Mulva Spills the Beans

[Gun Nut]

... what does "at cost" even mean for a resort?

In this case, it would have meant the resort would get paid more than three times what it would have taken in without the contract Trump tried to award to himself. But there would be incredible special "costs" associated with it - millions for Trump's personal time and emotional suffering, a few thousand dollars per bottle of booze to ensure no exotic Russian poisons, a few million more to install and certify the absence of lots of listening devices in every room...
You get the idea. Sufficient manufactured "costs" to let Trump stuff his pockets while claiming bigly losses that would keep him from paying taxes for years hence.

that... and during th time of year that the event would take place.. ALL resorts in Florida operate in the red. That is just a fact of business life in a seasonal city. It will be disgustingly hot in Florida then... hurricane after hurricane will parade across the shore. BREAKING EVEN WOULD BE "PROFIT"... the opportunity to even break even is actually a major gain.