With schools across the region on spring break, and vaccines rolling out across the country, the outlook for the kickoff of the travel and tourism season in Chattanooga is brighter than it has been in more than a year.
“We have seen activity pick up both during the week and also on weekends, and we’ve seen a slight uptick even compared to 2019 for weekday and weekend travel,” said Barry White, CEO of the Chattanooga Tourism Co. “Spring breaks are in full swing.”
But that doesn’t mean it’s time to relax just yet, White added. The Hamilton County mask mandate remains in place through the end of April, and the safety measures local businesses have taken to protect staff and customers remain critically important, he said.
“It’s very optimistic, but the caution is we can’t loosen up on the safety,” White said. “I get it, we are all tired of that, but they are necessary. The last thing we want is another surge.”
Hiren Desai, CEO of 3H Group Hotels, said March was a strong month for hotels across the company’s portfolio, with occupancy just over 70% in its four Chattanooga properties. The company has 25 hotels, and occupancy in Miami – one of the hardest-hit markets during the pandemic – was at 80% in March, he added.