5-best-worst-performing-markets

Nashville is the city with the No. 1 fastest growing hotel rates this year so far, according to industry tracker STR’s July analysis.

The average daily rate in Music City jumped more than 13% for the first seven months of this year compared to a year ago, senior STR executive Jan Freitag said.

MORE ONLINE: US hotels sold 113 million room nights in July

MORE ONLINE: Live music conferences can make business travel memorable

Nashville’s rates are rising more than in any other city, Freitag told me, largely because the new convention center is helping drive new demand into the downtown area. More groups are going to Nashville, and leisure demand for Music City is also strong. “The city’s finding its stride,” he said. “It certainly doesn’t hurt to have a TV show named after your city.”

New York still has the most expensive rates in the USA.

Readers: Comments about rising hotel rates?