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United States President Barack Obama - Source: Reuters
US President Barack Obama will confine his Australian visit to a 24-hour stopover in Canberra - and just for once, he might not be the main attraction in town.
There are few hotel rooms available in the national capital because of a blockbuster art exhibition, sparking concern about where the president's entourage will stay when they arrive next week.
Former president George W Bush brought 650 people when he visited Australia in 2003, and with federal parliament to be recalled on March 26 to hear Obama speak, there will be hundreds of MPs and staffers fighting for a hotel room too.
At least the visit is going ahead - there had been fears it would be cancelled as the president struggles to get crucial health reform through the US Congress.
A Labor frontbencher says the change of date had presented practical difficulties, pointing to the shortage of hotel rooms.
The president arrives in Canberra on Thursday, March 25.
Air Force One will take off a day later for Washington DC, with the president - who will travel without his family - to spend all his time in the Australian capital. He will not visit Sydney.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd will host Obama to dinner at the Lodge and the president will commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Australia-US alliance in his speech to the joint sitting of parliament.
Recalling parliament will cost Australian taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars in flights and accommodation for MPs and staffers.
The cost will be around $149,616 for the Senate alone, with no figure available for the House of Representatives, which is twice the size.
Jeff Bader, the White House's National Security Council senior director for Asian Affairs, confirmed trade would be on the visit's agenda, as will security.
The issue of American beef imports will be raised.
Australia recently lifted restrictions on beef from the US and other countries which have had mad cow disease. Amid a public outcry, the government has effectively reinstituted the ban.
"As for specific sectors, Australia's got great beef, but we want to make sure that there are not obstacles to the import of US beef," Bader said.
Climate change will be discussed, with the two leaders to canvass Australia's work in carbon capture and storage, seen by some as the key to securing a long-term future for coal.
Chris Peters, the chief executive of the ACT Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said it would be very difficult to find accommodation during the visit.
The Masterpieces from Paris exhibition of post-Impressionist paintings from the Musee d'Orsay has lured huge crowds to Canberra's National Gallery, with some queuing three hours to get in.
"There's only so many hotel rooms available and that's it, we can't put up tents, we can't put up caravans," Peters says.
He says some people might have to stay in the towns of Goulburn or Yass, and some tourists might find their hotel rooms taken off them to accommodate the presidential entourage.
Obama is likely to stay either at the five-star Hyatt hotel near Parliament House, or at the US embassy.
Peters said the art exhibition might complicate plans for the presidential visit, but on a brighter note, he suggested Mr Obama drop in to view the artworks.
Or visit the Australian War Memorial, or see some of the native wildlife.
"A koala and a kangaroo can absolutely be arranged for him," Peters promised.
