For the right price, you too can attend an "inaugural event"

[Scooter24]

Remember, the official word is that you can't buy your ticket.


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 3, 2008

DC Hotels Campaign for Inauguration Day Visitors with Presidential Packages

Washington, DC hotels are gearing up for Inauguration Day with hotel packages that cater to politics buffs who elect to visit DC to celebrate the historic occasion.

The Ritz-Carlton is offering Politically Correct packages at the Ritz-Carlton, Georgetown and the Ritz-Carlton, Washington, DC from Jan. 17-21, 2009. The $99,000 Georgetown Politically Correct package includes a four night stay in a Presidential Suite, Gucci luggage, two tickets to the inaugural parade and an official inaugural ball, a four-night stay at the Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman to relax after the festivities have ended, and a host of other special amenities to make your stay perfectly regal.

The Ritz-Carlton, Washington, DC’s Politically Correct Package includes a four night stay in a luxury suite, an $8,000 Custom Judith Ripka “Heart of the Nation” Pendant designed exclusively for the Politically Correct package, two tickets to the inaugural parade and an official inaugural ball, and personal styling services at Saks Fifth Avenue in Chevy Chase, MD, including a complementary designer dress and tuxedo. These amenities, and many others, are available at the Ritz-Carlton, Washington, DC for $50,000.

From Jan. 17-21, the Mandarin Oriental Washington will present its “Presidential Privilege” package, designed to help couples visit the city in ultimate style. The package includes a five-day, four-night stay in the hotel’s luxurious 8,000 sq.-ft. Presidential Suite with daily breakfast in the suite; designer outfits for inaugural events from Ralph Lauren; a chauffeur-driven Maserati Quattroporte; an exclusive dinner for eight guests at Mandarin Oriental’s signature restaurant CityZen, prepared by James Beard Award-winning Chef Eric Ziebold; and daily spa treatments, priced at $200,900.

The Mayflower, a Renaissance Hotel, is also getting in on the action. Start with the Ultimate Presidential package including a three-night stay in the hotel’s Presidential or Mayflower suite; limo service to and from point of arrival and departure; his and hers inaugural jewelry from noted local gift shop, Tiny Jewel Box; Dom Perignon champagne with Baccarat toasting flutes from Tiffany & Co; in-room massage for two; 24-hour butler service; a custom-designed inaugural cocktail by legendary bartender Sambonn Lek of the hotel’s historic Town & Country Bar; inaugural petit fors specially designed by the hotel’s pastry team; and his and hers inaugural garb from Burberry to keep guests warm during the inaugural ceremony. The Ultimate Presidential package is a one-of-a-kind experience for a cool $51,000.

The Mayflower is also offering a package far easier on the wallet, the Inaugural Suite package starting at $1,500 per night with a three-night minimum. Guests booking this package will also get access to the exclusive Mayflower Club level which offers several food and beverage presentations throughout the day as well as a dedicated concierge plus a different commemorative inaugural gift each night at turndown.

The Fairmont Washington, D.C. Hotel mixes in a little bit of "green" with its red, white and blue with its Eco-Inaugural Package, which includes a four-night stay for two in the hotel's two-bedroom Lexus Hybrid Living Suite, which is designed and furnished with organic materials and rapidly renewable resources. The package also includes a custom ball gown from organic designer Linda Loudermilk, organic spa treatments for pre-festivites pampering and a Lexus LS 600h L hybrid vehicle and driver. The guests will also enjoy an organic in-suite midnight supper with eight of their "constituents." The package is priced at $40,000 and is available Jan. 18-21.

At the Renaissance M Street Hotel, inauguration-goers can take in a little bit of culture with their history with the "Inaugural Picture of Washington" package. Available Jan. 18-21, the package appeals to photography buffs with a welcome bag from the Corcoran Gallery of Art and two passes to its ground-breaking exhibition of political portraits by photographer Richard Avedon. Guests also receive a custom "Renaissance Photographer's Walking Map of Washington," showcasing the city's most powerful cultural and political hotspots, plus breakfast for two at the hotel's M Bar and an invitation for happy hour with "Abraham Lincoln," who will hold court in the hotel lobby from 4-8pm Sunday through Tuesday. The package starts at $679 per night; a 3-night minimum stay is required.

Phoenix Park Hotel is offering a special package to ensure that your stay in the District for inauguration is top-notch. Just minutes from Capitol Hill and the National Mall, the hotel’s Presidential Inauguration Washington D.C. includes rates starting at just $699 per night for single or double occupancy.

The redesigned Park Hyatt Washington invites guests to celebrate American talents, heritage and culture with four nights of elegant and patriotic living in its spacious Presidential Suite. Guests of the exclusive American Talents package will toast the New Year and the new administration in the nation’s capital with butler service, daytime use of the hotel’s custom Audi A8, reservations for the private Chef’s Table at the celebrated Blue Duck Tavern (based upon availability), two VIP tickets to the Corcoran Gallery of Art as well as a National Symphony Orchestra performance at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, in-room couples massage, and a variety of additional services and amenities to make your stay in the District memorable. The American Talents package can be reserved for $42,000, inclusive of tax and gratuities, through Jan. 10.

Capitol Hill Suites is joining in the inaugural fun as well with their Live Like a President fantasy package, designed to pamper guests during their Inaugural stay and help them get into the festive spirit of the event. The package includes accommodations for two in the hotel’s newly renovated luxury guest suite, tickets to an inaugural event, a personal chef to prepare an in-room meal, car and driver service, in-room massage, $1,000 shopping spree, and more. The package sells for $20,000 and includes a donation to the Make-A-Wish foundation.

The newly renovated Hyatt Regency Washington is offering two different packages to accommodate everyone in style. For couples, the Historic Inauguration package ($25,000) includes all the pampering a couple could want throughout four nights in the grand Presidential Suite. Amenities for the four-night stay include exclusive limo service, private butler service, breakfast-in-bed each morning, two dinners in-suite, a spa day for two, and two tickets to the inaugural parade. The flashy Presidential Entourage package ($75,000 for eight) includes a welcoming reception in the exclusive lounge at Article One, butler services in each suite, a spa day for eight, a private tour of historical monuments, as well as tickets to the inaugural parade.

Not to be outdone, Kimpton Hotels in the Washington, DC area has announced its special Kimpton Inaugural Package - the Ba ’Rock’ Star Treatment. The package includes in-room hair styling services; in-room makeup application for the inaugural ball; in-room manicure and pedicure, utilizing Kerstin Florian products; a gourmet platter of snacks to fuel up on before heading out for the night; choice of a 50-minute Calm Mind Massage to de-stress or Aroma Journey Massage to liven the senses; and a gift of therapeutic Detox Mineral Bath Salts. The package can be purchased for $705 as a side package for any guestroom or services can be ordered a la carte through the hotel's spa service company, Relax and Rejuvenate. The package is based on availability and will be available from Jan. 17 to Jan. 21, 2009. It will be available at the Hotel George, Topaz Hotel, Hotel Madera, Hotel Rouge, Hotel Palomar Washington, DC, and the Hotel Monaco Washington, DC.

[Historic NY]

1. there was a time when steam grates were acessible to keep warm.

[sjdnb]

2. A far cry from the Carter days

when inaugural tickets went for $25.