Article submitted by Jim Allen, Sales and Leasing Agent at Saurage Rotenberg Commercial Real Estate
Written by Stephanie Riegel | January 11, 2016
Hotel occupancy for the first 11 months of 2015 increased just slightly over the same period in 2014. But the upper tier properties in the market—which includes most of the downtown hotels, all of the full service hotels and some limited service hotels—showed a more significant growth, which is noteworthy considering inventory increased last year by some 300 rooms, or about 2%.
“Based on the data through November, Baton Rouge had a really good year,” says Ralph Ney, manager of the Baton Rouge Marriott and past president of the Baton Rouge Lodging Association. “Considering we didn’t have anything major in town, except for Bayou Country Superfest with the Taylor Swift concert and some pretty good football games, it was just a normal year.”
Jim Allen earned his bachelor’s degree from Baylor University in Waco, Texas and his masters from Louisiana State University. In addition to his multiple degrees he has taken numerous coursework in banking, marketing, accounting, and business law. As a complement to his sales experience, Jim also has 25 years experience in commercial real estate financing.
Saurage Rotenberg Commercial Real Estate is a member of the Baton Rouge Area Chamber of Commerce (BRAC); the West Baton Rouge Chamber of Commerce; the Baton Rouge Better Business Bureau; the Louisiana Commercial Data Base (LACDB); and the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC). Several agents, on an individual basis, are members of the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors® (SIOR), the Certified Commercial Investment Member Institute (CCIM); the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR); and the Greater Baton Rouge Association of REALTORS® Commercial Investment Division (CID).