AMARILLO
Featuring some 18,000 square feet of flexible meeting, banquet and prefunction space, including a 10,000-square-foot ballroom, the new $40 million, 226-suite Embassy Suites Downtown Amarillo is accepting reservations for arrival late this September and beyond. Directly adjacent to the Globe-News Center for the
Performing Arts and across the street from the Amarillo Civic Center Complex, the convention hotel’s other amenities will include an upscale full-service restaurant and lounge, indoor swimming pool, spa, 24-hour fitness center and adjacent 750-car parking garage.
EL PASO
With voter approval, the City of El Paso launched its $500 million Quality of Life Bond initiative in 2012. Among the hospitality, recreational, sporting, cultural, artistic and other projects completed to date under this public-private investment include the new 119-room Hotel Indigo El Paso Downtown, offering boardroom and event space for up to 85 people. Projects in progress include an Aloft Hotel and Courtyard by Marriott, with future plans including a multipurpose cultural and performing arts arena.
LUBBOCK
Offering 1,700 square feet of meeting space, the new 125-room Hyatt Place Lubbock debuted in February.
The 300,000-square-foot Lubbock Memorial Civic Center is undergoing $9 million in property upgrades.
Targeting an early 2018 opening, the new $146 million Buddy Holly Hall of Performing Arts and Sciences (www.lepaa.org) will introduce a dynamic new hybrid venue for live events, receptions and meetings.
MIDLAND
Groundbreaking and the start of construction were scheduled this month on the new Midland Convention Center, located in the heart of downtown. Projected to open in June 2019, highlights of the Center will reportedly include 20,000 square feet of exhibit hall space and 6,000 square feet of ballroom and meeting room space, expanding its current capacity by 60 percent, up to 29,000 square feet.
WICHITA FALLS
The Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame & Museum opened in March.