[hookem]

I think even with all the new downtown hotels, the demand will remain strong enough to cover them. What will take the first hit (and be the canary in the coal mine) will be the chain motels outside of downtown. Right now, they are enjoying higher occupancy and much higher rates than they would have in other cities (especially during big events), and that's going to go first.

The new hotels downtown will just provide the needed option for these visitors to be able to stay in a primo location. And the increase in concentration of visitors downtown should help businesses.

That said, not sure how nice it will be for downtown residents with all the new hotels coming up. I'm not sure I want a downtown full of tourists every day -- it would be like living on the Vegas strip. Luckily there are a number of condo and apartment towers going up too...