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Letter to the Editor
Dear Editor:
I feel compelled to respond to some of the statements made in Dennis Quick’s “Quick Notes” column regarding new hotel construction in North Charleston.
While Mr. Quick acknowledges the positive economic benefits of these seven new employers, he later questions the wisdom of their development in lieu of attracting an equal number of high-tech firms and wonders whether there will be a glut of hotels.
This observation infers that somehow a conscious choice was made to build hotels rather than pursue the high-tech firms recommended by the Angelou report.
The development of new hotels does nothing to impede the recruitment or expansion of any other industry.
The number of new hotels our market can support is certainly subject to debate, but the fact that new hotels are being proposed is indicative of our region’s perceived growth potential.
The lodging properties Mr. Quick cited are being built to meet expected demand for additional accommodations, primarily due to growth in business travel.
Hotel developers closely analyze lodging demand trends to determine where to build new properties. They pay market value for land acquisition and construction. They are also subject to the taxes and impact fees associated with developing commercial property.
While hotels may not offer the same average wages as many high-tech firms, they do offer a variety of positions and compensation levels, including opportunities for residents lacking the education or job skills to work in a high-tech environment. And they typically do this without being actively recruited or offered incentives.
The hospitality industry supports and applauds our region’s important economic development initiatives and would be delighted to see an influx of new high-tech firms.
Business travel is an important part of the hospitality industry, and the growth and diversification of our region’s economy only serves to strengthen it.
Rick Mosteller
Chairman, Charleston Area
Convention & Visitors Bureau
Board of Governors
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