For Immediate Release:
February 9, 2009


                             Post-Inaugural Fun Facts: Hotels, Chili & Metro Trips

(Washington, DC) - Just two weeks following the Inauguration of Barack Obama, the 44th President of the United States, Destination DC has compiled some interesting and fun facts that recount the importance of the historic event.

Hotel availability in the city and throughout the region was widely reported as sold out, although limited rooms remained available in the week leading up to Inauguration. Hotel occupancy in the District rose to 98% on January 19, and the average rate was around $600. For the greater Washington region, occupancy was 91% on the same night with an average rate around $300.

“Our city relies heavily on the revenues generated by travel and tourism. In today’s troubled economy, tourism, meetings and events keep our residents employed. We represent a $5.5 billion dollar industry that contributes $620 million in tax revenue to the District and employs more than 71,000 residents,” said Bill Hanbury, president & CEO of Destination DC, the city’s official convention & tourism corporation.

Following are just a few numbers to consider:

• 1.8 million – the number of people that celebrated on the National Mall, according to city officials
• 1.544 million – the record number of trips Metro handled on Inauguration Day
• 110,220 – number of page views on January 20 at Washington.org, the official tourism website for the city
• 14,750 – pounds of pasta served at the six official Inaugural balls hosted at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center
• 605 – the average daily rate for hotel rooms in the District of Columbia on Tuesday, January 20, according to Smith Travel Research
• 555 – gallons of chili served at Ben’s Chili Bowl during Inauguration week
• 98 – the percentage of hotel occupancy in the District of Columbia on Monday, January 19, according to Smith Travel Research
• 21 – the percentage British travelers in the 18-34 age group that are more likely to visit the U.S. now that Obama has been elected, according to Association of British Travel Agents
• 5 - the number of non-inaugural sightings of the Obamas at local spots around town (Equinox, Ben’s Chili Bowl, Gallery Place, Georgia Brown’s and the Kennedy Center)
• 0 – the number of arrests on Inauguration Day, according to city officials.

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About Destination DC:  Destination DC, the lead destination marketing organization for the nation’s capital, is a private, non-profit membership organization of more than 1,000 businesses committed to marketing the area as a premier global convention, tourism and special events destination with a special emphasis on the arts, cultural and historic communities. Destinationdc.com.