Morton says B.R. hotel business down

Hotel business is down about 15% to 17% in Baton Rouge right now compared to this time last year, estimates Camm Morton, CEO of Ashby Hospitality, which runs the Hilton Baton Rouge Capitol Center. “It’s the steepest decline I’ve seen in my career,” says Morton after his appearance at the Association for Corporate Growth Louisiana monthly luncheon. Morton says the decline comes partly from people traveling less, but notes the governor’s inauguration and an early Mardi Gras contributed to higher numbers early last year. He expects the downtown Hilton will be fine, thanks to business customers who have to travel regardless of the economy, but says hotels that depend on vacation business may struggle. Morton says Ashby is looking at four other properties, and plans to stick with Hilton-branded products within a four-hour radius of Baton Rouge.—David Jacobs