Holiday Inn

[tnse]

Interesting article on one of Memphis' former famous companies . . . At the end of the article there is mention of a new Holiday Inn being built in downtown Memphis. Does anyone know where that is going to be? Had anyone heard of that happening?

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/hotels/2007...liday-inn_N.htm

[Fellowmann20]

Nope, besides this article I haven't heard anything about it. I wonder where in downtown and how tall its going to be.

[Rardy]

This is ringing a bell...

...one of the buildings near Lincoln-American is being converted into a hotel... Will research

[Rural King]

That would be great to see a modern Holiday Inn be located in the downtown area. It would harken back to the historic links the company and brand had to the city and be a great asset to the downtown hotel market.

Great find by the way. That was a really interesting article and I found it interesting to learn that so many exterior entrance Holiday Inns were still in operation as I don't see many of them around in that fashion anymore. I don't really have an issue with those types of facities and they seem pretty common in many of our state's towns and tourist areas (esp. Gatlinburg), albeit few seem to be Holiday Inns.

Off-topic Sidenote for WTN - Union City is supposed to be getting a Holiday Inn Express, which along with one already in Dyersburg will be the only ones I know of in WTN outside of Shelby County. Jackson has a regular full service higher end facility that is not an Express on Carriage Drive.

[Memphis Love]

This has to be the Tonoke Bldg or whatever its called on Jefferson b/w 2nd and Third Streets, to me it would be a perfect hotel!

[sleepy]

A little historical trivia--

In the early fifties, my mother was the secretary to Wallace E. Johnson who was one of the co-founders/partners/backers along with Kemmons Wilson of Holiday Inns. She took down the articles of incorporation/partnership of Holiday Inns in shorthand, typed them up and sent them off to Nashville for registration.

Too bad they didn't give her a few shares as a bonus.

[Rardy]

This has to be the Tonoke Bldg or whatever its called on Jefferson b/w 2nd and Third Streets, to me it would be a perfect hotel!

[The Memphian]

That's what I was thinking of. That's definitely becoming a hotel, altho I forgot the brand.

[Rardy]

An article in today's MBJ cites a Courtyard by Marriott going up on Jefferson at Main. Maybe the Holiday Inn is going somewhere else?

[Rural King]

^ Could be. Lets hope they are still going ahead with their plans and this development does not nix it.

There are some great open lots available in some parts of downtown that could house a new project like that, if they are ambitious and bold enough to locate on the edge of the current active areas. If they were REALLY bold they might move south of the FedEx Forum. That sort of location would be risky, but could prompt a lot of development to follow it that could over the long term benefit them. I doubt that actually happens with a big name venture anytime soon though, but it would be cool to see a big name business take that sort of risk.

[Rardy]

^ Could be. Lets hope they are still going ahead with their plans and this development does not nix it.

There are some great open lots available in some parts of downtown that could house a new project like that, if they are ambitious and bold enough to locate on the edge of the current active areas. If they were REALLY bold they might move south of the FedEx Forum. That sort of location would be risky, but could prompt a lot of development to follow it that could over the long term benefit them. I doubt that actually happens with a big name venture anytime soon though, but it would be cool to see a big name business take that sort of risk.

[northernbizzkit1]

So what are the current hotel projects downtown?

* Courtyard

* Holiday Inn

* Tonoke Building (if it isn't the Holiday Inn)

* The Grade Hotel (boutique hotel that will be at the cluster of three buildings on front where Prince Mongo's place was)

* Peabody Expansion (the MBJ and CA both mention this in articles on downtown hotels, but it still is pretty vague)

* Embassy Suites

* Hyatt at One Beale

* Chisca Plaza

any others? It seems kinda mid-range...granted, even the mid-range brands are going for $150+ downtown...I'd like to see more upscale projects. I wonder if the Kimpton and that off-shoot of the W are still going to be built at other locations downtown. putting it on a list makes it seem like a ton of hotel rooms are about to hit the market.