Miss World to bring 2016 pageant to National Harbor
The Miss World pageant made it official on Thursday: Washington will be the host of the 2016 competition, with events apparently taking place at Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center.
We told you earlier this month about speculation that the Prince George's County venue would play host to the event, noting the official announcement would take place at the end of July with Miss World officials in person.
The London-based pageant organizer twice scheduled a press conference at the Gaylord, first for July 27 and then July 28. But both were canceled at the last minute, and now officials say they will hold a media event the week of Aug. 8. Despite the cancellation of both those events, it is expected that the pageant organizer will indeed announce that the Gaylord Hotel in National Harbor will be the host of the event.
"It's definitely coming to National Harbor," said James Coleman, president and CEO of the Prince George's County Economic Development Corporation, said in a phone call. He confirmed that officials from Miss World were in National Harbor this week ironing out details with the Gaylord.
Though, not all those details were finalized this week, as Miss World decided to push back its announcement while it negotiated "a few minor details," Coleman said. Officials from the organization will be back in the U.S. in August to finalize the announcement.
The announcement that Washington would host was instead posted on Miss World's website; no reason was given for the postponement. A representative from Miss World did not return a request for comment, so additional details — such as date and time of the main event and total attendees expected — aren't yet available. PageantNews.com has reported that contestants would arrive Nov. 29 and the televised final would be held Dec. 20.
Prince George's officials have said they expect it to be the most high-profile event held at Gaylord and National Harbor since the riverfront complex opened in 2008, providing a strong economic boost. Gaylord is managed by Bethesda-based Marriott International Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR).
Miss World, which started in 1951 and is the oldest international pageant, is expected to draw representatives from more than 130 countries. Chief executive Julia Morley also runs the Beauty With A Purpose charity, which raises money for humanitarian projects. Miss World competes with other pageants such as Miss Universe, which was owned by Donald Trump until last year, and Miss Earth.
Prince George’s had been pushing to get Miss World to come to National Harbor. Officials from the county had been in contact with the organization for months, according to Coleman.
Earlier this month, the Gaylord hotel was the host of Miss World America, the preliminary competition that determined the American representative for Miss World.
http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/news/2016/07/28/its-official-miss-world-coming-to-gaylord-at.html
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