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When the goal is to meet near Washington, but not in it, the Maryland cities and towns around D.C. are great options.
A web of interstates, three international airports (Dulles, BWI, Reagan National), and, in some areas, metro and train service, make access easy. Cost savings can be considerable, with lower hotel rates and room taxes and the likelihood of free parking.
These three counties offer lots of options.
Annapolis/Anne Arundel County
Anne Arundel County masterfully combines historic Annapolis charm with the modern conveniences of the BWI Airport and Arundel Mills area, offering meeting planners a diverse selection of venues. In Annapolis, establishments such as the Historic Inns of Annapolis, Annapolis Waterfront Hotel, The Westin, and Graduate Annapolis provide a blend of traditional elegance and contemporary amenities. Near downtown, the DoubleTree by Hilton and Crowne Plaza further enhances the county’s meeting options. The BWI/Arundel Mills region boasts expansive venues like Live! Casino & Hotel Maryland, featuring over 50,000 square feet of event space. Nearby, the BWI Airport Marriott, Westin, Hotel at Arundel Preserve, and Sheraton BWI Airport offer additional flexible and convenient meeting spaces. Plus, plan your next event with unique experiences, including U.S. Naval Academy-inspired leadership training, historic tours, and private cruise charters, ensuring memorable networking opportunities.
Montgomery County
Montgomery County, between D.C. and Baltimore, is home to Bethesda, Gaithersburg, Rockville, Silver Spring and other cities. Several of its towns are bordered by I-270. The county is packed with meeting venues: 54 hotels, five conference centers and numerous off-site options. Conference hotels include the Hilton Washington/Rockville Hotel and Executive Meeting Center, near a metro station, with 35,000 square feet of conference space. It’s convenient to Rockville’s walkable downtown and its restaurants, bars and shops. For larger groups, the 447-room Bethesda North Marriott Hotel and Conference Center has 61,000 square feet of meeting space. Also, new to Bethesda’s bustling downtown, there’s the 245-room Marriott Bethesda Downtown at Marriott Headquarters with 7,000 square feet of conference space. For a quieter setting, the 431-room Bolger Center in Potomac rests on 43 acres of gardens and hills.
Howard County
Ellicott City and Columbia, Howard County’s largest cities, are 20 miles west of Baltimore and BWI. Access from I-70 and I-95 adds to the region’s convenience, and properties like the 172-room Turf Valley Resort or Bon Secours Retreat and Conference Center, make meetings feel like escapes. In addition to 40,000 square feet of meeting space Turf Valley has a championship golf course and other resort features. Bon Secours is a quiet place on 313 wooded acres. Both are near Elliott City, founded in 1771 and known for a downtown stocked with shops and restaurants. In Columbia, a $30 million renovation has elevated Merriweather Lakehouse, a 212-room Marriott Autograph property, next to Lake Kittamaqundi near downtown. It has 12,500 square feet of meeting space. For board meetings, the Columbia Inn at Peralynna has 15 suites and small meeting space.
To learn more, visit meetinmaryland.com, a partnership of Visit Annapolis and Anne Arundel County, Visit Baltimore, Visit Howard County, Visit Montgomery and Experience Prince George’s, five DMOs that work together to market Maryland meeting venues in the greater D.C. area.
