Virtuoso Travel, a booking agency catering to the luxury travel market, has dropped all Trump-branded hotels and resorts from its service.
The change in policy, which affects all 10 hotels and resorts operated by the former U.S. president’s company, was not publicly announced by the agency. The change occurred the week of March 8, when Trump Organization facilities were no longer listed on its website.
“As of March 8, 2021, Trump Hotels are no longer part of the Virtuoso network,” said Misty Ewing Belles, managing director of global public relations for the agency. Belles did not elaborate on why this decision was reached.
Trump hotels were still listed on the website on March 9, but have since been removed.
“Virtuoso considers many variables when reviewing both existing and new network participation. Out of respect for all involved parties, and as a general policy, we do not share comments regarding our non-renewal and exit decisions,” Belles said.
Virtuoso, which describes itself as a “by-invitation-only organization through which member travel advisers have privileged access to exclusive amenities, travel offers and rare experiences that you can’t get on your own,” partners with hospitality companies to provide accommodations to clientele.
Some properties with the former president’s name were struggling financially before the move by Virtuoso. After the Capitol riot in January, the Professional Golfers Association, as well as New York City and some banks, cut ties with the Trump organization.
The Trump International Hotel in Washington D.C., once a popular destination in the nation’s capital for the former president’s supporters, among others, has struggled financially since opening in September 2016. Attempts to sell the property have repeatedly been delayed.
More recently, the D.C. hotel came under scrutiny for reportedly boosting its prices on March 3-4. Commentators alleged the hotel was exploiting the pro-Trump QAnon conspiracy theory, some of whose adherents believed that the former president would be reinstalled on March 4. The use of that date stems from the fact that prior to the 1933 passage of the 20th Amendment, presidents were sworn in on March 4. However, it is not clear why room rates increased on those dates.
Trump Organization Executive Vice President Eric Trump did not respond to text messages seeking comment.
(Edited by Matthew B. Hall and Judith Isacoff)
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