Mike Shuford, executive director of the Chattanooga Convention Center, said the facility has been competing for conventions that will have to move from the flooded Opryland Hotel in Nashville.
He said the local center looked at two upcoming conventions, but one wound up going to Las Vegas and another to Jacksonville.
Mr. Shuford said one of the events was actually too large for the local center and his facility was already booked up at the time the other event was scheduled in June.
He said the Chattanooga Convention Center will likely be vying for the business of other groups who will have to seek another location since the Opryland Hotel suffered extensive flood damage.
He noted that the Opryland Hotel may be out of service for up to six months.
Mr. Shuford said its exhibit halls are all on the flooded first floor and that numerous hotel rooms were also underwater.
He said Nashville has a separate convention center downtown that was not damaged. He said it is about the same size as the Opryland Hotel space.