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Smaller Inauguration Crowd Expected in 2013

Inauguration-goers aren't booking hotels as quickly as they did in 2009.

If you're still interested in heading to Washington to witness and celebrate President Obama's second inauguration, you're in luck. Hotels aren't filling up as fast and furiously as they did in 2009, so there's lots of room at many inns.

City officials estimate that 600,000 to 800,000 people will turn out for the big event on Jan. 21, which will make for a much smaller crowd than the 1.8 million who converged on the District four years ago, The Associated Press reports.

‘‘Very few hotels are actually sold out at this point, so there’s a lot of availability,’’ said Elliott Ferguson, chief executive of the tourism bureau Destination D.C.

And, procrastinating on booking a room might provide a bit extra to spend on inauguration ball duds. According to AP, some hotels are relaxing minimum stays to three nights and may drop their prices closer to the event.

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(Photo: Scott Andrews-Pool/Getty Images)

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