Fear about the spread of the COVID-19 virus prompted planners to pull the plug on an annual 600-person recognition event set for April at the Chattanooga Convention Center, the center's executive director Mike Shuford said.
"They've elected not to have it this year," Shuford said of the Dallas-based group. But, he added, travel and meeting cancellations haven't hit Chattanooga nearly as hard as they've hit larger markets as COVID-19 spreads.
"The major cities are taking a beating," he said. "Venues in Vegas, Chicago, the ones that have 5,000 hotel rooms."
Throughout this week, somewhere between 800 and 900 farriers have gathered at the Convention Center for the American Farriers' Association 49th Annual Convention. And, at least so far, other groups are sticking to their plans - though they also are keeping an eye on the door, Shuford said.
"For right now, we're getting a ton of questions about our cancellation policy," he said. "It's obvious that it's on everybody's mind."
Mitch Patel's Vision Hospitality Group owns hotels in six states, including 15 in Chattanooga. The company's focus on mid-size markets is helping insulate the properties a bit from coronavirus fallout, but there are still some folks bailing out of their plans, he said.
"We don't get a huge percentage of international travel, we don't have a lot of hotels with big-box convention space, but we have seen an impact and we will see more as it trickles to mid-tier markets," he said. "We are starting to see more cancellations. We're starting to see some companies limit travel. These larger companies are saying, 'Why take the risk?'"
There were seven confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Tennessee as of Tuesday evening, and 17 people in Georgia had tested positive, according to figures released late Monday.
Resources
CDC: cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/City of Chattanooga: connect.chattanooga.gov/covid/Convention and Visitors Bureau: chattanoogafun.com/alerts
Vision Hospitality is taking measures to do extra cleaning and to reassure employees that they don't need to worry about their jobs or their income, Patel said.
"There are ... millions of people who work in this industry," he said. "You have to think about them."
Shuford said the Convention Center has doubled down on cleaning measures and is changing some buffet-style events to add employees who will serve plates along food lines. That way, he said, you don't have dozens or even hundreds of people handling serving utensils.
"We're doing everything we can do," Shuford said.
While cancellations haven't yet been a big trend locally, turnout is a concern for some events, he said.
"I'm worried about the attendance on the things that are big public draws," Shuford said. "We'll do what we can and hope for the best."
The Chattanooga Convention and Visitors Bureau hasn't seen any cancellations of events, but it is staying in close contact with partners, said Marissa Bell, public relations manager.
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"We're arming visitors with the resources they need, but also communicating with our partners so we are up to date with the latest information with what they're experiencing," she said.
Chattanooga visitors tend to drive in from around the region, and that makes the city a place people are likely to continue to visit - at least until something changes, she said.
"We're a drive-in city, and a lot of our conferences and groups tend to be regional," Bell said.
The virus didn't change her plans this week, Bell added. She was in New York to talk with national media about the Chattanooga experience.
"I'm washing my hands, and I'm excited to be here to meet with travel media," she said.
The effects of the virus on the economy are global, and they will hit every industry in some way, Patel said.
"Everyone is going to face this. We're taking it day-by-day," he said. "Unless you're selling hand sanitizer, this has been brutal."
Contact Mary Fortune at mfortune@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6653. Follow her on Twitter at @maryfortune.