WASHINGTON — Booking accommodations in the D.C. area for the week of the presidential inauguration might be tougher this time compared to previous ceremonies.
The Jan. 20, 2017 inauguration on Friday will be followed on Saturday by a Women’s March On Washington.
“So, it’s two major events impacting the entire week,” said Jack Lindemuth of Kimpton Hotels, which has 14 properties in the region.
“When they announced the Women’s March, we saw a surge of demand for the Friday, Saturday and partially including the Sunday some as well,” Lindemuth said.
As of Friday afternoon, occupancy at area Kimpton hotels ranged between 65 and 95 percent for inauguration weekend.
Finding a reasonably priced place to sleep Jan. 20 might be particularly challenging because of the overlap of visitors for the inauguration and the march. Hotels traditionally require a minimum stay of at least four nights to book on inauguration week.
A four-night inaugural week stay at an area Kimpton hotel might cost anywhere between $659 to $15,000. Some hotels offer bookings for fewer days, but customers will pay a premium for that option.
“A two-night stay in some of the (Kimpton) properties can range from $1,299 to $2,500 depending on the hotel,” LIndemuth said.
Washington, D.C.’s official tourism site lists inauguration packages being offered at more than 40 city hotels.
DIY options also available
The person-to-person rental hookup website Airbnb offers brief rentals that might prove lucrative for some local homeowners.
An Airbnb search for a two-person, four-night stay from Wednesday, January 18 to Sunday, January 22 revealed options including:
- $1,500 a night for a two-bedroom, two-bath condo in Adams Morgan
- $1,475 a night for a town house in Trinidad near the intersections of Florida and Maryland avenues in Northeast.
- $1,362 a night for a garden-level apartment in a row house in Columbia Heights two blocks from Metrorail.
