Government discounted rate would be far less than $450/night. Probably more in the $120-$150/night. The cost of meeting rooms, lunches, snacks/water etc for breaks is also negotiated because most hotels won't allow outside things to be brought it and their 'normal' fees for those things are outrageous.  One needs to look at the big picture when evaluating this.  Sure-a Super 8 would have been cheaper, but likely the costs for meeting rooms, etc would have risen.