NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - The man responsible for booking Nashville's $585 million Music City Center says he's losing possible conventions because of a shortage of luxury hotels.

Butch Spyridon is president of the Nashville Convention and Visitors Bureau.

He told The Tennessean (http://tnne.ws/VXibl2) the city is losing business because it can't piece together a 2,000- to 3,000-room block.

He described the lost convention groups as "higher-end" organizations that are "willing to pay a little more."

Spyridon is hoping Nashville lands a 400- to 500-room full-service hotel to complement the city's new 800-room Omni Hotel coming online. He says the city should also consider tax incentives to spur construction of another hotel.

The Music City Center is scheduled to open in May.

Information from: The Tennessean, http://www.tennessean.com

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