ATLANTA (defeo.biz) — The Buckhead section of Atlanta is generally regarded as the upscale part of town and known for its eateries and shopping options.
While a popular place to stay for many visitors, a former mayor of Atlanta is predicting Buckhead hotels will welcome even more guests.
During his annual “State of Buckhead” address to the Buckhead Business Association (BBA) this week, former Atlanta Mayor Sam Massell said the hotel occupancy rate is expected to increase over the next 36 months.
The average hotel occupancy rate in Buckhead currently stands at 78.9 percent. Massell predicts it will increase to 81.3 percent in 2020.
In addition to shopping, Buckhead is home to several visitor attractions, including the Atlanta History Center, one of the city’s most popular museums. The community is also the location of the Governor’s mansion, a Greek revival mansion built in 1967.
“I have had the good fortune to witness Buckhead flourish, being identified as ‘The Beverly Hills of the East,’ elevated to the stage where Beverly Hills can be proudly called ‘The Buckhead of the West,’” Massell said. “Occupying about twenty percent of Atlanta’s geography, and housing about twenty percent of its population, while paying about forty-five percent of the City’s ad valorem taxes, certainly places us as a significant supporter of this City. At the same time, Atlanta is certainly extremely relevant to Buckhead.”