The charm of the Old South and the economic vitality of the New South are coming together nicely in Mobile, Ala., these days. Not only are the historic buildings of this 300-year-old city emerging from extensive makeovers, but the surrounding region of Mobile Bay is a magnet for booming industries such as aerospace, shipbuilding and steel.
“We’ve decided not to participate in the recession,” says Leon Maisel, president and CEO of the Mobile Bay CVB. “Our downtown is being totally rebuilt. We can give people the texture of an Old South city, but we have modern facilities as well.”
Among Mobile’s ancient oaks draped with Spanish moss and vintage storefronts shaded by wrought iron balconies are state-of-the-art hotels and venues. The crown jewel of downtown is the Battle House Hotel, an 1852 charmer recently restored to its former glory after being shuttered for 30 years. Its magnificent domed lobby and Crystal Ballroom, a pink confection of ornate plaster work, are sights to behold.
Connecting Battle House with its sister property, the Riverview Plaza Hotel (both are Renaissance brand properties operated by PCH Hotels & Resorts), is the RSA Tower, which includes a new spa, pool and fitness center available to hotel guests. The Riverview Plaza, which is adjacent to the Mobile Convention Center, has also been newly renovated. It now sports a nautical theme in keeping with the maritime traffic just outside its back door.
“We also have some great midscale properties, including a new Hampton Inn and a renovated Holiday Inn,” Maisel says. “We’ve got great price points for any group, and offer the added benefit of a walkable downtown.”
According to Maisel, Mobile is working hard to gain more visibility as a meetings destination, and was already rewarded with the strongest October in its history. While the city has long attracted SMERF business, especially military groups, it is now establishing itself as a site for regional association and corporate business.
“We’ve never been out there like Charleston, Savannah or New Orleans, but we’re getting there,” Maisel says. “Our new slogan is ‘Go Coastal,’ which emphasizes our thousands of acres of unspoiled wetlands with unique wildlife and canoe trails.”
Mobile Bay is also positioning itself to crack the incentive market, emphasizing its growing importance as a cruise port and golf mecca—the celebrated Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail offers several golf courses in the area.
