Marriott International announced today that the Courtyard by Marriott Silver Spring
Downtown has officially opened its doors to guests.  Located at 8506 Fenton
Street, the 179-room property is the first hotel in 30 years to be built in
downtown Silver Spring and is an integral part of the city’s downtown
redevelopment project.  It is owned and operated by Silver Spring Hotel
Associates, LLC.“We’re very excited to be part of the revitalization of downtown Silver
Spring.  This is an exciting area with great restaurants, art, music and
entertainment,” said Bob Peters, general manager, Courtyard Silver Spring
Downtown.  “We look forward to welcoming guests and serving the residents of
this vibrant community.”
  Built on the site of the former Silver Spring Armory, the hotel is the
most recent addition to Montgomery County’s $1.5 billion redevelopment of
downtown Silver Spring.  The 21-acre mixed-use development features 250
residential units, 260,000 square feet of office space, 50,000 square feet of
retail space, entertainment venues and restaurants.  The property features a
welcoming lobby decorated with rich mahogany, cool reds and soothing greens; a
beautifully landscaped outdoor courtyard where guests can sit and unwind on
benches and tables; and a business library with free WiFi internet access.
Guests have complimentary access to the Washington Sports Clubs, scheduled to
open Nov. 2005.  This world-class facility is located on the lower two levels
of the hotel and features a 23,880-square-foot fitness center with state-of-
the art equipment and an Olympic-sized lap pool.
  The guest rooms, part of Courtyard’s nationwide reinvention strategy, are
designed not only to enhance productivity but to offer frequent business
travelers a fresh, modern look with timeless sophistication.  To suit the
needs of the savvy business traveler, guest rooms feature free high-speed
internet access, task lighting and extra power outlets to increase workspace.
Ergonomic desks can be moved so guests can use the table to dine or work in
front of the TV.  Bathrooms have a modern, residential look with granite
vanities, extra shelves, full-length mirrors, brighter lighting and louvered
closet doors.  Also provided is a seating area with sofa bed or oversized
chair, two telephones, a coffee maker, hair dryer, iron with ironing board,
and TV with premium movie channels.  In addition, five suites with king-sized
beds, refrigerator and microwave oven, and five suites with king-sized beds,
whirlpool spa and separate walk-in shower, are available.
  All guest rooms at the Courtyard Silver Spring Downtown feature
Courtyard’s new bedding with thicker oversized mattresses, softer sheets and
more pillows.  The bedding replaces the traditional hotel bedspread with a
comforter snuggly fit between triple sheeting, which is commonly found at
luxury hotels and resorts, and includes 200-thread count, cotton-rich top and
fitted bottom sheets that are “mercerized” to elevate the softness of the
linens.  The stylized bedding is accented with euroshams and decorative bed
scarf, enhancing its home-like appeal.
  Ideally situated in downtown Silver Spring, the hotel provides convenient
access to the Silver Spring Metro station, Discovery Communications
headquarters, AFI’s Silver Theater, Roundhouse Theater, a myriad of shops and
restaurants and Washington, D.C.  Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is
14 miles away, Washington Dulles International Airport is 24 miles away, and
BWI International is 25 miles away.
  The hotel’s restaurant, Gazebo Grill, serves a breakfast buffet with eggs
made to order, in addition to an a la carte breakfast and dinner menu.  The
Market is a 24/7, self-serve food and beverage pantry that sells freshly made
salads and sandwiches, gourmet snacks, sundries and gift shop items.  The
Center Court Lounge offers Seattle’s Best Coffee and serves a fine selection
of beer, wine and specialty drinks.  Room service is also available during
dinner hours.
  For group customers, the Courtyard Silver Spring Downtown offers a total
of 1,500 square feet of event space, including a 1,104-square-foot meeting
room and an executive board room that offers panoramic views of Silver Spring
and seating for 12 people.  The business library, located on the third floor,
offers individual workstations with high-speed data ports and ergonomic
chairs.
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