FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 14, 2008

CAPITALIZE ON SUMMER SAVINGS WITH DC'S NEW "STAYING POWER" PACKAGES

In response to rising travel costs and a shaky economy, Destination DC is making a trip to Washington, DC easier on the wallet with its new "Staying Power" promotion, encouraging travelers to stretch their dollars further by taking advantage of DC’s lengthy list of free and affordable activities and attractions and hotel rates starting at just $99 per night. Travelers can also increase their "staying power" by scoring an additional savings of 30% on their total stay when they book a three-night stay including a Thursday or Sunday night.

Hotels offering "Staying Power" packages include the newly-renovated and centrally-located Renaissance M Street Hotel (starting at $111/night); the boutique chic Hotel Rouge (starting at $139/night); the new Liaison Capitol Hill (starting at $189/night); and many more. Packages are available exclusively at Washington.org or by calling 1-800-422-8644.

The "Staying Power" promotion illustrates the powerful values that await travelers to DC this summer. Families can book "Staying Power" packages and create a low-cost vacation with:

• A three-night stay at the family-friendly Savoy Suites near fashionable Georgetown (starting at $250, including taxes);
• Admission to dozens of award-winning museums and attractions like the Library of Congress, U.S. Capitol and Smithsonian museums (free);
• A walking tour loaded with fun facts and trivia from DC by Foot (free; gratuity suggested);
• An outing at Nationals Park ($5 for grandstand seats; a $14 Family Fun Pack comes with a hot dog, soda and upper deck seating);
• Daily Metro passes ($7.80 each) or tickets to ride the DC Circulator ($1 each);
• Meals at classic DC eateries like Ben’s Chili Bowl, Eastern Market, California Tortilla and Five Guys (less than $10 per person).

Couples looking for a low-cost, upscale romantic escape can also craft a "Staying Power" package to suit their tastes, including:

• A three-night stay at the luxurious Fairmont Washington, D.C. Hotel ($502, including taxes);
• Admission to the National Gallery of Art (free);
• A sunrise at the Lincoln Memorial or moonlit walk at the Jefferson Memorial (free);
• A three-course, prix-fixe dinner for two at downtown hotspot Oya ($30 each) or browsing and sampling at Eastern Market or the Dupont Farmers Market (free);
• "Stampede Seats" sold prior to most performances at Woolly Mammoth Theatre ($15, or look for "Pay-What-You-Can" nights);
• Daily Metro passes ($7.80 each) or Circulator tickets to move around the city ($1 each).

THE LIAISON CAPITOL HILL COURTS POLITICALLY-MINDED TRAVELERS WITH
"PICK YOUR PARTY" PACKAGES

As the presidential election heats up, Capitol Hill's newest hotel shows its bipartisan spirit with Pick Your Party Packages, available exclusively at The Liaison Capitol Hill. Priced at $199 on weekends and $299 on weekdays, the package includes accommodations for one night, a picnic basket filled with seasonal gourmet "red, white and blue" culinary delights along with directions to picnic-friendly secret hideaways, a "Not for Tourists" city guide for Washington, DC, a "More than Monuments" walking tour guide from DC By Foot, as well as complimentary Internet access, an Affinia backpack, and your choice of:

• A "red" dining and nightlife guide to Republican hot spots and a copy of conservative mainstay, The Washington Times;
• A "blue" dining and nightlife guide to Democratic hot spots and a copy of the traditionally-liberal The Washington Post;
• A "white" dining and nightlife guide to apolitical and bipartisan hot spots and a copy of USA Today.

Packages are available through Sep. 2 and include signature Affinia amenities like a walking tour kit (a pre-loaded iPod nano or shuffle, a city walking guide and pedometer), a six-choice pillow menu, a non-alcoholic welcome drink on arrival and other welcoming treats. The hotel's rooftop terrace and swimming pool are expected to open in late spring. For reservations and more information, visit affinia.com or call 1-866-AFFINIA.

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