It’s difficult to remember a time when so much of the world’s attention was focused on Washington DC. Yes, of course, it is the capital city of the world’s wealthiest and most powerful country, but when it comes to the United States our gaze tends to be drawn towards powerhouse cities such as New York, Chicago and Los Angeles, and entertainment magnets such as Las Vegas and Orlando. DC is often seen as a place for policy wonks and political nerds.
Not any more. Washington is very much where it’s at – apart from Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence at weekends of course – and it is chock-full of business heavy hitters and political movers and shakers from throughout the US and beyond, all hoping to get the ear of someone who has the ear of you-know-who.
That makes it a great place to visit for Irish businesspeople at the moment. Not only can they make important connections, but they can also get to enjoy a truly beautiful city replete with history, culture and home to some of the world’s finest museums and art galleries. With the dollar considerably weaker against the euro than just a few months ago, it’s good value too.
First, to business. The scale and importance of Ireland’s economic and trade relationships with the US have come into sharp focus in recent months. Much to the ire of some on the other side of the Atlantic, Ireland enjoys a significant trade surplus in goods with the US. In 2024 Ireland’s goods exports to the US increased by more than a third to €72.6 billion, while imports from the US fell slightly to €22.5 billion, resulting in a trade surplus in Ireland’s favour of more than €50 billion.
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On the other hand, trade in services looks very different and Ireland ran a deficit of €163 billion with the US in 2024. But that’s not something talked about by people whose main focus is tariffs on goods.
Ireland’s ties with the US go way beyond trade. Ireland is now the sixth largest foreign direct investor in the US with Irish firms employing 203,000 people there – not far off the 210,000 people employed by US firms in Ireland.
First time visitors to the US capital should probably check in with the Irish Network DC (irishnetwork-dc.com) before they set off. Focused on strengthening the economic, cultural and social ties with Ireland, the network offers valuable opportunities to make important new business connections in and around the city.
When not engaged in business meetings, there is plenty to do and see around the city. It’s a very walkable city and where better to start your stroll but Capitol Hill? If you want to get inside to explore both the Capitol and the Library of Congress, it’s best to book well in advance.
After that, there is the National Mall, a public park that stretches all the way from the Capitol to the Washington Monument. Keep walking and you’ll reach the Lincoln Memorial as well as others to Martin Luther King, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Thomas Jefferson, the Vietnam War and many others besides. But that’s a bit of a step so be sure to bring good walking shoes or maybe take one of the hop-on hop-off bus tours to get there.
Walking along the mall you’ll pass the world renowned Smithsonian Institution museums. All are free to visit but some of them require advance booking. And make sure to set aside plenty of time, they are simply vast. A brief detour will take you past the White House.
Then there is Georgetown, the historic neighbourhood on the banks of the Potomac, which actually predates Washington. It’s home to the oldest building still standing in Washington, the appropriately named Old Stone House and perhaps its most famous outside of the White House and Capitol – the Watergate Hotel.
When you’ve had your fill of history, Georgetown is full of great places to eat including Fiola Mare, an award-winning Italian seafood restaurant favoured by the Obamas, for example. For culture, you can take in one of the shows at the Kennedy Centre – just a short walk along the riverbank – or head back into central Washington to one of its many theatres and other entertainment spots.
Where to stay
One thing Washington is not short of is hotels, many of them located conveniently on Capitol Hill and often reasonably priced. If you want some history to go with your night’s sleep why not check out the Willard Hotel, the home of the original lobbyists. It is said that former US president Ulysses S Grant used the term to describe the people hanging around the hotel’s lobby in the hope of seeking access and influence at a time when he was a regular customer. It is also the place where Martin Luther King wrote his I have a dream speech. Prices start from $401 (€349) per night.
Just opened earlier this year is the Arlo. A very comfortable hotel near Capitol Hill with a rooftop bar offering wonderful views of the city. Prices start at $188 (€164) per night.
And then there is, of course, The Watergate. Prices for that particular slice of history start at $355 (€309) per night.
Getting there
Aer Lingus flies direct to and from Washington DC daily, all year round and twice daily from March to December. Economy fares start from €309 each way including taxes and charges, from June 20th to August 24th.
Business class starts at €1,599 including taxes and charges. That might sound a bit expensive but is probably worth it when you consider that the flight time is about eight hours. The spacious lie-flat seats and other luxuries mean you can get off the plane fresh and ready for that business meeting. The complementary wifi is also handy for keeping in touch with the office while in the air for what’s effectively an entire working day.
Flying direct from Dublin makes an awful lot of sense as well with the US pre-clearance facility allowing passengers travelling from Ireland to avoid lengthy queues at the other side.
