Over $1.1 million in updates are planned at the city-owned Chattanoogan hotel and conference center, members of the Chattanooga Downtown Redevelopment Corporation were told Wednesday.
The $1,188,000 in work will take place over a year's time and will include painting, new carpet and tile and replacement of some seating, Tom Cupo, hotel managing director, said.
He said the updates will take much of the hotel's reserve fund. But he said it will be built back up through the allocation of five percent of total revenues.
Mr. Cupo said the hotel is doing well financially with a 70.7 percent occupancy rate this montn and 73.8 percent over the past 12 months.
He said the Chattanoogan continues to focus on packages for groups and fills in slots with transient guests.
Mr. Cupo said, "First quarter bookings are strong. We have not seen that in a long time."
He said guest rates are set to rise over $3 per room.