Important Music City Center Vote Set For May 19
Now is the time to come out and show your support for the Music City Center! The Metro Council will vote on legislation authorizing the purchase of land for the construction of the new Music City Center at their regular meeting on May 19 at 6:00 p.m. at the Metro Courthouse. This is the critical second vote on this legislation and it’s very important we have a great showing of support for the new center. Please make plans to attend.

The tourism industry will hold a hospitality rally prior to the council vote. The rally will begin at 4:30 p.m. in Public Square Park and will include live music, food and festivities. Mayor Dean and other industry leaders will address the crowd. Please attend and invite your staff as well.

We also encourage you to call or write your councilmember to voice your support for the Music City Center legislation prior to the May 19 vote. For a listing of council members and their contact information, visit http://www.nashville.gov/council/council_roster.htm.

Sixth Class Inducted into Music City Walk of Fame
Music City, Inc. welcomed its sixth class of inductees into the Music City Walk of Fame during an April 19 afternoon ceremony held inside the Nashville Visitor Information Center at the Sommet Center. Dr. R.H. Boyd, Cowboy Jack Clement, Mike Curb, Marty Stuart, Josh Turner and CeCe Winans made up the extremely talented and diverse class of inductees. With the addition of these stars there are now 37 total stars along the Walk of Fame.

Music City Specialty Plates Available
Express your love for music and the city it calls home with a new Music City specialty license plate designed by the Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau (NCVB) to benefit the organization’s Music City, Inc. foundation. Applications for the plate, which will feature the city’s signature branded red music note, are currently being accepted.

There is a $36 registration deposit required for each vehicle you wish to tag using a Music City-branded plate. Tennessee residents wishing to purchase a new Music City plate can fill out a form online at www.visitmusiccity.com/licenseplate or print the form and mail it with their $36 check to the address at the bottom of that form. Forms are also available at Regions Bank branches throughout the city. A minimum of 1,000 registrations are required to produce and make the Music City specialty plate available.

Industry Indicators
March’s hotel occupancy rate was 57.1 percent, a decrease of 12.1 percent compared to March 2008.

The 2009 year-to-date occupancy rate is 53.4 percent, a decrease of 9.6 percent compared to last year.

February hotel tax collections were $1,777,678, a decrease of 13.9 percent compared to February 2008.

The 2009 year-to-date collections are $3,288,330, a decrease of 13.6 percent compared to last year.

Brand Champion
Guests staying at the new Hampton Inn & Suites Music Valley will have no trouble connecting the city of Nashville to its musical brand. As they arrive at the beautiful 122-room hotel they will be greeted outside by a guitar sculpture. The amazing brand promotion continues indoors with a stylishly decorated lobby which includes music-oriented artwork and decorative instruments. Congratulations to the Hampton Inn & Suites Music Valley, our April Brand Champion!

Upcoming Events
Creating Applause
May 12
2 - 4pm
NCVB Boardroom
Learn how you can create excellent customer service so that the guest's experience will be one not only to remember, but to talk about with others to bring them back time and again. This session focuses on attitude, product knowledge, listening skills, solving problems and exceeding expectations.

Conventions & Meetings Calendar