In just four days, Donald Trump will make his return to Washington for Inauguration Day, the event that will effectively kick off his second term as president. But on January 20, the U.S. capital will not only open its doors to the MAGA leader and his loyalists, but also to tens of thousands of visitors and onlookers who will flock to the city to witness the event live.
Washington DC’s leading hotels are ready and promoting a series of pricey tourist packages so that their guests will have an all-around experience. At the moment, the most popular package for visitors has been the Watergate, probably the city’s most famous hotel, which owes much of its fame to the scandal that led to President Nixon’s resignation in the 1970s.
The experience offered by the hotel includes round-trip helicopter transportation from New York to Reagan National and an all-day driver, at the “modest” price of $73,500. In addition, guests can visit the “Scandal Suite,” the site of the infamous 1972 break-in that led to Nixon’s disgrace.
The Fairmont hotel, on the other hand, is offering a $350,000 package that includes round-trip airfare for four people and their pet from anywhere in the United States, four nights in a new suite, two butlers, and a day of shopping at Saks 5th Avenue worth $25,000.
Meanwhile, the nearby Park Hyatt is offering a $100,000 “Presidential Package” with luxurious welcome amenities such as vintage champagne and an ample amount of Petrossian caviar, a private chef’s dinner and afternoon tea, presidential robes and custom slippers. “This year we decided to go for luxury,” said the hotel’s sales manager.
Experts say Inauguration Day packages often reflect the style of the incoming president. For the event featuring Trump, hotels, which will seek to position themselves as new places of power, will kick off super-exclusive yet celebratory experiences.
However, according to analysts, as of today most of the very expensive deals offered are still unsold. At the same time, 64% of local hotel rooms are reported to be already booked. We are still far, however, from the numbers recorded during Obama’s first inauguration in 2009, with 97.2% of rooms reserved, and by Trump himself in 2017 (94.5%).
