EXHIBIT 5.1

                                [DR LETTERHEAD]

                                March 23, 2001


Host Marriott Corporation
10400 Fernwood Road
Bethesda, Maryland 20817

        Re: 10% Class C Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock
            -------------------------------------------------

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     In connection with the offering of up to 5,980,000 shares of 10% Class C
Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock of the Company, par value $.01 per share
(the "Shares"), pursuant to an effective registration statement on Form S-3
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") (File No.
333-67907) (the "Registration Statement"), under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the "Act"), by Host Marriott Corporation, a Maryland corporation (the
"Company"), you have requested my opinion with respect to the matters set forth
below.

     In my capacity as your counsel in connection with this offering, I am
familiar with the proceedings taken and proposed to be taken by the Company in
connection with the authorization, issuance and sale of the Shares. In addition,
I have made such legal and factual examinations and inquiries, including an
examination of originals or copies certified or otherwise identified to my
satisfaction of such documents, corporate records and instruments, as I have
deemed necessary or appropriate for purposes of this opinion.

     In my examination, I have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the
authenticity of all documents submitted to me as originals, and the conformity
to authentic original documents of all documents submitted to me as copies.

     I am opining herein as to the effect on the subject transaction only of the
General Corporation Law of the State of Maryland, and I express no opinion with
respect to the applicability thereto, or the effect thereon, of the laws of any
other jurisdiction or as to any matters of municipal law or the laws of any
local agencies within any state.

     Subject to the foregoing, it is my opinion that the Shares have been duly
authorized, and, upon issuance, delivery and payment therefor in the manner
contemplated by the Registration Statement, will be validly issued, fully paid
and nonassessable.



Host Marriott Corporation
March 23, 2001
Page 2

     I consent to your filing this opinion as an exhibit to Form 8-K.

                                   Very truly yours,


                                   /s/ David Reichmann
                                   ------------------------------------
                                   David Reichmann
                                   Assistant General Counsel and
                                   Assistant Secretary