PALM BEACH, Fla.
Palm Beach County commissioners will decide today, July 24, whether to contribute $27 million to build a 400-room Hilton hotel next to the county’s convention center, according to The Palm Beach Post.
After more than a year of negotiations, county administrators have reached an agreement with The Related Cos., the developer that commissioners selected in 2010 to build the $105.8 million project in downtown West Palm Beach. Related also developed CityPlace, which sits across the street from the convention center.
Tourism leaders say the convention center will never be profitable until it features an adjacent hotel. They say the hotel would be the icing on the cake for the county’s convention and entertainment district, which includes the Kravis Center, CityPlace, and nearby restaurants. The entertainment hub is located three miles from Palm Beach International Airport, making it an amenity for groups.
The Palm Beach County CVB estimates the convention center has lost as many as 120,000 attendees while the hotel project has been in limbo.
