Nashville tourism streak is the nation's longest (Memphis, Murfreesboro: 2015, hotels)

[JMT]

On the heels of the city’s largest-ever New Year’s Eve bash on Lower Broadway, which drew 150,000 people downtown and resulted in 24,500 hotel rooms sold, officials on Thursday announced another hospitality milestone: November 2015 marked 60 consecutive months of year-over-year growth in hotel rooms sold and hotel tax collections.

It should be noted that this is despite the fact that Nashville doesn't have casinos, a theme park, or any natural attractions like mountains or beaches. Nashville's airport has also broken records with over 11.6 million passengers in 2015, busier than even when it was a hub for American Airlines and is now twice as busy as all other airports in Tennessee combined.

Nashville tourism streak tops other U.S. cities'

[nashvols]

The airport numbers continue to be strong. We've seen an increase of over 2.7 million total passengers since the little dip we had in 2009. A 31% increase.

[DonCorleone]

Originally Posted by JMT

It should be noted that this is despite the fact that Nashville doesn't have casinos, a theme park, or any natural attractions like mountains or beaches.

I think this is a great point that such things are not always essentials. That said...I can only imagine how well Opryland would be doing now had they kept it up. Yeah, probably would've been underwater in 2010, but the attendance figures would've been phenomenal and maybe that would have driven them to find other ways of expanding the park...either across the river (unlikely, but proposed back in the 90s) or through an close, but not quite connecting water park (also proposed). Whichever...it certainly would have been more profitable than the mall. And I suspect would've been easier to repair after the flood than the mall was.


I will always be bitter over that decision. I'm glaring at you, Gaylord.

[JMT]

Originally Posted by DonCorleone

I think this is a great point that such things are not always essentials. That said...I can only imagine how well Opryland would be doing now had they kept it up. Yeah, probably would've been underwater in 2010, but the attendance figures would've been phenomenal and maybe that would have driven them to find other ways of expanding the park...either across the river (unlikely, but proposed back in the 90s) or through an close, but not quite connecting water park (also proposed). Whichever...it certainly would have been more profitable than the mall. And I suspect would've been easier to repair after the flood than the mall was.


I will always be bitter over that decision. I'm glaring at you, Gaylord.

I don't know when I'll be able to forgive Gaylord for that stupid decision to shut down Opryland. What's even more infuriating is that a subsequent CEO of Gaylord said that had he been CEO at the time, he would not have closed Opryland. Opryland was making money, just not as much as they figured a dumb mall would make.

If I had been the sole winner of this week's Powerball I would've taken that money and built a new theme park, probably in the Gladeville area around where the decaying superspeedway lies dormant.

[DonCorleone]

I think that'd be a good location indeed. Plenty of space to expand. Close to Nashville, Murfreesboro for season tickets. Easy access from 24, 40 via 840. Not much in the way of hotels around there; though I suppose if you built it, they would come.

[IlonaG]

I'm excited to be visiting Nashville for my 25th Wedding Anniversary in May. We aren't Beach people and we did Vegas 2 years ago, so we wanted to go somewhere different. Hubby chose Nashville. I'm excited about all the food, free music and shopping. I love vibrant cities!
Can any of y'all recommend the most important must-sees as we only have 3 full days to do it in.

[shinestx]

Must sees: A show at the Ryman (almost all of them are good to great); if you can't do that, then go to Grand Ole Opry on the eastern outskirts of town; Lower Broadway and live music venues (called Honky Tonks)... and the restaurants along 2nd Avenue; State Capitol (designed by one of the greatest 19th Century architects, William Strickland); Belle Meade plantation and tour of Belle Meade residential area; Andrew Jackson's home the Hermitage; Station Inn and/or Puckett's downtown; Centennial Park and The Parthenon; Vanderbilt University and its Peabody campus; Belmont University and the 12South area; Bicentennial and Riverfront Parks (some sections are still under construction); What's left of Music Row (there's been rapid change); Shopping at Mall of Green Hills or Opry Mills and the Gaylord Opryland Resort. I'm personally not a fan of the vast suburban sites, but the last three places I mentioned are very popular tourist draws.

Lots and lots of restaurants.. Public House; Catbird Seat; Rolf and Daughters; Kayne Prime; Amerigo; Rotiers; 12South; Le Sel; Standard... Being your anniversary, I recommend one you eat that evening at Husk (I love that place!!)... and you can find lots of reviews online for these and many others. The Eastside is an area I'm starting to explore... Holland House, Pharmacy, Marche and Margot. Make sure you try one of the better barbecue restaurants... hickory slow cooked pork. There's Martins, Jim and Nicks, Cauthons (aka Jacks), Corky's (from Memphis); Bar-b-Cutie, and my personal favorite Center Point (only one location about 15 miles north of downtown in Hendersonville). Of course, I would be remiss without mentioning the various hot chicken places... go to one of the most recommended Prince's, HattieB's, 400 Degrees, and my personal fave Bolton's. There's lots to do... pick a section of town for each day you are in town and plan your meals and visits to the various attractions. Enjoy!