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Hotels joining forces
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Published: October 26, 2009
A group of hotel owners are trying to do their part to improve tourism in Statesville.
The newly formed Statesville Hotel Owners Association (SHOA) hopes to use the comments travelers leave behind to form a marketing strategy and improve safety at properties.
Currently, 18 of the city's 21 hotels are represented in the association.
The group's aim is representing the interest of the hotel owners by providing a unified and independent voice to the city and Statesville Convention and Visitors Bureau through education programs, political action and improved communication, said SHOA Executive Committee Member Paul Khanna.
"We are trying to switch the picture with the city and beautify the city," he said, "to bring more traffic to Statesville."
SHOA Chairman Jay Patel, who also owns Holiday Inn Express, said while hotel owners might compete, they also should work together to survive in this economic climate.
Khanna said Statesville is usually a stopping point for travelers making their way from Ohio or New York to Florida.
Occupancy is down, he said, and the association wants to do what it can to change that fact.
Patel said the lack of advertising along the two major interstates — U.S. Highways 77 and 40 — and the poor lighting on the exits might by a reason why travelers don't stop in the city.
SHOA recently met with Statesville Mayor Costi Kutteh about its concerns and the possibility of installing lights and billboards near the interstate exits.
Patel said billboards near the Interstate 77 exits at Jonesville and Mooresville help to draw business away from Statesville.
The hotel association plans the buy its own billboards to lure back drivers.
"It's more advocacy," said Fort Dobbs Historic Site Manager Beth Hill. "It should be a growing voice. It's the common mission of bringing people into the community."
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