While travel resumes from a standstill due to the pandemic in Memphis, hotel bookings are higher than other cities.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Americans are making their way to parts of the country that they may not have seen before.

Memphis is proving to be a popular destination as the tourism industry pulls out of last year’s canceled bookings. And hotels are seeing an increase in guest reservations.

Elvis has left the building and is making his way through Memphis.

A social media tourism campaign shows a small figure of the king at tourist attractions and sights in the city of Bluff as part of the National Travel and Tourism Week.

Helen Nelson of the Central Station Hotel in downtown Memphis says there is finally a lot to celebrate for her hotel and others.

“It was tough last year, but we kept going and tried to do everything we can to serve the community.”

Kevin Kern of Memphis Tourism sees the same upward trend.

“While hotels as such have suffered tremendously in many sectors of the economy, they are now trying to rebuild the workforce,” said Kern.

As with other Memphis hotels, the main train station started turning around in March, which Nelson attributes to a few factors.

“With the incentive. They know people have a little more money in their pockets. Vaccinations are rolling out. The numbers in the community are falling,” Nelson said.

While COVID cases saw a decline, Memphis hotels saw an even bigger increase than other cities.

“Hotel occupancy in Memphis is 10% above the national average, which is pretty impressive, but also not surprising when you consider that Memphis is a great travel destination known for music alongside our culinary scene, history, culture and culture is the main motivation for travel art, “said Kern.

The pandemic resulted in an increase in the amount of travel involved by car powered by something as unique as Memphis.

“We are within a day’s drive from 2/3 of the country.”

Make it easier for tourists to get their show on the streets with a stop in Memphis like Elvis.