b'Hilton WITH NEW MEETING SPACEBy Sherri Gardner Howell had different beginnings. Its a part- has seen the need for this in Blount nership that reached beyond theCounty through his work with the The news was good back in theHiltons business walls.Smoky Mountain Tourism Author-spring of 2016. The Hilton Knox- The meeting facilities at theity. The renovation opens up so ville Airport had just completed anHilton have been expanded, creat- many possibilities for the Hilton and extensive $7.5 million renovationing a true conference center spacethe surrounding community.of all guest rooms, meeting rooms,capable of handling groups of 600- The new space expanded lobby and other public areas. Bryan800, depending on the room con- straight out across the road and Cable, general manager, enthusias- figuration. The $7.5 million projectinto the old parking lot. The new tically said the hotel looked brandthat started in January 2019 andspace has an expanded Grand Ball-new. reopened at the end of the yearroom that now totals 9,400 square The renovation of four years agowas accomplished with a partner- feet and a new Cascade Ballroom was basically accomplished inship between Cooper Companiesthat totals 3,300 square feet. There house.The franchise agreement(the hotel owners), Metropolitanis a new pre-function space called with Hilton was up for renewal,Knoxville Airport Authority (MKAA)The Cove that is a spacious spurring a Product Improvementand the Blount Partnership. 4,200 square feet. The space can Plan and reaping the benefit of aThis has been something ouralso be designed with two sepa-13-year agreement with the com- general manager, Bryan Cable, hasrate rooms or broken down even pany to stay a Hilton brand. been working on with our own- more. Garage-type doors can roll The construction that has beeners, Cooper Companies, for severalup to utilize the entire space when a familiar sight at the iconic airportyears, says Kim Fry, director ofneeded. The outside was renovated hotel in Alcoa since January 2019sales for the Hilton Airport. Bryanto mirror the look of the airport, an 12 Basically Blount 2021'