With more than 50 percent of its social business coming from Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, the Gaithersburg Marriott Washingtonian Center has created a sought-after place for itself in this niche market, where creativity and extravagance have reigned. But with the poor economy wielding its ugly head, new trends have emerged in this area.

“I think part of the key to our success in the Mitzvah market is that we have long-time customers who return to us for each of their children’s Mitzvahs. In every case, they get a completely unique event that is creative and fun. In fact, we have families who have held their son’s Bris here and their Bar Mitzvahs,” explains Michele Pajot, general manager at the Gaithersburg Marriott Washingtonian Center. “We’re hoping to host their weddings too.”

But like other things, these events have changed from those of the past. According to Megen Cheng, senior event manager at Gaithersburg Marriott Washingtonian Center, the tradition has been for families to book these events several years in advance. But now they are waiting much longer to book—often less than 12 months.

According to Ms. Cheng, other changes that have surfaced are the entertainment for these parties. As a sign of the times, the entertainment of choice for kids is interactive video games, such as Guitar Hero, Wii, Dance-Dance Revolution and arcade games. But despite the new technology, some things remain staples like DJs with large video screens, and themed parties.

“We had some fun and unusual requests that we’ve been able to meet,” says Barbara Michael, senior catering sales executive, Gaithersburg Marriott Washingtonian Center. “One Bar Mitzvah was an Amazon/jungle theme and included live animals. We had a snake, monkey, parrots and other relevant animals that the kids could touch and learn about from the handlers.

“A Bat Mitzvah we recently did was a baseball-themed party,” says Ms. Michael. “We brought in metal bleachers for the kids to sit on, the dance floor was done up like a baseball diamond, people entered the room through turn styles and the backdrop across the stage looked like a stadium. Staff wore team jerseys and hats and served using stadium trays. Our chef created some really unique appetizers: spanakopita that looked like a baseball bat, Danish shaped like a catcher’s mitt, and sweet potato puff shaped like a baseball. And this was all kosher style.”

Other changes that have surfaced are: families are opting for three-course dinners instead of four, they are having more daytime functions instead of evening, and parents are shrinking their guest lists, gearing Mitzvahs into kid-focused parties rather than for adults.

Ms. Pajot emphasizes that the Gaithersburg Marriott Washingtonian Center not only provides customized menus, but that they can provide a kosher style event or a kosher caterer to ensure that customs and traditions are kept. She also highlights the hotel’s location on a lake and near shopping, dining and walking trails, as a great place for weekend long events, which are common with the Mitzvahs they see at the hotel.

“The other thing that makes us unique is that our catering and banquet staff are certified experts, with some of our event planners having been with the hotel for the majority of the 16 years it’s been in existence,” says Ms. Pajot. “We also have an event manager on site at every event—not something you find at many other places. Basically, we want to exceed expectations, and I think that’s exactly what we’ve done.”

The Gaithersburg Marriott Washingtonian Center hotel in Gaithersburg Maryland recently completed a $6.2 million dollar renovation, encompassing 11 floors and 284 guest rooms and four suites. The hotel overlooks a picturesque lake and is only steps away from upscale restaurants, shopping, and the Rio Entertainment complex. The hotel boasts five meeting rooms and 6,588 total square feet of meeting space, along with two concierge levels. The Gaithersburg Marriott Washingtonian Center is minutes away from I-270, and is convenient to Reagan National, and Washington Dulles Airports. For more information about the Gaithersburg Marriott Washingtonian Center hotel, please visit www.marriottgaithersburg.com.