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D.C. Hotels Raked in Almost $100 Million For Inauguration

Ah, finally, a bright spot for the hotel industry during these down-in-the-dumps times: the final numbers are in from inauguration weekend in D.C., and, as expected, D.C. hotels totally made bank.

According to a Washington Business Journal report, Hotels in the D.C. area brought in approximately $94.8 million during the four days surrounding Obama's inauguration, January 17th to January 20th. Guests reportedly paid an average of a whopping $600 per night to crash in D.C. hotels on the night of the 20th, and those who stayed outside the District forked over closer to $300 for their rooms.

Per WBJ:

Occupancy rates in the District, which was reportedly sold out in the days up to inauguration, hit 98 percent in the District on Jan. 19, while averaging around 91 percent in the outside suburban areas. Rates during the rest of the period ranged from 84 percent to 96 percent in the District, and from 67 percent to 87 percent in the outlying areas.

Good lord. Remind us to actively stay in touch with old college buddies in every major city in the U.S. just in case an event the size of this inauguration comes up — we're gonna need couches to crash on if $600 per night is the average room rate.

[Photo: ABC News]