Northwestern Lower Michigan has long been attractive to vacationers. The Campbell House, which was eventually replaced by the Park Place Hotel, was the first hotel aimed at the tourist market when it was built in 1873. Others soon followed. Today, there are more than 1,000 guest rooms in the city and over 5,000 in the nearby area, a total that doesn’t include private vacation rentals. One might think we’ve reached the limit, but the last few years have brought an influx of new hotel projects to Traverse City.

In this week's Northern Express, sister publication of The Ticker, writer Ross Boissoneau looks at an anticipated 800 more hotel rooms becoming available in the next two to three years and whether there will be enough business for all those endeavors — especially during the offseason. Boissoneau also looks at the growing competition between hotels and short-term rentals and whether they can successfully co-exist, as well as community efforts to manage the rapid growth of short-term rentals. 

The Northern Express is available to read online, pick up a free copy at one of nearly 700 spots in 14 counties across northern Michigan.