More than 2400 delegates and 15,000 news media are expected in Cleveland next summer when the city hosts the Republican National Convention. And that means plenty of people looking for three hots and a cot.
In order to convince Republicans to hold their national convention here, the host committee promised some 16,000 hotel rooms would be available. But it’s not just hotels hoping to cash in on the tourism dollars. Private home owners have been listing their houses for rent. But the convention CEO Jeff Larson says, getting someone to pay those high prices, especially out in the suburbs, is likely apochryphal.
"In every convention people will tell you, 'I’m gonna rent my house for $30,000 for the week of the convention,' and it generally never happens. And so people will tell me that they’ve got their house rented for $25,000 and it’s ten minutes away. And I said, 'have you had any interest?' 'Well, I haven’t had any interest yet but it’s coming,' and so…"
Speaking at a breakfast hosted by Crains Cleveland Business, Larson says unique rentals, like those on the lake or large homes that might accommodate a foreign diplomatic group, have some chance of being rented. Otherwise, he expects most of the rentals will be limited to downtown.
