Although the government shutdown has closed off some demand drivers in the Washington, D.C., area, hoteliers there hope the shutdown will end soon so they don’t lose out on upcoming group travel business, writes HNN’s Dana Miller. This time of year is typically slower in the D.C. area, so it’s difficult to assess the full effect of the shutdown right now, but business would normally pick up in the coming weeks and months.

Joseph Bojanowski, president of PM Hotel Group, said student tour season starts in the spring along with other big group activities, but a longer shutdown could change that, Miller writes.