The Fairmont Goes Green for the Inauguration

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Guests willing to shell out $40,000 for lodging during the inauguration will be given the ecofriendly presidential treatment at the Fairmont Washington DC. The West End hotel is offering high-rolling guests a four-night stay in its Lexus Hybrid Living Suite, a two-bedroom unit decorated by Los Angeles-based ecodesigner Kelly LaPlante.

The suite, completed in May, was designed to make guests feel as though they’ve entered a black-and-white photograph; the only touch of color is the paintings on the wall by local artist Jon Wassom. The suite features a kitchen, three bathrooms, a sitting area, and a dining room with seating for ten. Ecofriendly touches are throughout: The floors are made of white bamboo, the kitchen countertop is made from recycled glass and cement, and reclaimed birch trees provide decoration. See the slide show below for photos.

All photographs courtesy of the Fairmont Washington DC

Guests who book the Eco-Inaugural Package will also have use of a Lexus LS 600 hybrid during their stay, and they’ll receive organic spa treatments including massages, manicures, and makeup. Though tickets to inaugural balls are not included, female guests will receive a custom-tailored ball gown from organic designer Linda Loudermilk. Guests will also be treated to a midnight dinner for ten—organic, of course—in their suite after the balls. A pair of butlers will be on hand throughout their stay to attend to the guests’ every need. And for a bit of good karma, the hotel is making a $2,000 donation in the name of its VIP guests to the National Geographic Society.

To date, the package has not been booked, though the hotel has had several inquiries. Any takers?

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Emily Leaman