Meeting News - September 21, 2009 - (Page 50)

South Regional By Matt Alderton Nashville Chooses Marriott To Run Proposed Music City Center Hotel Marriott International has been chosen to operate a planned 1,000-room headquarters hotel serving the proposed new Music City Center in downtown Nashville, Nashville’s Metro Development and Housing Agency announced last month. The new hotel will be a Marriott Marquis, according to the local newspaper The Tennessean, just the fourth of its kind, joining other Marriott Marquis properties in Atlanta, New York’s Times Square and one forthcoming in Washington, D.C. According to Metro Development and Housing Agency executive director Phil Ryan, the agency chose Marriott over six other operators—Hyatt, Hilton, Omni, InterContinental, Peabody and Starwood—because it was “the most aggressive” and because the company, which currently operates more than 2,000 rooms in the area, knows the Nashville market well. Although it now has an operator, an architect and a developer, the $300 million hotel does not yet have funding. While Metro Development and Housing Agency leadership has proposed financing the hotel with a mix of public and private funds, skeptics, according to The Tennessean, have said “full public ownership is more likely, given the current economic environment.” The new hotel is contingent upon construc- tion of the new Music City Center, which is scheduled to open in 2013 but has not yet been fully approved by Nashville’s city council. Assuming the new convention center is approved, construction on the adjoining hotel could begin as soon as next summer. The city council has approved a measure for Nashville Mayor Karl Dean to appoint a ninemember convention center authority charged with overseeing construction of the Music City Center. The group, which director of finance for the metropolitan government of Nashville and Davidson County Rich Riebeling said will be made up of “diverse” individuals with “relevant backgrounds,” will be charged with managing construction as well as operations for the proposed 1.2 million-sq.-ft. facility, as well as the attached 1,000-room Marriott Marquis. H AMAZINGLY AFFORDABLE Book your meeting or group event with Premier Resorts located at Barefoot Resort on the Intracoastal Waterway. An exceptional value, this beautiful resort offers luxury amenities and highly personalized services at surprisingly affordable rates. ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ Luxury 6,615 sq. ft. ballroom, nine meeting rooms (30-900 capacity), boardroom Covered and uncovered verandas overlooking the lake Onsite spa, workout facility, mineral Jacuzzi, pools Spacious pre-function and registration areas Luxury suites with waterway views and golf villas Four signature golf courses designed by Dye, Fazio, Love and Norman 142 slip Marina with jet ski and pontoon boat rentals Shopping, dining and entertainment nearby at Barefoot Landing barefootconferenceresort.com 800.304.5028 50 MeetingNews September 21, 2009 www.meetingnews.com http://www.barefootconferenceresort.com http://www.barefootconferenceresort.com http://www.meetingnews.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Meeting News - September 21, 2009

Meeting News - September 21, 2009

Contents
Pricing Forecast
Newsmaker
Meetings Spotlight
Event Profile

Meeting News - September 21, 2009

Meeting News - September 21, 2009 -

Meeting News - September 21, 2009

(Page Cover1)
Meeting News - September 21, 2009 -

Meeting News - September 21, 2009