Donald Trump’s D.C. Hotel Shows His Brand Is Sinking Along With His Poll Numbers
Donald Trump’s D.C. Hotel Shows His Brand Is Sinking Along With His Poll Numbers
By Michelle Celarier
It’s now pretty clear that Donald Trump has been using his presidential campaign to promote his various business ventures. Remember when he touted his Turnberry, Scotland, golf course as a beneficiary of Great Britain’s exit from the European Union this summer? But if Trump hoped his campaign would elevate the value of his brand, it looks like just the opposite is happening.
Trump’s biggest disaster of the campaign — the revelations of a lewd tape in which he boasted about sexually accosting women — has led critics to throw more shade on his businesses. Fellow celebrity-billionaire Mark Cuban tweeted this on Friday night:
— Mark Cuban (@mcuban) October 8, 2016
He might not be wrong. Take Trump’s latest, most lavish venture: the Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C., which has become a focal point for grievances against the unconventional Republican presidential candidate.
The 263-room five-star hotel in the historic Old Post Office building opened last month. But even with a prime location near the White House, swanky interiors, and aggressive promotion by the candidate himself, empty rooms have forced the hotel to reduce rates during a peak season. At the same time, the hotel has lost two planned restaurants, Hispanic employees are making claims of discrimination, and protesters are gearing up to do whatever they can to cause trouble for the hotel.
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For a five-star hotel in downtown Washington to have vacancies during major IMF meetings is a little like having empty rooms when the Super Bowl is in town. “The reason why there were vacancies is the political atmosphere. People don’t want to go there for fear that they would be asked, ‘Why are you staying here?’” says Ada Pena, a travel agent with ABA Travel in Washington, D.C.
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http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2016/10/trumps-d-c-hotel-shows-as-poll-sink-so-does-his-brand.html?mid=full-rss-di
= new reply since forum marked as read
Her brand sinks or swims along with his and things aren't looking good long-term. Wonder how her clothing line is holding up?
Some woman is liable to bat him over the head with one of Ivanka's spiked pumps before it's all over.
Who knows, maybe Ivanka herself...
...not even at reduced rates. If he wanted to make money off this campaign, he should have started up a Hotel-Grope complete with miniature golf course, bar and stripper club; with cheap rates and a 24-hour diner serving greasy breakfasts and taco bowls he'd have made a killing. Supporters would have made pilgrimages and stayed all week. 
Those with money to burn, however, can be discerning. And have to be.
