiation and finalization of all necessary agreements, permitting, and support from the state and county, the brand has not ruled out other locations.
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“Marriott has been headquartered in the state of Maryland for more than 60 years and we intend to remain close to our roots. Our goal is to provide a cutting-edge workspace for our associates, offering state-of-the-art technology, modern amenities and access to a range of transportation options,” said Marriott President and CEO Arne Sorenson. “After a comprehensive review of many excellent options in the DC metro region, we have focused our search on downtown Bethesda, which offers multiple sites that meet our priority needs.”
Sorenson added that the company expects to manage a new Marriott-branded hotel on the site, which will offer more than 200 rooms.
Marriott’s headquarters relocation team, with the support of JLL, its real estate advisor, and Gensler, a global design firm and workplace strategy partner, evaluated a range of possible locations in North Bethesda; Washington, DC; and Arlington and Fairfax counties in Northern Virginia.
“Our future headquarters will be a major investment in the local community, and we look forward to remaining a strong economic engine for Montgomery County and the entire region,” said Sorenson.