Exceptional meetings at historic hotels

Marriott's Convention & Resort Network has a number of historic hotels that offer meeting planners exceptional meeting and group facilities — with a past that will pique the interest of guests.

Washington Marriott Wardman Park Hotel: Shrouded in history, the Wardman Park Hotel first opened its doors in 1918 and has been making headlines ever since. From connections to the Watergate scandal and famous residents such as the Eisenhowers to Langston Hughes' history and the first ever televised broadcast of NBC's “Meet the Press” in 1947, the Wardman Park Hotel has ample historical significance. This NW Washington, DC hotel has 195,000-plus square feet of event space, 95,000-plus square feet of exhibit space and 1,152 guest rooms including 104 suites — a plethora of options for meeting goers. New for 2018: the hotel is celebrating its 100th anniversary.

Camelback Inn: A JW Marriott Resort & Spa, this sprawling 125-acre property provides 453 casitas, including 18 larger suites. When it first opened in 1936, the resort was immediately popular among wealthy travelers who endured long train rides to Phoenix from the East Coast. From the two heated pools and exceptional spa to the pitch-and-putt golf and six tennis courts, Camelback Inn offers a little something for all meeting goers — plus an unbeatable serene surrounding. New for 2018: the resort is adding the Paradise Ballroom, set to unveil in June, with 15,000 square feet of meeting space.

Vinoy Park Hotel: It all started in 1923, with a party, a bet, and a game of golf at the St. Petersburg Beach Drive home of Aymer Vinoy Laughner, a wealthy Pennsylvania businessman. Famed golfer Walter Hagen drove several golf balls off the face of Laughner’s prized pocket watch. The wager: would the watch’s crystal be able to survive Hagen’s powerful drive. It did, and the golf balls landed across Beach Drive on a residential waterfront property. After it was suggested he purchase the property and build a grand resort under his name, Laughner acquired the land for $170,000. The 375-room Vinoy opened at the dawn of 1926 on the Tampa Bay waterfront. Now known as the Vinoy Renaissance St. Petersburg Resort & Golf Club, the hotel offers over 60,000 sq. ft. of meeting space with a private marina, Ron Garl-designed 18-hole private championship golf course and a whole lot of history.

The Phoenician: In the early 1900s, a small frame stood at the base of Camelback Mountain. Painter Jessie Benton Evans purchased the property, including 40 acres of surrounding desert, and began renovating the house to suit her taste. Evans gave 12 acres to her son and daughter-in-law, who built a unique adobe house on the land in 1926, expanding it over the years to accommodate visitors for tea, and eventually, overnight guests. Today, Jokake Inn stands just inside the grounds of The Phoenician as a symbol of the hospitality of the old Southwest. In 1985 Charles Keating had a vision to build a multi-million dollar luxury resort that would display the elegance and sophistication of Europe, standing out as a sparkling gem in the Sonoran Desert. White marble was imported from Carrera, Italy, for the lobby; the ceiling was etched in 24-carat gold and 11 rare Steinway pianos, which graced the hallways of the presidential suites and The Thirsty Camel Lounge, were purchased. Today, The Phoenician provides both the essential setting and AAA Five Diamond service for meetings and special events.

About Marriott’s Convention & Resort Network

The Convention & Resort Network is a premier collection of 100 world-class, integrated JW Marriott, Autograph Collection Hotels, Renaissance Hotels, Marriott Hotels, Gaylord Hotels, Westin Hotels & Resorts, Sheraton Hotels & Resorts and The Luxury Collection Hotels & Resorts dedicated to providing the ultimate meeting experience for attendees. With over 9.3 million square feet of meeting space and over 100,000 guest rooms, the Convention & Resort Network offers choices from New York to Los Angeles, Las Vegas to Cancun, and Montreal to Hawaii.