Successful Meetings - February 2009 - (Page 44)

Even in a supportive political climate, the fate of the long-awaited headquarters hotel at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland remains uncertain the risks and benefits of development. Other cities with favorable political support aren’t having as much luck— the Portland Development Commission has long pushed for a headquarters hotel at the Oregon Convention Center, financing must be established. “Our role has been to continue to keep everyone up-to-date on the industry itself—to help do the research on what’s happening in the meetings industry and the convention market. It’s being a partner [We’re working to] tee this up, so when the market comes around, we’re ready to go. —Brian McCartin, executive vice president for convention and tourism sales, Travel Portland but even with a newly elected mayor who favors the project, its fate is questionable, primarily because of concerns about how it would be financed. “With the bond market the way it is, it’s hard to finance a project like this,” says Brian McCartin, executive vice president for convention and tourism sales at Travel Portland. The project, which, if built, is expected to be a Westin, is on hold until April; at that time concrete pricing for the hotel would be determined and backup 44 I SM I February 2009 I SuccessfulMeetings.com “ “ at the table,” McCartin continues, adding that the community is working to “tee this up, so when the market comes around, we’re ready to go.” But in Dallas, development has been authorized by the city council—what remains is for the hotel brand to be formally selected, for the operator to be chosen, and for bonds financing the project to be sold. Construction is expected to begin this spring, with the 1,016-room property opening in late 2011 or early 2012. The site includes eight acres available for ancillary development of an entertainment district with retail. In San Diego, CVB President and CEO David Peckinpaugh says, “We’re not actively involved in development deals,” but the bureau gets very involved in promoting projects through writing letters, attending meetings, and participating in press blitzes in support of projects. The CVB’s public affairs subcommittee reviews projects and provides recommendations, choosing to support projects it considers in the best interests of the local tourism community. “I’m not familiar with any situation where a quality development has come forward and we didn’t support it,” says Peckinpaugh, although he does acknowledge that destinations need to be wary of unnecessary development. “You do get to a situation where, you may look at Vegas and see it as overbuilt,” he says, noting that for San Diego the key has been to bring in properties that fill a niche, offer a http://www.SuccessfulMeetings.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Successful Meetings - February 2009

Successful Meetings - February 2009 Contents Editor's Letter News Update: Meetings Associations Band Together Education Planner Spotlight Technology Talk Food & Beverage Making Cents of It All Meanwhile, Back at Headquarters Seal of Approval Come Sail Away Making Tracks Places & Spaces Florida’s East Coast Aruba Maui 3 Days in Philadelphia

Successful Meetings - February 2009

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