With the U.S. presidential election campaign in full swing and everyone focusing on Hillary’s health, Trump’s five-star luxury hotel in the center of Washington, D.C., quietly opened for business on September 12, local time.
The newly opened Trump International Hotel is uniquely located at 1100 Pennsylvania Avenue, only 5 blocks away from the goal he is fighting for - the White House (1600 Pennsylvania Avenue). Therefore, some people joked that regardless of whether Trump can be elected president of the United States, he will live on Pennsylvania Avenue.
The new hotel was renovated from one of Washington's famous landmarks, the Old Post Office. It has a Romanesque Revival style exterior and is the third tallest building in the area. The U.S. Congress bell hangs in its towering bell tower. In 2012, Trump won the bid to sign a 60-year lease contract with the federal government and invested $200 million to transform it into a luxury hotel.
The hotel has 263 rooms. In its first week of operation, room prices ranged from $750 to $4,800 per night. Staying on the upper floors of the hotel overlooks the scenery of downtown Washington. When the presidential inauguration is held in January next year, this is an excellent viewing spot near the water.
Like other luxury hotels, this hotel also has a presidential suite, but it is not the "most luxurious" room in the hotel.
Just like Trump painted the eye-catching "Trump" logo on the outside of his private jet, the hotel named its largest and most luxurious suite "Trump Villa."
The "villa" covers an area of 6,300 square feet (approximately 585 square meters). It is an ultra-luxurious two-story duplex suite. It is almost the largest hotel suite in Washington and even the entire East Coast. The "villa" includes two bedrooms, an office, a gym and a 24-seat dining room, and has its own private entrance on Pennsylvania Avenue.
The usual one-night price of "Trump Villa" is US$20,000. But during the week of the presidential inauguration in January, the price will rise to $100,000 per night, with a minimum stay of five nights. This is several times more expensive than the presidential suite in the most expensive hotel in Washington.
On the opening day, about 40 demonstrators dissatisfied with Trump's Mexican immigration policy held a demonstration outside the hotel. In addition, celebrity chefs Jose Andres and Geoffrey Zakarian also refused to open restaurants in the hotel as contracted to protest Trump's inflammatory remarks. The Trump Organization has sued the two for breach of contract.
Trump, who is busy with the presidential campaign, appeared at the hotel on the opening day and posted photos with hotel employees on social networking sites. The hotel's official opening ceremony is scheduled to be held before the presidential election on November 8.
