The Beverly Hills, CA company tells GlobeSt.com that as bookings keep trickling in, the firm should be on par with last year's figures by the end of 2001.
Dick Groves, general manager of Hilton Atlanta, tells GlobeSt.com first quarter numbers are flat in the Atlanta area compared with last year as cautious corporations delay their advance bookings for business meetings.
This contrasts with a couple of years ago, when businesses would book two to three years in advance, he says.
Groves declined to give overall occupancy or revenue figures, but said they are also booking a sizable short-term business and will be able to count on the traditional and convention traffic that comes into the downtown Atlanta area.
"When the economy starts to affect business, it affects us as companies cut their stays short and send fewer people," Groves says. "Nevertheless, we are positive and we know in our convention market business, one or two significant bookings in a year can make a difference between a good year and a great year."
Groves says the downtown Hilton is working on two or three corporate deals which should drive up their bookings, keeping their revenue in step with last year.
He is also monitoring 2002 advance reservations, which the company believes will be a much stronger year in the commercial business sector.
Regional tourist traffic too is expected also benefit the Atlanta area, as higher gas prices and tighter budgets keep more Georgia and Southeast residents closer to home for a vacation.
Groves says the Atlanta area compares favorably to other city sets such as Orlando and Washington, D.C. for that market segment and is marketing heavily to attract the tourist trade.
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