By Patricia C. Duffy

The Classic City is booming, and hotels are popping up to manage tourism demands.

Athens has grown by more than 13,000 people since 2006 according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That means hotels have to try to keep up with the increased tourism that comes with that population boom.

Hyatt Place recently opened in downtown Athens, connected to the Classic Center. In the next year, two more new downtown hotels will open, bringing the total of additional rooms in downtown Athens to approximately 600 rooms.

If you’re wondering how these new hotels might impact your or your visitors’ wallets, Hyatt Place is on par with Hotel Indigo, Hilton Garden Inn and The Graduate Athens.

Rooms at the new Homewood Suites and Spring Hill Suites will cost less, and will open in 2018.