Nashville
Drumming Up Hospitality & Meeting News
By Selena Chavis It’s more than country, and it’s more than rock ‘n’ roll. In fact, according to Kay Witt, senior vice president of sales for the Nashville Convention and Visitors Bureau, Nashville is also a combination of “fabulous hotels” and a friendly atmosphere that brings groups back to the Music City each year.
And right now, Witt says the city is in its prime as all major hotels have just renovated or are in the process of making enhancements in response to demand. “We’re hot right now,” she said. Also under way are a number of major expansions and developments that will enhance convention, hotel and travel offerings.
For starters, the Nashville International Airport is “undergoing a renovation to enhance passenger convenience with the overall design planned to showcase the warmth and friendliness of Nashville,” Witt said. The project is scheduled for completion in 2010.
“We recently received funding approval to build a new convention center, Music City Center, downtown and for the Gaylord Opryland to expand,” she said. The proposed Music City Center will take the place of the existing Nashville Convention Center and will house 1.2 million square feet of space, including 375,000 square feet of exhibit space—three times that of the current facility. According to Witt, the center will be a part of a neighborhood made up of the city’s business core and primary entertainment districts, including three nearby professional sports venues, the new Schermerhorn Symphony Center, the
Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, and the Ryman Auditorium.
Gaylord Entertainment Company announced plans for an expansion of the
Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center, which is set to add more than 400,000 square feet of convention and meeting space and a new 400-room, luxury all-suite hotel adjacent to the current facility, bringing total offerings to 3,281 hotel rooms and more than 1 million square feet of convention and meeting space, said Colin V. Reed, Gaylord Entertainment chairman/CEO. “The Opryland expansion, which was driven by the incredible demand we continue to see for this property as well as the others across our network, will create new jobs and generate additional tourism for the area.” Completion is scheduled for 2011.
Hundreds of acoustic and electric guitars, basses, mandolins and banjos are available for hands-on inspection in the 3,000-square-foot showroom of Gruhn Guitars. |
More new hotels are expected to open soon, including the Hotel Palomar at Signature Tower, which is slated for completion in May 2009, according to Ted Kromer, development director for Signature Tower. The hotel will offer 197 rooms and will house 5,100 square feet of conference and ballroom space, a full-service spa, a chef-driven gourmet restaurant, and an outdoor pool deck with a lounge and café. Kromer said the hotel will be operated by Kimpton Hotel and Restaurant Group. “Kimpton is unique in placing the same emphasis on serving Signature Tower’s homeowners as it does on serving its hotel guests and the public.”
Also on the horizon are plans for a 336-room Westin, a 180-room aloft, and a 168-room Element Hotel. Colorado-based Sage Hospitality and Arkansas-based Barber Group are developers of the Westin project, Witt said, which is expected to house a restaurant and meeting and ballroom space. The Westin is slated to break ground in 2009, and the aloft and Element Hotel are expected to open in 2008 and 2009, respectively.
Scheduled to open in winter 2008, the 97-room Hotel Indigo will be located near the city’s Music Row. Converted from what was once an 11-story office tower, the property will offer signature design elements such as oversized lobby chairs, plush bedding, hardwood flooring, spa-styled showers, complimentary wireless access and more than 3,000 square feet of meeting space, said Wayne McAteer, chairman/CEO of Wesley Hotel Group. “We believe Nashville is a good fit for a lifestyle boutique hotel as unique as Hotel Indigo. As key developers of Hotel Indigo hotels, we are proud to introduce this exciting concept to Nashville and believe once completed it will quickly become a centerpiece of the community.”
Even the “old” is new, Witt said, pointing to major enhancements and renovations within the city’s existing inventory of hotels. The 340-room
Loews Vanderbilt Hotel is undergoing a complete guest room renovation that is “designed to transform the property into an even more distinctive and captivating environment,” said Irwin Fisher, vice president of sales, administration and training. The only hotel in Tennessee with a Four-Diamond rating for 23 consecutive years, Fisher said, “the renovation reflects Loews Hotels’ new brand positioning, which promises to exceed Four-Diamond standards and delight guests with a supremely comfortable, uniquely local and vibrant travel experience.” New features will include plush bedding, towels and guest robes. The property houses 24,000 square feet of function space, accommodating groups of up to 1,200.
The 380-room Nashville Airport Marriott has completed renovations of all of its 25,000 square feet of meeting space with “brightly colored, plush carpeting, wall vinyl, new furniture and appointments, and refreshed airwalls,” said Director of Group Sales Jim Kintzler. The property also completed a makeover of its lounge, incorporating hardwood floors, a black granite bar and flat-screen TVs.
Meeting space renovations are also under way at the 410-room
Sheraton Music City and are slated for completion in January, said Director of Catering and Convention Services Monica Bates. The property features 32,000 square feet of space, including the 11,160-square-foot Plantation Ballroom.
Located four miles from downtown Nashville, Lipscomb University opened the Ezell Center in 2006. “It has flexible, open meeting space that is perfect for retreats or strategic planning sessions,” said Director of Events Trish Stapp. Also on campus is the Allen Arena, which houses 26,000 square feet of event space, including a 1,200-square-foot hospitality room overlooking the arena. “Lipscomb University is experiencing a period of great growth and expansion, and there are several construction projects under way,” Stapp said.
Williamson County
Home to the cities of Brentwood and Franklin, Williamson County is located 20 minutes from downtown Nashville and prides itself on an ability to deliver a different flavor of Tennessee. “We definitely have a small-town charm,” said Director of Sales Kathryn Smith, adding that unique attractions and beautiful countryside bring groups back to the area. “We’re so close to Nashville, but it’s really just a different feel.”
Smith said the area is reeling from the excitement generated by the opening of Arrington Vineyards and Winery this past August. Owned by Kix Brooks of the popular country music group Brooks and Dunn, Smith said that “the amount of attention it’s getting is just crazy. It’s a great new addition for us.”
Key Info · Sales Tax: 9.25 percent
· Hotel Tax: 6 percent
· Transportation: Music City Start is Tennessee’s first commuter rail service. Single trip tickets start at $4.25. |
The area has three major meetings venues, according to Smith, including the Franklin Marriott Cool Springs Hotel and Conference Center in Franklin, the Embassy Suites Nashville South/Cool Springs and the
Factory at Franklin, a renovated factory that houses restaurants, shopping and two major exhibit halls—one 10,000 square feet and the other 14,000 square feet.
The Franklin Marriott Cool Springs Hotel and Conference Center is currently renovating its 29,000-square-foot conference center, according to Smith. The property is located near the Cool Springs Galleria Mall and offers complimentary wireless Internet access, complimentary parking, an indoor swimming pool, a fitness center, and Lorraine’s restaurant for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
The 250-room Embassy Suites Nashville South/Cool Springs just received its 10th consecutive outstanding score for cleanliness and brand compliance. Since the hotel opened in 2004, it has ranked in the top 10 of all Embassy Suites hotels for product and service, said Director of Sales Kathy Naive. “The management teams are experienced and seasoned in the hotel business and hire only hospitable, ‘can do’ employees.” The property houses 15 meeting rooms with a total of 15,000 square feet of meeting space.
