Washington Businesses, Hotels Prepare for Trump Inauguration

 

On January 20, Donald Trump¹ will be sworn in as the 45th president of the United States. Hundreds of thousands of people will gather in Washington, D.C to attend the inauguration² on the steps of the Capitol Building.

Eight years ago, Barack Obama, then a senator³ from Illinois, took the oath⁴ of office.

Obama inauguration: "Are you prepared to take the oath, senator?"

Many Hollywood personalities⁵ attended both of President Obama’s inaugurations⁶.They are not planning to attend the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump. Most of the guests for the Trump inauguration will come from the states that supported him. There will also be some diplomats⁷ and other international visitors.

And people will attend other events as well, including the inaugural⁸ parade and big costly⁹ parties called balls.

As the visitors make final plans for the trip to Washington, many D.C.-area businesses are getting ready for the crowds.

Although some hotels still have rooms available, most are full. Among them is one of the city’s costliest¹⁰ and highest-rated places to stay, the Four Seasons Hotel. It is charging much higher prices for inauguration weekend. A night in its presidential suite¹¹ costs $16,000. And with the hotel requiring a four-night stay during inauguration week, the cost is easily $64,000.

David Bernand is general manager at Four Seasons Hotel.

"We have people from political parties, you know, people from the business side of things here. And we also have people from banks, people all over really, every single trade."

With the high price for rooms come extra services.

"We've got hand warmers available for them, right, hats and things like that. Just things to make it more convenient for them."

The hotel will give a gift to visitors each day of their four-day stay. The final gift will be a leather box, marked in real gold with the symbol of the presidential seal.

While Four Seasons visitors are receiving costly gifts, others in town for the inauguration will treat themselves to less costly souvenirs.

One business, the Washington Welcome Center, is ready with souvenirs linked to the presidency¹². Store manager Dexter Morse expects Trump-related objects will be a big seller during inauguration week.

Morse says the hottest items are Trump hats. "The 'Make America Great Again' hat. Basically, the baseball caps are selling. We can't keep them on the shelves."

Visitors at the store do not just shop. They also talk about politics. Henry Jones is a Trump supporter. He is a college student visiting from Georgia.

"I think he's got some good qualities and I know he has his bad qualities, too, and has a lot of differences that people don't agree with. But I think he'll bring a lot to this country in his economic status, and in his way as a businessman, I think he can do a lot for the economy."

Store manager Dexter Morse says, since the election, both Republicans¹³ and Democrats¹⁴ who visit the store are expressing their views.

"The Republicans, they will come in and they basically speak on money issues, whereas¹⁵ the Democrats will come in and they'll seek out the problems and will talk about what's on the news, like if they cut Obamacare."

For some, the long lines, crowds and strong security in the city during the inauguration are not appealing.

Business owner Divo Le says he hopes Donald Trump will make America great again. But, he will not be fighting the crowds in D.C. Le says he plans to watch the change of U.S. leadership on television.

Words in This Story

oath – n. a formal and serious promise to tell the truth or to do something

inauguration - n. the official swearing-in ceremony

suite – n. a group of rooms for a single person or family in a hotel

afford – v. to be able to pay for

souvenir – n. something that helps you remember an event

item – n. a thing, object or piece of something

convenient – adj. allowing you to do something easily or without trouble

leather – n. animal skin that is chemically treated to preserve it and is used in making clothes, shoes, furniture

shelves - v. to put something on a shelf

1 trump   

n.王牌，法宝；v.打出王牌，吹喇叭

参考例句：

• He was never able to trump up the courage to have a showdown.他始终鼓不起勇气摊牌。
• The coach saved his star player for a trump card.教练保留他的明星选手，作为他的王牌。

2 inauguration   

n.开幕、就职典礼

参考例句：

• The inauguration of a President of the United States takes place on January 20.美国总统的就职典礼于一月二十日举行。
• Three celebrated tenors sang at the president's inauguration.3位著名的男高音歌手在总统就职仪式上演唱。

3 senator   

n.参议员，评议员

参考例句：

• The senator urged against the adoption of the measure.那参议员极力反对采取这项措施。
• The senator's speech hit at government spending.参议员的讲话批评了政府的开支。

4 oath   

n.誓言，誓约，咒骂，诅咒语

参考例句：

• They swore an oath to carry out their duties faithfully.他们宣誓忠实履行自己的职责。
• They swore an oath of loyalty to the country.他们宣誓要报效祖国。

5 personalities   

n. 诽谤，（对某人容貌、性格等所进行的）人身攻击； 人身攻击；人格, 个性, 名人( personality的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• There seemed to be a degree of personalities in her remarks.她话里有些人身攻击的成分。
• Personalities are not in good taste in general conversation.在一般的谈话中诽谤他人是不高尚的。

6 inaugurations   

n.就职( inauguration的名词复数 )；就职典礼；开始；开创

参考例句：

7 diplomats   

n.外交官( diplomat的名词复数 )；有手腕的人，善于交际的人

参考例句：

• These events led to the expulsion of senior diplomats from the country. 这些事件导致一些高级外交官被驱逐出境。
• The court has no jurisdiction over foreign diplomats living in this country. 法院对驻本国的外交官无裁判权。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 inaugural   

adj.就职的；n.就职典礼

参考例句：

• We listened to the President's inaugural speech on the radio yesterday.昨天我们通过无线电听了总统的就职演说。
• Professor Pearson gave the inaugural lecture in the new lecture theatre.皮尔逊教授在新的阶梯讲堂发表了启用演说。

9 costly   

adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的

参考例句：

• It must be very costly to keep up a house like this.维修这么一幢房子一定很昂贵。
• This dictionary is very useful,only it is a bit costly.这本词典很有用，左不过贵了些。

10 costliest   

adj.昂贵的( costly的最高级 )；代价高的；引起困难的；造成损失的

参考例句：

• At 81 billion dollars, Katrina is the costliest natural disaster in American history. “卡特里娜”飓风造成了近810亿美圆的损失，是美国历史上最严重的自然灾难之一。 来自互联网
• Senator John Kerry has proposed a tax on the costliest health plans sold by insurance companies. 参议员约翰？克里(JohnKerry)已经提议对保险公司销售的高价值的保险计划征税。 来自互联网

11 suite   

n.一套(家具)；套房；随从人员

参考例句：

• She has a suite of rooms in the hotel.她在那家旅馆有一套房间。
• That is a nice suite of furniture.那套家具很不错。

12 presidency   

n.总统(校长，总经理)的职位(任期)

参考例句：

• Roosevelt was elected four times to the presidency of the United States.罗斯福连续当选四届美国总统。
• Two candidates are emerging as contestants for the presidency.两位候选人最终成为总统职位竞争者。

13 republicans   

拥护共和政体者，共和主义者( republican的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The Republicans got shellacked in the elections. 共和党在选举中一败涂地。
• The latest poll gives the Republicans a 5％ lead. 最近的民意调查结果表明共和党领先了五个百分点。

14 democrats   

n.民主主义者，民主人士( democrat的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The Democrats held a pep rally on Capitol Hill yesterday. 民主党昨天在国会山召开了竞选誓师大会。
• The democrats organize a filibuster in the senate. 民主党党员组织了阻挠议事。 来自《简明英汉词典》

15 whereas   

conj.而，却，反之

参考例句：

• They want a house,whereas we would rather live in a flat.他们想要一座房子，而我们宁愿住在一套房间里。
• Some praise him,whereas others condemn him.有些人赞扬他，而有些人谴责他。