The events industry has long treated security as a venue problem. A string of incidents is making it clear that planners can no longer afford that assumption.
The shutdown appears to be amplifying Washington’s tourism downturn, but underlying national softness in hotel demand makes it hard to isolate the damage.
D.C. hotels had 64.3% occupancy amid a federal police takeover last week, down 2 points from 2024. That was broadly within national trends as the industry faces a mild softening in demand.