Marriott International Global Headquarters

An evolution from hotel owner to travel figurehead led Marriott to relocate its headquarters to the burgeoning urban core of downtown Bethesda, Maryland from its dated former headquarters in suburban Maryland. In creating its new global headquarters, Marriott approached Gensler with a desire to kickstart its brand and energize its growing employee base. This move places Marriott directly next to the kind of activity and social connection that drives the work it does every day. As the future of hospitality and travel evolves, the reimagining of this workspace came at an especially pivotal time for the brand, coupled with a large acquisition that doubled its hotel brand count.

Gensler served as the architect of the office building and its adjacent 12-story hotel on this expansive urban campus. The design team crafted the workplace’s interior design with a vision to capture the vigor of downtown Bethesda, while staying true to the roots of the iconic hospitality company. Translated across the 22-floor, 737,000-square-foot office building, this frictionless experience makes a notable impact on its operational culture.

Marriott’s new headquarters is a physical manifestation of a world-class hospitality company that knows its people are the driving force behind its historic track record of innovation. The headquarters’ vertical integration within an active community reiterates its emphasis on fostering frequent and convenient collaboration.