CHATTANOOGA, TN According to a recent Chattanooga Times report, the downtown area here is adding more than 430 hotel rooms this year, representing the largest one-year room supply increase in the city s history. In light of the economic climate, the big influx of rooms into the market is creating worries among existing lodging operators, the paper reported.
The Chattanoogan conference center opened 202 guestrooms in April while a 128-room Courtyard by Marriott debuted here in early May and a 94-room Garden Inn will open its doors this summer. The Hilton Garden Inn and the Courtyard by Marriott are expected to be direct competitors, catering to business and leisure travelers looking for moderately priced rooms.
Accordingly, the existing Clarion and Radisson hotels in the downtown market here are carrying out marketing strategies in an effort to maintain client base despite the new entrants into the market. The Radisson is discounting room prices while the Clarion is planning a renovation, the newspaper reported. (5/11//01)
SOURCE:Chattanooga Times/Free Press