Donald Trump isn't shy about promoting his brand on the campaign trail, having used the first presidential debate to tout his brand new luxury hotel in Washington, D.C. But by all appearances, Trump's campaign isn't doing much to help business — in fact, big-spenders in D.C. are apparently going out of their way to avoid the Trump International:
Last weekend bankers and dignitaries from around the world descended on Washington for the annual World Bank–IMF meetings. But just a few days before the conference, rooms were not only still available at Trump International, they were heavily discounted. On October 2, a deluxe room, with a rack rate of $805, could be had for as low $445 a night on Hotels.com. All other five-star D.C. downtown hotels were sold out. By Wednesday, October 5, weekend stays in the deluxe rooms were marked down to $404 per night on Trump International's own website. The more luxurious 500-square-foot executive rooms, with a city view and marble bath, were only $484. By comparison, at the Waldorf-Astoria in Georgetown, the only available rooms were $1,139 per night, according to Hotels.com.For a five-star hotel in downtown Washington to have vacancies during major IMF meetings is a little like having empty rooms when the Super Bowl is in town. "The reason why there were vacancies is the political atmosphere. People don't want to go there for fear that they would be asked, 'Why are you staying here?'" says Ada Pena, a travel agent with ABA Travel in Washington, D.C. [New York]
"You don't see taxis stopping by like they do at the Marriott or the Willard, which are nearby,” added Pena. "It's dark. There is no feeling of hospitality." But the trouble at Trump International began long before its doors ever opened; read more about its struggles on Pennsylvania Avenue at New York.
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