#HNS2019 Conference Preview by Christine Trent, HNS North America Venue Chair –

The Historical Novel Society’s North American conference will be held June 19-22, 2019, at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in Oxon Hill, Maryland, located on the Potomac River just minutes from Washington, DC. We are very excited about this property and hope you will share our enthusiasm. Here are just a few reasons to love the Gaylord:

 1. The View

Here is the daytime view from one of the guest room balconies which overlooks the Gaylord’s 19-story glass atrium. Facing out to the Potomac River, this expansive view can be seen from many locations within the hotel. With the Woodrow Wilson bridge in the distance and Old Town Alexandria beyond that, you will be amazed by your daily scenic panorama.

At night, enjoy the lights of National Harbor as the colored ferris wheel presides over the marina. The impressive view is one of the top reasons to love the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center.

The Gaylord opened in 2008 and has been host to the Scripps National Spelling Bee since 2011. The $870 million property comprises more than 2,000 guest rooms, 95 event rooms, 7 restaurants, and a 20,000 square foot spa. It is the largest non-gaming hotel and convention center on the East Coast.

The Gaylord is a thoughtfully laid-out property, with numerous locations to meet casually with your HNS friends both old and new; to find a tucked away spot to dash off that scene that just popped into your head; or to have a side meeting with a writing/publishing partner.

3. The Restaurants

The Gaylord has a total of seven eateries and lounges under its roof, enough to please every taste. From a coffee shop serving Starbucks beverages to an elegant Steakhouse and a vibrant 18th-story nightclub, you will be amazed at the array of offerings within the Gaylord. Can’t find want you want at the Gaylord? Step outside the hotel to a multitude of restaurants, featuring everything from Southern comfort food to Thai to Irish to Italian favorites. Look for a future blog post about the Gaylord’s eateries.

4. The Bathrooms!

contains TWO sinks. The Gaylord’s guest rooms are perfect for sharing with a loved one or an HNS roommate.

HNS has negotiated a very special rate of $169/night (+$22 daily resort fee + taxes) for guest rooms. This is an extraordinarily low rate for a world-class property like the Gaylord, where rates can be nearly double this amount. Take advantage of the room rate and bring along your loved one(s), who can enjoy everything the Gaylord, National Harbor, Old Town Alexandria, and Washington, D.C., have to offer. Go to our landing page at the Gaylord to reserve a room at our special rate.

As you can see, the 2019 HNS Conference is going to be a perfect location for you to learn, network, have fun, and recharge. Want to see more? Watch a video on the Gaylord.

See you in June 2019!

Christine Trent has been a member of HNS since the 2007 conference in Albany, NY. She writes historical fiction and historical mystery, and is the author of the Florence Nightingale Mysteries (Crooked Lane Books) and the Lady of Ashes mysteries (Kensington Books). She lives in Maryland, about 90 minutes away from the Gaylord, which is how she became the venue chair. She can’t wait to welcome you to the conference.