Vice President Biden's $459,388.65 Hotel Bill

    Vice President Biden and his entourage spent a little time in London in early February during his first foreign trip of the second term of the Obama administration.  A document released today revealed that the cost of lodging in London alone was close to half a million dollars.  The contract was awarded on January 30, 2013 to the Hyatt Regency London for a total of $459,388.65.

 
    Due to obvious security concerns, such contracts are not open to the competitive bidding normally required on government contracts.  The accompanying document justifying the "sole source" contract notes that the vice president's group required "approximately 136 hotel rooms for 893 room nights."  Based on these figures and the total contract price, each hotel room at the five star hotel cost the US government about $500 per night.


Note: This article first appeared at The Weekly Standard.