NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) – It looks very much like Music City again as the pandemic restrictions are lifted and the crowd returns to downtown.

Rob Mortensen, head of the Hospitality TN trade group that tracks the industry across the state, predicts a record number of tourists returning to Nashville this summer. However, he said there is a very important group that may be returning more slowly.

“We need the business tourists, business conventions, to come back. That’s about 40 percent of our business in Tennessee or Nashville,” Mortensen said. “To fill these spaces, people have to say, ‘You know what? We’re going to have conventions again.'”

But Mortensen says these conventions could be a little smaller and more pared down, at least in the short term. This is because many large companies may re-evaluate their budgets.

“You have people sitting in a room in these corporate offices and thinking, ‘You know, we used to spend a million dollars on conventions, we did a little last year without spending those dollars. Can we keep doing this? Is there something we can maybe do, you know, some of the same things, not all of the same things? ‘I think you will see some of this, I really do. “

Mortensen says it will take some time for hotels, restaurants, and bars to fully recover, but he believes Nashville will definitely be ready. Thousands of new hotel rooms will be opened in the next few years. More projects are announced almost every week.

What is the rebound?

As Middle Tennessee is working to recover from the effects of the coronavirus, we’d like to help. Whether it’s getting back to work, making ends meet during this uncertain time, or managing the pressures, we are determined to find a solution. Additionally, we’d like to share stories of hope, inspiration, and creativity with you as Middle Tennessee begins to recover.

Please see the following sections for more information

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