acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney defiantly addressed the concern that hosting the G7 there already creates profit by highlighting the resort, asking reporters to "consider the possibility that Donald Trump's brand is already strong enough on its own."
A number of problems with that lame defense.
1) McDonald's is hugely known, yet they still advertise on TV. Brand awareness is one thing -- everyone in the US knows Spam -- but keeping a positive modern image is another.
2) This is a major international summit, which gets reported all over the world. Chinese for instance had never heard of Trump until he started winning the GOP nomination. So this would up the Trump brand in countries where he might want to brand an office tower -- Philippines or Saudi Arabia or kenya or whaerever -- after he's out of office.
3) The Trump brand is well-known, and probably Mar-a-lago where Trump goes as Prez, but not all of his properties are that well-known. This would be a boost for Doral Golf Club more than the Trump brand in general, while helping both. Certainly good advertising in the G7 countries and beyond.
Otherwise, I find it interesting that Trump would never consider holding the G7 at Doral and not charging the US or foreign gov'ts at all. Do it gratis. You're a billionaire. The club is there, most of the operating costs are baked in. You'd lose other business for two weeks, but could make that up with the publicity and potential extra future business.
Otherotherwise, anyone remember when folks used to say that you should vote for a billionaire because he doesn't need the money and won't be corrupt. I think they forgot to factor in the lifetime of greed and enormous ego.