--- title: Trump: How Donald Trump’s Run for President Affects Trump Hotels description: Comments from the GOP Presidential candidate have prompted public outcry canonical: https://time.com/3986561/donald-trump-hotels-election/ author: TIME article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2015-08-05T21:11:51.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-08-19T07:42:28.919Z article:section: Politics og:title: How Donald Trump’s Run for President is Affecting His Hotels og:description: "We're having the best year since we opened in 2008" og:url: https://time.com/3986561/donald-trump-hotels-election/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt76e1a34fa0e22885/69885e19f887dcbee7e91bd0/trump0815-hotel.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1600 og:image:height: 900 og:image:alt: Trump Hotel og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: How Donald Trump’s Run for President is Affecting His Hotels twitter:description: "We're having the best year since we opened in 2008" twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt76e1a34fa0e22885/69885e19f887dcbee7e91bd0/trump0815-hotel.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # How Donald Trump’s Run for President is Affecting Trump Hotels > Sponsored content. 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Brief is TIME's Washington newsletter, written by senior correspondent Philip Elliott. It explains the politics, personalities and power dynamics behind the headlines, three times a week. It reaches 85,000 subscribers with a 37.0% open rate as of August 2026. #### Where can I get analysis of Washington politics by email? D.C. Brief is TIME's free Washington politics newsletter, available at time.com/newsletters. It is written by a TIME senior correspondent who covers the capital full time. #### Who writes TIME's D.C. Brief? Philip Elliott, a senior correspondent at TIME, writes D.C. Brief. #### Is D.C. Brief free? Yes. D.C. Brief is free at time.com/newsletters. ## Video: Watch The Best Quotes By Donald Trump [Watch (HLS stream): Watch The Best Quotes By Donald Trump](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/7MzTpVq2.m3u8) (1:21)  _Published 2015-07-23. Donald Trump's Most Ridiculous Quotes_ by [Jennifer Parker / Travel + Leisure](https://time.com/author/travel-leisure/) ## Jennifer Parker / Travel + Leisure Aug 5, 2015 9:11 PM UTC  George Rose—Getty Images by [Jennifer Parker / Travel + Leisure](https://time.com/author/travel-leisure/) ## Jennifer Parker / Travel + Leisure Aug 5, 2015 9:11 PM UTC This summer has proved to be an interesting one for Donald Trump. After the presidential hopeful characterized Mexican immigrants as rapists and drug dealers, his corporate sponsors and partners—NBCUniversal, Macy’s, Univision—were quick to sever ties. Public outcry was swift, too: Protests [erupted](http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/protesters-want-trumps-name-removed-from-dc-building/2015/07/09/41307bfc-262c-11e5-b77f-eb13a215f593%5Fstory.html) outside Trump’s luxury hotels in Washington, D.C. and Chicago. Even the rapper Pitbull [refused to book](http://www.etonline.com/news/168170%5Fpitbull%5Fwon%5Ft%5Fstay%5Fat%5Fdonald%5Ftrump%5Fhotels%5Fanymore/) a room. It’s all been enough to make David Letterman come out of retirement. But it might not be enough to make a dent in the bottom line of the [Trump Hotel Collection](https://www.trumphotelcollection.com/), a multi-million dollar brand comprised of 12 luxury properties worldwide. Donald Trump Jr., executive vice president of development and acquisitions for the Trump Collection, told _Travel + Leisure_ in a statement that everything is business as usual: “My family and I, who personally lead the Trump Hotel Collection, are incredibly proud of the luxury portfolio we have built and the tremendous success that we have achieved in a relatively short period of time. Our properties are exceeding all targets across a variety of metrics, including market share, group bookings, and reservations volume. We continue to outperform our competitors in their respective markets and are very enthusiastic about the future and the growth of the brand.” The privately held company, run by Trump and his enterprising offspring—Donald Jr., Ivanka and Eric—does not release its financial data to the public. But according to the most recent reports from industry research firm STR, Inc., the luxury sector is rocking this year, Trump hotels included. Average RevPar (revenue per available room) in the U.S. luxury hotel class has increased 6.8 percent year on year. At the same time, occupancy rates have improved, hitting a high of 71 percent. “We have not seen any impact from the political scene,” said Colm O’Callaghan, regional vice president for the Trump Hotel Collection. Of the company’s Chicago-based hotel, he added: “We’re having the best year since we opened in 2008\. May, June, and July have record numbers in terms of RevPar.” This, despite the protests of a hospitality workers union—the UNITE HERE Local 1 group—who marched in front of the Trump Hotel Chicago in July. Specifically, they gathered to “communicate their disgust with presidential wannabe Trump’s attack on immigrants,” according to NBC Chicago’s local [news report](http://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/Hospitality-Workers-to-Protest-Donald-Trumps-Immigration-Remarks-312522251.html). ### Trump Soho Shrugs Off the Controversy In New York, however, Trump’s own immigrant employees are taking a less combative stance—preferring to keep their jobs at the real estate mogul’s sleek Soho property. “We don’t even think about Trump,” said Gabriela Paulino, a 21-year-old hostess from the Dominican Republic. In addition to this nighttime gig, she works two internships and “doesn’t have time” to worry about her boss’s politics. Another hostess Shelby, a 25-year-old from Cape Verde, a group of islands off the coast of West Africa, agrees: Trump’s political campaign is a distant cartoonish charade, with no impact on the staff’s daily lives. Not even Rodrigo, the bar-back from Mexico, seems upset. He’s worked in New York for 13 years, and he’s not about to give up now. “I don’t care,” he said, while smiling and stocking the fridge behind the bar. “It’s just a job.” They’re each busy serving tropical cocktails to a Sunday evening crowd at the 7th floor pool bar. It’s a breezy, resort-style space, which easily seats 200 and looks out onto City Hall. The vibe is tiki-bar casual, with low wooden tables and soft, white lounge chairs—not at all the country club feel one might expect. And the bourbon peach cocktails, garnished with fresh mint, taste like summer in a glass. But what’s most charming is the young staff, going about their business and playing their own soundtrack of classic rock below the generic techno on the overhead system. While I was there, Alex, the bartender from Nigeria, tossed silver shakers and cracked jokes to make the hostesses laugh. “A few guests might stop staying here because of what Trump said about Mexicans,” noted Alex. “But so far, nothing’s really changed.” Downstairs in the lobby a quiet, but steady stream of business and leisure travelers checked in to pay, at minimum, $395 a night—with no protesters in sight. ### Word on the Street Overall, it appears that Trump Hotel’s target customers care more about luxury and service than the political views of the hotel’s outspoken owner. And you can count Wall Street banks among them. “For our events, we want a feeling of comfort and exclusivity with great service, so people feel relaxed enough to share and network. We chose Trump Soho for the rooftop, which has great views,” remarked Judy Spaltoff, head of client development for UBS, who hosts the bank’s “Young Successors” conference for wealth management clients. In recent years, Spaltoff has also booked the [St. Regis New York](http://www.stregisnewyork.com/), the [Andaz 5th Avenue](http://newyork.5thavenue.andaz.hyatt.com/en/hotel/home.html), and Donna Karan’s [Urban Zen](http://urbanzen.org/about/urban-zen-center/) loft space for corporate events. She hasn’t yet decided whether to return to Trump Soho. Meanwhile, The Donald is leading the GOP field in the 2016 presidential race, prompting some critics to claim his scathing comments are an effective exercise in self-promotion. Whether this will parlay into suite bookings remains to be seen. For the moment, his hotel brand is running full speed ahead, opening three new luxury properties in Rio de Janeiro, Vancouver, and Washington, D.C. by 2016\. Just in time for the election. ### See Donald Trump Hanging Out With Unlikely Celebrities  Donald Trump, owner of New York's Trump Tower, holds the bridle of a polo pony while talking to Andy Warhol on Nov. 4, 1983. Mario Suriani—AP  Donald Trump, Don King and Barbara Walters on Dec. 12, 1987. Ron Galella—Getty Images  Professional Wrestler Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant With Donald Trump. Russell Turiak—Getty Images  Heavyweight champion Mike Tyson, his wife, actress Robin Givens and Donald Trump, leave the New York State Supreme Court building on July 22, 1988. Charles Wenzelberg—AP  Developer Donald Trump is flanked by super middleweight champion Thomas Hearns, left, of Detroit, and Michael Olajide of Canada at a news conference in New York on Feb. 15, 1990. Timothy Clary—AP  Alec Baldwin is joined by Donald Trump and Melania Knauss at benefit for the Carol M. Baldwin Breast Cancer Research Fund at the Marriott Marquis Hotel on October 8, 1999. Richard Corkery—NY Daily News Archive/Getty Images  Katie Couric, left, co-host of NBC-TV's "Today" show, is dressed like Donald Trump, right, during a spoof of his "The Apprentice" reality television show, on the morning program's annual Halloween segment on Oct. 29, 2004. Richard Drew—AP  Donald Trump and Larry King arrive at the Comedy Central Roast of Donald Trump in New York on March 9, 2011. Charles Sykes—AP  Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino, left, and Donald Trump appear onstage at the Comedy Central Roast of Donald Trump in New York on March 9, 2011. Charles Sykes—AP  Snoop Dogg and Donald Trump arrive at the Comedy Central Roast of Donald Trump in New York on March 9, 2011. Charles Sykes—AP  Martha Stewart and Donald Trump at Richard "Skip" Bronson's, "The War at the Shore" Book Publication Party held at Loews Regency Hotel in New York City on June 11, 2012. Sylvain Gaboury—Sipa USA  Tiger Woods stands with Donald Trump as he holds the Gene Serazen Cup for winning the Cadillac Championship golf tournament on March 10, 2013, in Doral, Fla. Wilfredo Lee—AP  Donald Trump and recording artist and host Nick Jonas joke around onstage during the 2013 Miss USA pageant at PH Live at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino on June 16, 2013 in Las Vegas. Ethan Miller—Getty Images _This_ [_article_](http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/donald-trump-presidential-run-hotels?xid=PS%5Ftime) _originally appeared on_ [_Travel + Leisure_](http://www.travelandleisure.com/?xid=PS%5Ftime)_._ _More from Travel + Leisure:_ * [25 Trips of a Lifetime](http://www.travelandleisure.com/slideshows/trips-of-a-lifetime?xid=PS%5FTime) * [The Most Exciting Hotel Openings of Summer 2015](http://www.travelandleisure.com/slideshows/exciting-hotel-openings?xid=PS%5FTime) * [Donald Trump on His Home Away from Home](http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/my-favorite-place-donald-trump?xid=PS%5FTime) ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/3986561/donald-trump-hotels-election/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/3986561/donald-trump-hotels-election/"},"headline":"How Donald Trump’s Run for President is Affecting Trump Hotels","datePublished":"2015-08-05T21:11:51.000Z","dateModified":"2026-08-19T07:42:28.919Z","description":"\"We're having the best year since we opened in 2008\"","url":"https://time.com/3986561/donald-trump-hotels-election/","keywords":["2016 Election","2016 Election","politics","Travel","Donald Trump","Hotel"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt76e1a34fa0e22885/69885e19f887dcbee7e91bd0/trump0815-hotel.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Jennifer Parker / Travel + Leisure"}],"articleSection":"Politics","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt76e1a34fa0e22885/69885e19f887dcbee7e91bd0/trump0815-hotel.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"Trump Hotel","caption":"Trump Hotel","creditText":"George Rose—Getty Images","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/politics/","name":"Politics"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/2016-election/","name":"2016 Election"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/3986561/donald-trump-hotels-election/","name":"How Donald Trump’s Run for President is Affecting Trump Hotels"}}]},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"Watch The Best Quotes By Donald Trump","description":"Donald Trump's Most Ridiculous Quotes","thumbnailUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/7MzTpVq2/poster.jpg?width=720","uploadDate":"2015-07-23T21:38:04.000Z","contentUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/7MzTpVq2.m3u8","embedUrl":"https://time.com/3986561/donald-trump-hotels-election/","duration":"PT1M21S","potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","target":"https://time.com/3986561/donald-trump-hotels-election/?jw_start={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"}}] ```