The Holiday Inn Gaithersburg, situated at the intersection of 355 and Montgomery Village Ave., off of I-270’s exit 11, has a more illustrious history than other local establishments. It originally garnered national attention for its bold offer of a single room that cost an incredible $1,400 per night and was a representation of 1970s luxury.
When the newly constructed Holiday Inn Gaithersburg’s largest suite, the Presidential Suite, which had three bedrooms and four bathrooms, was reserved by Rolls-Royce-chauffed guests for the outrageously high fee in 1973, the hotel became well-known across the country. The fact that a hotel room in a popular vacation destination, such as the Florida Keys, cost about $35 in 1972 should give you an idea of how amazing this was. The suite at the Holiday Inn was extremely different in terms of both cost and status.
The resort hosted a wide variety of superstars from the movie industry to the concert stage, making it a surprising destination for a list of great entertainers for decades. The dynamic pair Sonny & Cher, the flamboyant pianist Liberace, the King of Rock and Roll Elvis Presley, and Hollywood hottie Rock Hudson were among the notable attendees.
One of Maryland’s most renowned chefs also used the hotel as a testing site. Bryan Voltaggio began his career as a sous chef for the Holiday Inn Gaithersburg’s restaurant and event facilities in the 1990s, before he became well-known on the television program Top Chef.
Following a three-year temporary shutdown and a 2023 reopening, the Holiday Inn Gaithersburg is once again open to visitors. The hotel is still a landmark with a history as distinctive as the well-known people who have passed through its corridors, even though the Presidential Suite is no longer available and its regular room prices are now more affordable, starting at about $119 per night.
When the hotel reopened in 2023, the majority of the information was obtained through a press release.
