In just one month, Donald Trump will be sworn in as the 45th President of the United States. On Friday, Jan. 20, the nation’s capital will host the inauguration ceremony, and local hotels and Airbnb rentals are expected to win big. The president-elect’s own property, Trump International Hotel Washington DC, is fully booked.
According to a survey from cheaphotels.org, 15 percent of hotels in the Washington, DC, metro area are listing vacancies for inauguration day. However, these rooms come at a steep price—according to the data, inauguration-goers will pay more than three times the usual rates.
Some hotels are raising prices even more than that. One hotel, which is situated in a prime location less than half a mile from the Capitol, would typically charge $143 per night for a deluxe room. During the inauguration, it will cost guests $1499 per night—more than 10 times the typical rate.
Inauguration-goers looking to book now should expect to spend around $500 a night for centrally located accommodations. For more affordable options, travelers should look at hotels in the city outskirts.
Although Airbnb is known as an affordable alternative to hotels and resorts, particularly when hotel rooms are experiencing peak demand, the room-sharing service may not be a good option in this situation. According to CBS DC, the average price for a one-guest rental on Jan. 20 is $699, and just 9 percent of listings are still available.
NBC Washington reports that Airbnb expects hosts in the metropolitan DC area to earn $3.5 million over inauguration weekend. Airbnb projects that more than 10,000 inauguration attendees will stay with Airbnb hosts.
