Washington, DC hosted 25,000 National Guard troops from across the nation this week in order to safeguard presidential inaugural festivities. While photos of troops sleeping on the floor of the Capitol made headlines around the world, others enjoyed five-star hotel accommodations.
National Guard Troops Enjoy Lavish Five-Star Hotel In Washington, DC
I stayed at the Park Hyatt Washington, DC, located in the District’s West End neighborhood, just a short walk from Georgetown. While checking in, I noticed a number of National Guard troops outside the hotel, but did not think much of it.
This is never a cheap hotel, but during the inauguration the nightly rate ran $879 (thankfully, I paid with Hyatt points instead).
When I returned to my room in the evening, I heard all sorts of hooting and hollering outside my door. I stuck my head outside the door and noticed several troops in the hall.
These were all “kids” (hey, I’m over 30 now) who seemed to be enjoying themselves. It didn’t bother me much, so I just went back inside my room.
Later, I went out to dinner. It was 8:30PM. In the lobby, I found dozens of troops in and even more outside.
I asked the front desk what was now obvious. Are these troops staying at the hotel? “Mr. Klint, there’s won’t be a safer hotel in DC” was the reply.
So while pictures like these defined the event:
Hundreds of National Guard Troops sleeping on the floor of US Capitol – taking a break from working tirelessly to keep the grounds and those inside safe.
Many armed, riot shields laying nearby.
Others heading out into the cold morning air. @wsvn pic.twitter.com/tA6yzPjqeD
— Joe Roetz (@JoeRoetz) January 13, 2021
…others enjoyed finer luxury accommodations.
And it makes sense, doesn’t it? If National Guard are asked to safeguard the city, they need to be well-rested. I suspect most hotels in the city housed troops. Still, it made me chuckle a bit. How thrilling it must have been to be part of this historical event and enjoy a five-star hotel every evening.
My thanks to National Guard units from across the country for your presence in DC. While seeing troops and armored vehicles on the street sadly reminded me of being in Kabul, your presence at this event helped to dissuade many potential disturbances.
Remember when Bowser demanded that troops NOT be housed in hotels within the city over the summer and had them kicked out?…..3rd Amendment blah blah blah
You mean that thing which didn’t actually happen?
https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/verify/verify-no-dc-mayor-bowser-did-not-evict-national-guard-members-from-a-marriott-hotel/65-202afda1-1b47-4101-a4d2-7a9a0be6b7ed
Go easy on the Trump Sycophants, been a rough week for them, no Q Anon to the rescue either amazingly enough
She ABSOLUTELY did kick them out. It doesn’t matter what WUSA says. The media has been covering up the truth for years. I get it, Biden is literally the second coming of Jesus Christ. Whatever.
No one should begrudge these troops but if Trump had sanctioned this there would’ve been a riot. And no, I can’t stand Trump. This is hilarious. “Hey guys, who’s up for a get together at the Park Hyatt on the most expensive night of the year?”
The Republican Guard, those who protect the regime, always get the best of everything. Doesn’t matter if the threat is real or mostly imagined.
Amazing how the mainstream press games the public by pushing the optics of troops having to sleep on the Capitol floor while ignoring the optics of troops sleeping in five star hotels. No problem with troops being housed wherever there were openings, but as an old journalist I have a big problem with the mainstream press misleading the public by acts of omission. Biden is not the New Messiah and the press should be impartial witnesses, not Disciple
So you trust Newsmax and OAN over the “mainstream press”…got it
They probably got the government rate at the Park Hyatt, it’s often available. This would be the same per diem rate charged by all hotels for gov/military. Honestly, I don’t that the the Park Hyatt in DC is all that luxurious…..
I often stay at the Park Hyatt in DC as a DoD employee on the government rate. It’s the same rate I would pay the Hyatt Place…
I’m with A on this one in regards to the level of luxury at the Park Hyatt DC. It’s a nice hotel but compared to other 5 star properties (like Park Hyatt NYC) it isn’t worthy of that rating nor that price tag.
Exactly. The government per diem rate is the same (if available, since hotels usually limit the number of rooms available at that rate) at every hotel. I’ve been fortunate to find the Waldorf, Hilton resorts, etc., all at the government rate. You’d stay there too (as opposed to the Hampton or Springhill) if it were available at or below your maximum reimbursable rate. Odds are also, that for troops on orders like they all were, someone from an office at their unit or base made all the reservations for them (as opposed to individual reservations on DTS), and they were able to leverage lots of rooms booked at a still fairly high rate (remember how empty hotels have been).
Gov’t rate at Park is not bad at all ($188) but more expensive than, for example, Hyatt Places in town ($105).
Park DC is not a 5 star hotel. Its 4 diamond. Therefore, comparing it to the Park NY (which is in fact 5 star) would not be a fair comparison.
I stay at the Park Hyatt DC quite often and really prefer it to St. Regis or even the Ritz, which is second on my list (also, currently closed). Rooms are bigger, service is warm and friendly + Blue Duck Tavern for meals! As a Globalist, I can’t complain.
I’d stay at Park Hyatt DC too if it’s on someone else’s dime! I guess in this case they all stayed there thanks to the federal government and to the taxpayers of our country!
Of course they should be put up in decent accommodation , including 5 star if that’s the only availability. No one will begrudge them a bit of luxury.
On the other hand, “ hooting and hollering” in the corridors is very unprofessional and antisocial , regardless of their age.
The owner of the Hyatt chain is the Pritzker family, including IL Governor JB Pritzker. He sent troops to support the inauguration so it would make sense that the hotel was provided as a place for NG soldiers to stay. No big conspiracy here at all except for mabye the size of that tax write off he might get.
Wow, that makes sense. Thanks for the comment.
Most importantly, did they put their Hyatt numbers down to collect the points?
And now they’ve been thrown on their asses outside lol
This is actually pretty normal imho.
While I do only know limited about how the US military does things, in Switzerland at least from a specific rank on you’ll always be housed in hotels (and not the shabby kind) in contrary to bunkers or standard military accomondation. For example during WEF in Davos this is the case. While obviously it’s nice one can’t really enjoy it all that much as you really only go there, shower and then immediately go to sleep only to get up 4-5 hours later to immediately leave again. No time for SPA, breakfast buffets or anything else most of the time. During the four weeks I was deployed for WEF I think I only got to eat dinner at the hotel restaurant once and even for that I was under time pressure.
And for those wondering if you can get points from such stays: It depends on how it was booked, but it’s not impossible.