UPDATE: Marriott Hotels Eyes Moving; Leggett Confident Chain Will Stay in County

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UPDATED at 3:30 p.m.

After nearly four decades headquartered in a Bethesda office park, Marriott Hotels is looking to relocate to a more urban space, says its CEO.

Chief executive Arne M. Sorenson told The Washington Post he’s started talks to find a new site for the corporate headquarters, which employs about 2,000 in roughly 900,000 square square feet on Fernwood Road. The company’ s lease at the current site is up in 2022.

Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett told Patch he’s confident leaders will be able to find a site in Montgomery County that works for Marriott. The company, which first notified his office of its search plans about a month ago, has set 2020 for its date to be settled in a new headquarters.

“It’s pretty early to determine sites, but we will have discussions to look at what are the potential options within Montgomery County that fit their needs,” Leggett said. “We will do everything within reason to make sure they stay in Montgomery County.”

Among Sorenson’s criteria for a new location: easy access to the Metro system, to attract skilled younger workers. The existing office is located near Interstate 270 and the Beltway, which is about three miles from Grosvenor station, the nearest Metro stop, the Post says.

“I think as with many other things, our younger folks are more inclined to be Metro-accessible and more urban. That doesn’t necessarily mean we will move to downtown Washington, but we will move someplace,” Sorenson said.

Marriott officials want a stand-alone site that is dedicated to the company, Leggett says, which may be different than a location on the Metro.

He says he first heard from the company three or four weeks ago that Marriott wants new facilities.

Times have changed in what corporate officers want in a location. Leggett said that rather than an office focused on accessibility by car, companies are shifting their focus to mass transit service.

He added that it’s premature to speculate on possible sites within the county that might work for Marriott, but emphasized he believes both sides can find something that meets their needs.

Company History

The international hotel chain has 3,900 properties in 72 countries. Founded in 1927 by J. Willard and Alice Marriott as a nine-stool root beer stand that grew into the Hot Shoppes Restaurant chain, the business eventually became Marriott International hotel company. The Marriott family led the chain for more than 80 years.

According to the company website, Marriott Hotels reported revenues of nearly $13 billion in fiscal year 2013.

Marriott’s 18 brands include the luxury Ritz-Carlton and BVLGARI, along with Courtyard by Marriott, Renaissance Hotels, SpringHill Suites, Fairfield Inn and Suites and more.