Trump's inauguration to shatter Washington norms ---This is beautiful
The city's hotels, restaurants and event spaces will be packed with a potent mix of Trump’s supporters and protesters.
Donald Trump’s inauguration is shaping up to be booming business for Washington. It’s just not the type of business the president-elect may want.
Protesters distraught over Trump’s victory will be flooding into Washington next weekend, creating a potent – and potentially tense – mix as they collide with the billionaire’s die-hard supporters at hotels, restaurants, and on the National Mall. Like much of Trump's campaign, the festivities and crowd descending on Washington for the inauguration will not neatly fit into Washington's norms.
"These are unprecedented numbers," said Mike Litterst, a spokesman for the National Park Service, said about the protests. "We're trying to help the groups find suitable alternate locations."
The park service has credentialed at least 28 groups on the national mall and is expecting more than 350,000, according to an internal agency spreadsheet. That’s compared to the five or six requests from groups that they usually receive for inaugurations. The service has struggled to accommodate all of the protesters, which includes a large demonstration of about 200,000 women protesting Trump and others who will sing and fast, for next weekend, Litterst said.
Initially, it looked like Trump’s inauguration could be a relatively low-key affair. After Trump won, a number of hotels, restaurants and party planners had a rash of cancellations, according to interviews with more than a dozen businesses.
Republicans in particular struggled to fill blocks of rooms at hotels, with an email last week going to Republican National committee members encouraging them to pass it along to anyone who still needed lodging. "At this time, we are pleased to extend the room block to guests and affiliates of RNC Members and state parties. Rooms will be available on a first come, first serve basis," the email obtained by POLITICO says.
Also, the inauguration committee is only hosting three balls, a departure from the usual eight or 10, with a president who doesn't necessarily enjoy schmoozing and small-talk.
Yet many hotels and businesses say they are doing just fine — just with a different crowd.
The Embassy Row Hotel's main event next weekend is an all-women's disco, catering to the Women’s March on Washington planned for next Saturday. The invitation to "dance, dance, dance" at the Dupont Circle luxury venue bills three women DJs and colored wireless headphones but has no mention of the president. The hotel is sold out.
http://www.politico.com/story/2017/01/trump-inauguration-dc-bookings-233564
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