Washington D.C. Hotels Now 70% Booked Ahead of Donald Trump’s Inauguration

Washington D.C. is seeing an influx of visitors for the upcoming inauguration and hotels are filling up fast.

As President-elect Donald Trump prepares to reclaim the White House, accommodations are becoming scarce, especially for those hoping to avoid excessive rates. A search for rooms from Sunday to Monday revealed a room at the Marriott Marquis near the Washington Convention Center priced at over $1,500 per night, with just two rooms left. Rates at nearby hotels like Windsor Inn and The Poppy Georgetown hover around $900 per night.

“People are still interested in coming, and we’re seeing more and more momentum from hotels,” said Elliott Ferguson, president of Destination D.C.

This reflects an expected 70% booking rate across D.C.’s hotels, according to analytics firm STR. Ferguson added, “As we look at what’s important to Washington, it’s all about economic impact, creating jobs, and the stimulus associated with the number of people coming into the city.”

In contrast, previous inaugurations have seen varying levels of hotel bookings, with Trump’s first inauguration in 2017 at 94%, and Obama’s first inauguration in 2009 reaching 97%. D.C. is anticipating around a quarter-million ticketed guests for next week’s event, as the city bounces back from the subdued atmosphere of Biden’s 2021 inauguration, which was limited due to COVID-19.

“The hotels, the restaurants — all those who actually work in hospitality are banking on people showing up,” Ferguson said. “We’re really, really optimistic.”