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Hotel Staffs In Center City Brace For Flood Of Delegates

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The Democratic National Convention begins Monday, but some of the delegates have come to Philadelphia a little early.

This is a very exciting week for delegates from around the country. It's also an expensive one. Hotels are going at premium rates, between $400 and $500 a night, depending on where they stay. The high cost has some delegates sharing hotel rooms to save money, with as many as four people per room.

Scott Nassar is managing director of the Loews Hotel in Center City. He says it's all hands on deck for his staff as they prepare to host delegates from New York and Virginia.

"We have a high occupancy here. We have presidents and vice presidents of organizations coming all the time, so we're ready for the DNC, Nassar said. "We definitely have grab-and-go's for [the delegates], especially when they're on a fast pace as they are," Nassar said. "We also have some cocktails catered for the DNC as well."

Security is extremely tight and there is already a strong police presence throughout Center City.

As of noon on Saturday, travel restrictions took effect. Vehicles over five tons were not permitted to travel on I-95 between Girard Avenue and just south of the sports complex in South Philadelphia.

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