NATCHEZ &045;&045; A Hilton Franchise office based in Memphis has expressed interest in bringing a Hampton Inn convention center hotel to Natchez, City Attorney Walter Brown confirmed this week.

The operating company for the hotel would be Integral Solutions of Birmingham, Ala.

Representatives visited the proposed site of the hotel &045;&045; the city-owned lot across Canal Street from the convention center &045;&045; last week &uot;and were favorably impressed,&uot; Brown said.

He added that the company would like to finalize a deal with the city for the lot in the next couple of months.

But the company is concerned about the availability of parking for the proposed 110- to 125-room hotel, making it necessary for the city to update its comprehensive parking plan.

On Wednesday, Brown asked county supervisors in executive session to consider giving a tax abatement, along with the city, to the development. Supervisors took no action on the matter Wednesday.

Brown said both Michael Ferdinand, executive director of the Economic Development Authority, and Tourism Director Walter Tipton had integral roles in bringing the prospect this far.

Another prospect has expressed initial interest in bringing a convention center hotel to the area, although that proposal is still in the preliminary stages, Brown said.

Earlier this year, Tipton said 12 groups, including the Mississippi Association of Supervisors and the Mississippi Tourism Association, have said they’ll seriously consider Natchez as a convention location.

But they’ll do it only if such a hotel is in place, insuring they’ll have enough rooms.