Lesly Connolly Appointed Director of Sales & Marketing
Marshall Hotels & Resorts, a leading hotel management and services company operating nationwide real estate, announced today that Hilton Washington, DC North / Gaithersburg has completed a full multi-million dollar renovation of the 298-room DoubleTree. Marshall also announced that Lesly Connolly has been named Director of Sales & Marketing. In her new role, she will be responsible for reintroducing the hotel to travelers and local residents.
“With the completion of this major renovation, the DoubleTree by Hilton Washington, DC North / Gaithersburg will immediately become the ‘newest’ hotel with the latest amenities and safety protocols available,” said Mike Marshall, President and CEO of Marshall Hotels & Resorts. “While the hotel has been an active and proud member of the community for years, this complete renovation has turned this from ‘your grandfather’s hotel’ to the freshest upscale hotel product on the market. The hotel has undergone a complete makeover that focused on public spaces look forward to continuing to offer the community first-class guest service and the world-famous DoubleTree chocolate chip cookie for discerning business and leisure travelers to the DC metro area in the years to come. “
The 12-story hotel is located on 620 Perry Parkway, just a short drive or train ride from Washington, DC. Most of Maryland’s cities, including Rockville, Bethesda, Germantown, and Frederick, are within easy reach. The DoubleTree is just four miles from the Shady Grove METRO station and is close to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), NOVAVAX, AstraZeneca and Hughes. A shuttle service provides additional dining and entertainment options nearby, including TopGolf, iFLY, and the Rio Entertainment District.
“Our beautifully renovated hotel has re-inspired our entire DoubleTree team as we continually strive to provide the highest level of guest service and commitment,” said Peter Donnelly, General Manager. “Construction during the pandemic was extraordinarily difficult, slowed and complicated the renovation process. However, our fantastic team worked on seemingly impossible opportunities to truly restore the hotel from its simplest shell. We look forward to sharing this exciting topic.” – New space with returning and returning guests, from existing Hilton Honors members to first-time travelers in the greater DC metro area. “
The story goes on
The full renovation touched virtually every aspect of the hotel. The lobby has been completely reconfigured, including the installation of the Made Market, a new Hilton Grab ‘n Go concept that offers Starbucks branded coffee, brewed 24/7, as well as a variety of breakfast items, drinks, sandwiches / salads and quick bites. The lobby lounge has also been redesigned and now offers small menu options, craft beers, and cocktails. Renowned Chef Thomas Hughbanks has been hired to run the brand new Knife & Fork, a farm restaurant that serves accessible, eclectic American fare. In the lobby, lounge and restaurant, guests can now enjoy 12 newly installed large screen televisions. The renovated public space now includes a new Hertz car rental, just a few steps from the reception. The hotel’s car park has been updated and reconfigured to remove certain previous parking restrictions.
The hotel’s 16,356-square-foot event space, including 14 meeting rooms and the 4,859-square-foot Majestic Ballroom, has been completely refreshed with new vinyl, carpeting, lighting, banquet chairs and seating. Additional improvements to the room, which can host banquets of 298 people or meetings of 450 people, include new dishes, as well as free WiFi, on-site self-parking and access to the hotel’s loading docks.
Technological capabilities have also been improved, including an upgrade to 1GB fiber optic WiFi and doubling the number of WiFi access points. The hotel’s conference room received its own, separate, hard-wired internet connection. In preparation for future meetings, the A / V upgrades have been implemented with an emphasis on the Zoom Meeting features.
The newly renovated hotel now has a state-of-the-art, state-of-the-art fitness center open 24/7, as well as a new indoor / outdoor pool with sundeck. At 1,350 square meters, the exercise room is roughly three to four times larger than most hotels on offer. You can now also use the same day laundry and dry cleaning, as well as the local shuttle service to the nearby METRO station and the surrounding areas.
The guest rooms received similar attention with their own renovations. The 298 rooms, including five suites, all received new bed packages, which consist of the exclusive DoubleTree Serta Perfect Sleeper and Executive Stripe bed linen with a thread count of 400. Select rooms have upgraded their bathrooms with a walk-in shower or a combination of shower and bathtub, while all guest bathrooms have new granite surfaces and illuminated magnifying mirrors. Certain rooms have their own private outdoor balcony. Other improvements to the guest room include free Wi-Fi, as well as new refrigerators, laptop-size safes, and 55-inch HD flat-screen TVs.
As part of the upgrade, the hotel also implemented the Hilton Clean Stay program, the franchisor’s latest security protocols, to help keep guests safe. The new standards include disinfecting and sealing each guest room with Lysol branded products between stays and a focus on contactless interactions. Hilton Honors members can opt for digital check-in / check-out services using the branded app. All guests can use contactless payment options such as Apple Pay or Google Pay. Convenient hand sanitizer has been installed throughout the hotel, and masks and social distancing are recommended in all public areas.
Newly appointed Director of Sales & Marketing
To improve and expand the hotel’s visibility, Hilton Washington, DC North / Gaithersburg has appointed Lesly Connolly as Director of Sales & Marketing for the DoubleTree. With almost 25 years of experience, she brings a multifaceted approach to different brands and segments, complemented by a strong local background. Prior to joining DoubleTree, Connolly was the senior sales manager for the National Conference Center in Leesburg, Virginia. Previously, she was Sales & Marketing Director for the Holiday Inn Dulles and Senior Sales Manager for the Hilton Washington Dulles. Connolly received her Associate Degree in Hospitality & Tourism Management from Bay Path University. She is also a long-time member of the Potomac Chapter of Meeting Professionals International, having only served as president in 2018.
“Neither returning guests nor local visitors will recognize the ‘new’ DoubleTree from Hilton Washington, DC North / Gaithersburg,” said Connolly. “I look forward to the opportunity to re-introduce this hotel to both the community and new and returning travelers seeking the best upscale accommodations in the area. We haven’t just redesigned the room from top to bottom to include the latest and greatest in amenities A warm and welcoming atmosphere with first class guest service, but we have also taken significant steps to address pandemic health safety concerns. We are confident that these end results will impress anyone who crosses our new threshold. “
About Marshall Hotels & Resorts, Inc.
Marshall Hotels & Resorts, Inc., based in Salisbury, MD, has particular expertise in operating three- and four-star branded hotels and resorts with an average of 100 to 500 rooms in urban and central business districts as well as in suburbs / drive-tos – and resort locations. In addition, the company has a proven track record of managing independent resorts and unique urban properties. Marshall Hotels & Resorts has managed a variety of leading hotel brands including those under the flags of Hilton, Marriott, Starwood, InterContinental Hotel Group, Hyatt, Carlson, Choice, Best Western and Wyndham. For more information, please visit the company’s website: www.marshallhotels.com.
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