Pete, in your experience, what would a hotel like this run? $200 million? $500 million? What kind of assistance do you see the city willing to put up?

Pete, in your experience, what would a hotel like this run? $200 million? $500 million? What kind of assistance do you see the city willing to put up?

Based on what other cities have done, for our targeted 735 rooms, it would probably be a total of about $300 million.

And I would expect public assistance in the $50-$100 million range.

Okay, so with the Skirvin at 225 rooms, 168 ft tall, and 13 floors above ground level, a hotel with roughly the same floor plate at 16 ft per floor at 735 rooms would equate to about 42 floors at 680 ft tall.

I'll take one of those, please.

Okay, so with the Skirvin at 225 rooms, 168 ft tall, and 13 floors above ground level, a hotel with roughly the same floor plate at 16 ft per floor at 735 rooms would equate to about 42 floors at 680 ft tall.

I'll take one of those, please.

And don't forget added meeting space which could increase the height.

Plans were released a month or so ago for a 600 room Omni in Louisville with an upscale grocery store, 200 unit apartment complex and a 850 space parking garage for $261 million. That will give you a little context of total cost.

Okay, so with the Skirvin at 225 rooms, 168 ft tall, and 13 floors above ground level, a hotel with roughly the same floor plate at 16 ft per floor at 735 rooms would equate to about 42 floors at 680 ft tall.

I'll take one of those, please.

Yes, please!

This obsession with parking mystifies me a bit. Do the majority of convention attenders drive a car? I know I don't. The last thing I want to do is drive in a strange city. Of course we don't have decent public transit, but the streetcar will certainly make getting around to restaurants, etc, simple for convention-goers and it should be done before the convention center.

Given that a significant number of events hosted will be local and regional, I would think parking is AN issue, but maybe not THE issue. Every large convention center I go to has tons of parking...usually structured... associated with it.

Given that a significant number of events hosted will be local and regional, I would think parking is AN issue, but maybe not THE issue. Every large convention center I go to has tons of parking...usually structured... associated with it.

Good point, even going to a state convention here at the Cox takes up a ton of parking outside of the buried garage. Structured parking attached to the CC will hopefully free up more spaces throughout the surrounding area for locals who want to attend downtown eateries, bars and attractions (the horror, those darn non-downtowners driving their ugly cars to come see things).

Keep in mind there is exactly zero parking budgeted for the Convention Center.

All the studies have recommended multiple immediately adjacent garages but I've yet to hear how these will be paid for.

Latest on convention center hotel developers in major cities: Salt Lake City, UT & Evansville, IN

Salt Lake City: Utah leaders say. Any proposed hotel must be within 1,000 feet of the Salt Palace Convention Center and feature 800 to 1,000 rooms and meeting space.

Salt Lake convention hotel attracts developers: Salt Lake convention hotel attracts developers | The Salt Lake Tribune (http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/58461740-78/hotel-salt-lake-convention.html.csp)

Evansville: The Hotel component, The Evansville DoubleTree Convention Center Hotel, will have 257 units; 253 standard rooms, 3 suites and 1 presidential unit.

Doubletree selected for convention center hotel in Evansville, IN: https://www.insideindianabusiness.com/newsitem.asp?ID=67349


Could Oklahoma City's recent downtown development announcements influence interest in developers among major hotel chains?


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fc/Exterior_F_3.jpg http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/81/Hyatt_Regency_Crown_Center_Kansas_City_MO.jpg/375px-Hyatt_Regency_Crown_Center_Kansas_City_MO.jpg
32 story - 385 ft., 532 room - Omni in San Diego . . . . . 42 story - 507 ft., 733 room - Sheraton in Kansas City

A 500- to 800-room hotel with meeting space would extend the convention center's footprint and increase flexibility for groups planning conventions.
Oklahoma City will study subsidy, developers for MAPS center hotel http://oklahoman.com/oklahoma-city-council-will-gauge-developers-interest-in-convention-center-hotel/article/5348411

OKC Convention Center, Hotel Sparks Debate Over Tax Burden - News9.com - Oklahoma City, OK - News, Weather, Video and Sports | (http://www.news9.com/story/26729117/okc-convention-center-hotel-sparks-debate-over-tax-burden)

Here is Indy's new Convention hotel. Topping off planned for JW Marriott hotel (http://www.ibj.com/articles/14795-topping-off-planned-for-jw-marriott-hotel)

Note it includes a 34-storey JW Marriott & several other lower Marriott brands. I like this idea and would love for OKC to have this OR a twin tower hotel complex (one Marriott, one Hyatt/Omni/Westin).

Interesting comment by Steve in this week's chat:

10:56 Comment From Sooner Than Later
In your last Tuesday article "taking reality check..." you stated another tower will be announced in one sentence. Then you stated, "a deal that will make a conference hotel seem far less of a stretch politically than believed will emerge." Are you able to explain this statement a bit more? I'm a little confused reading this.

10:57 Steve Lackmeyer:
I don't think financing a conference hotel will be as difficult as people assume.

Interesting comment by Steve in this week's chat:

10:56 Comment From Sooner Than Later
In your last Tuesday article "taking reality check..." you stated another tower will be announced in one sentence. Then you stated, "a deal that will make a conference hotel seem far less of a stretch politically than believed will emerge." Are you able to explain this statement a bit more? I'm a little confused reading this.

10:57 Steve Lackmeyer:
I don't think financing a conference hotel will be as difficult as people assume.

Let's hope that the case. Steve does have a good feel about the developments headed toward OKC, he's there in the trenches.

I am not taking a position for or against the convention center hotel, but this story is a good read concerning Dallas's approach to the subisidized Omni Hotel:

How Government Subsidies Are Hiding the Omni Convention Center Hotel’s Losses (http://frontburner.dmagazine.com/2014/11/24/how-government-subsidies-are-hiding-the-omni-convention-center-hotels-losses/)

I am not taking a position for or against the convention center hotel, but this story is a good read concerning Dallas's approach to the subisidized Omni Hotel:

How Government Subsidies Are Hiding the Omni Convention Center Hotel’s Losses (http://frontburner.dmagazine.com/2014/11/24/how-government-subsidies-are-hiding-the-omni-convention-center-hotels-losses/)

Good find adaniel.

I don't know the true situation in Dallas, however maybe the market for conventions in the BIG 'D' has overextended itself--is the market oversaturated? Dallas probably has over 16,000 hotel rooms in the downtown area alone.

Cities like Nashville, Charlotte, New Orleans and Denver offer an alternative to Dallas. Oklahoma City could become an up-and-coming competitive convention destination if we build the facilities to complement the convention center. This would include an anchor hotel which could provide accommodations for large tier II level conventions.

Kansas City's situation:

Kansas City lost an earlier opportunity to host a Walmart Convention.

Visit KC CEO: KC needs a downtown convention center hotel - Kansas City Business Journal (http://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/news/2014/11/20/kc-needs-downtown-convention-center-hotel.html)

2016 GOP: Kansas City loses bid to host GOP convention (http://www.news-leader.com/story/news/politics/2014/06/26/kansas-city-loses-bid-host-gop-convention/11394165/)

I guess the Kansas City Marriott doesn't count?! It seemed really big when I was there a month ago or so, and it is adjacent to the convention center.

I guess the Kansas City Marriott doesn't count?! It seemed really big when I was there a month ago or so, and it is adjacent to the convention center.

https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQsOJYkrykuJm17nm6vRFt5n0_P2NtGo S8_9qr5j8akeQIQQtQrsQ

The KC Convention Center is attached to the hotel via an enclosed walkway. You would think that major hotel brand with 983 rooms would be competitive.

We have some ground to catch up with a lot of cities in the convention industry. It's a competitive industry; you've got to have something (convention center-hotel complex) to get something. The Cox Convention Center is so outdated you couldn't host a major pinball convention.

Kansas City Marriott Downtown | Hotel Accommodations (http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/mcidt-kansas-city-marriott-downtown/)

Kansas City Marriott Downtown Hotel | Technology & Amenities (http://www.marriott.com/hotels/hotel-rooms/mcidt-kansas-city-marriott-downtown/)

I could see Walmart having many conventions in OKC if they have the space and rooms. With it being based in Bentonville, AR it is not a long distance to OKC and Walmart has a very rich history and relationship with the state of Oklahoma. I could see big conventions there, so lets build a 35 story hotel with about 1000 rooms and lets get it on.

Not to mention, this hotel will be shown constantly during OKC Thunder games. That kind of advertisement is tough to beat. Hey Clayco, are you taking notes? Build those new buildings so nice and tall that the country see them on a regular basis! :) You can't lose that way, free advertisement.

Not to mention, this hotel will be shown constantly during OKC Thunder games. That kind of advertisement is tough to beat. Hey Clayco, are you taking notes? Build those new buildings so nice and tall that the country see them on a regular basis! :) You can't lose that way, free advertisement.

Nah, I like them all the same height. Seems fine to me :)

Not to mention, this hotel will be shown constantly during OKC Thunder games. That kind of advertisement is tough to beat. Hey Clayco, are you taking notes? Build those new buildings so nice and tall that the country see them on a regular basis! :) You can't lose that way, free advertisement.

Especially if you rig lights on the outside windows to make a moving video board like the KC Mariott did for the World Series! Here's a still:
9541
Imagine the Thunder logo moving across the side of the OKC Convention Hotel! Pretty cool!

I guess the Kansas City Marriott doesn't count?! It seemed really big when I was there a month ago or so, and it is adjacent to the convention center.

Perhaps they refer to a hotel that is not only adjacent to the convention center for the main event, but one that also has significant additional meeting space for separate and break-out meetings that often are necessary with large events. When the Democrats came to Denver, there were events related to, but separate from the Democrat convention all over downtown. It was truly a circus. I am not familiar with that Marriott location, but perhaps it doesn't have much meeting space.

SoonerFP, that would look great with OKC flashing all across the building. Imagine a 30+ story hotel across from the arena with many game day shots?

Maybe using the hotel as a giant billboard could create added revenue to support it being built. Basically a 30 story led screen. Sort of like a positive version of the Bladerunner cityscape.

Perhaps they refer to a hotel that is not only adjacent to the convention center for the main event, but one that also has significant additional meeting space for separate and break-out meetings that often are necessary with large events. When the Democrats came to Denver, there were events related to, but separate from the Democrat convention all over downtown. It was truly a circus. I am not familiar with that Marriott location, but perhaps it doesn't have much meeting space.
My meeting was actually at the Marriott and it was for a national meeting of several hundred people. They have two floors of meeting space. It was perfect for our size of meeting, but perhaps it isn't enough for the bigger events. We certainly didn't need the convention center.

SoonerFP, that would look great with OKC flashing all across the building. Imagine a 30+ story hotel across from the arena with many game day shots?
Absolutely! +1

Especially if you rig lights on the outside windows to make a moving video board like the KC Mariott did for the World Series! Here's a still:
9541
Imagine the Thunder logo moving across the side of the OKC Convention Hotel! Pretty cool!

Always enjoy seeing the designs they would do for the Big XII Championship Game and also Christmas whenever I'm up in KCMO.

New TIF District would fund OG&E HQ, convention garage and hotel (http://www.okctalk.com/content/94-new-tif-district-would-fund-og-e-hq-convention-garage-hotel.html)

OKCTalk - City Council approves solicitations for convention hotel (http://www.okctalk.com/content/101-proposals-sought-convention-hotel.html)

Is there any rumors as to how many stories this hotel will be? I thought I heard 15 somewhere earlier but that seems pretty small to me. Lets hope it's at least 25 to line up somewhat with these other new buildings.

They want it to be around 735 rooms and it has to fit on that lot, so it seems 20-25 stories would be a good estimate.

Much will depend on the hotel operator.

Hopefully this turns out great, i don't really see the logic about putting this between the MBG and the future maps park, it just seems like it cuts off green space....
Maybe if they give us a brilliant design for the hotel though....

Has the city expressed willingness to pay a huge subsidy for this project? Even Denver and Dallas had to pony up big time for convention hotels

Hopefully this turns out great, i don't really see the logic about putting this between the MBG and the future maps park, it just seems like it cuts off green space....
Maybe if they give us a brilliant design for the hotel though....

OKC needs a very large, full-service convention hotel. The Sheraton doesn't cut it. Hopefully they can get a high-end brand like JW Marriott or Omni.

Hopefully this turns out great, i don't really see the logic about putting this between the MBG and the future maps park, it just seems like it cuts off green space....
Maybe if they give us a brilliant design for the hotel though....

From the renderings, though, it looks like there will be a passage between the buildings that will connect the two parks. Hopefully there will be retail or an outdoor patio for the hotel's restaurant or something facing the passage. That will make for a dynamic area connecting the two green spaces.

Has the city expressed willingness to pay a huge subsidy for this project? Even Denver and Dallas had to pony up big time for convention hotels

I had a conversation with a member of the council recently about this subject and they told me the that the subsidy on this would be smaller than most people seem to think. They told me that they feel like with the location that's available, they've got a great product to sell and that they're getting a lot of attention from some from very impressive names.

They also mentioned that they would be very willing to walk away from the Clayco development if the TIF request didn't become a lot more reasonable...and I quote "you have to keep in mind, we're a pretty fiscally conservative bunch".

It certainly makes me wonder if the 499 Sheridan development was brought in on such a tight budget to free up the TIF dollars to ensure that these other developments happen as envisioned...

Convention center hotel plan moves ahead | NewsOK.com (http://m.newsok.com/convention-center-hotel-plan-moves-ahead/article/5386373)


In documents seeking proposals for the hotel and parking, the city says its priorities include maintaining connections between the area’s parks, including Myriad Botanical Gardens to the north and the new MAPS park to the south.

The city wants a pedestrian-friendly design that promotes walkability downtown while “accommodating further private development and creating a distinctive architectural landmark that captures the identity of Oklahoma City.”

The city says the study indicates a hotel with at least 500 rooms would be necessary.

I think that if some major players are interested, this could be a home run for OKC. I would love to see an Omni type hotel with approximately 30 stories if not higher. I think that is not unreasonable and a 35 story hotel would look oh so good against the Peake for Thunder basketball games on national television. You can't buy that kind of free advertising.

I think that if some major players are interested, this could be a home run for OKC. I would love to see an Omni type hotel with approximately 30 stories if not higher. I think that is not unreasonable and a 35 story hotel would look oh so good against the Peake for Thunder basketball games on national television. You can't buy that kind of free advertising.It would be awesome if they did 1000 rooms @ 20 rooms per floor and that would come to 50 stories.

From the JR:

Making reservations: OKC Council approves RFP for convention center hotel

Council stresses importance of parking

By: Brian Brus The Journal Record January 20, 2015

OKLAHOMA CITY – The City Council moved ahead with plans to develop a hotel to serve the planned MAPS 3 convention center by approving a request for proposals Tuesday.

Council members stressed the importance of building garage space for the 735-room hotel and questioned to what degree the municipal government might put up taxpayer money for that project, in addition to the hotel itself.

“We know that parking’s going to be integral to the hotel; it’s going to be integral to the convention center,” Tom Morsch of The PFM Group said in his presentation to the council.

The developers need to recognize that this is a significant contribution to the project, said Cathy O’Connor, president of the Alliance for Economic Development of Oklahoma City.

“And they will be expected to pay for that in some way, maybe through lease payments,” she said.

The convention center, one of several projects under the $777 million MAPS 3 temporary sales tax issue, has the largest price tag of the bunch, at $286 million. Officials have already secured the land just south of the Myriad Botanical Gardens and plan to begin construction in early 2016. Ultimately, it is expected that the new center will replace the 50-year-old Cox Convention Center.

If the older building is razed for redevelopment someday, the downtown district could also lose its basement parking space. Given that officials are already scrambling to come up with enough parking downtown in the face of growing construction and office occupancy, that 1,000-vehicle loss will be a big problem.

City Manager Jim Couch said the city’s parking authority is already in the process of conducting a downtown parking study.

“Uses and demands are being added; some parking is going away,” Couch said. “It’s a dynamic process that we’re trying to address.”

O’Connor said the request for proposals, or RFP, will be worded in such a way as to explore alternative funding plans. She could not provide an estimate of the number of parking spaces that would be required.

“The city would enable the construction or financing of parking to support the convention center and the convention center hotel,” O’Connor said. “What we are still trying to refine is the size of that parking garage – how many spaces will be needed to support those two facilities and have possibly some public parking available for other parking in the area.”

When Councilwoman Meg Salyer asked whether the project has already garnered attention from the hotel industry, O’Connor said the work will attract strong competition.

“We’ve had several companies, several firms, that have done projects all over the country that have expressed an interest in Oklahoma City and have followed up with me periodically about when our RFP will come out,” O’Connor said. “We’ll probably get six or seven responses.”

PFM and Capital Hotel Management LLC will act as advisers to the city in the RFP process. Officials said a finalist will be selected by the third quarter of this year in order to synchronize planning for the hotel with other aspects of the convention center project.

They also mentioned that they would be very willing to walk away from the Clayco development if the TIF request didn't become a lot more reasonable...and I quote "you have to keep in mind, we're a pretty fiscally conservative bunch".

This makes me happy. The TIF request for Clayco is way too high.


It certainly makes me wonder if the 499 Sheridan development was brought in on such a tight budget to free up the TIF dollars to ensure that these other developments happen as envisioned...

I bet that's absolutely the case. It's like "hey here's this extra money you're going to have, why not use it to ensure the Clayco development goes off without a hitch".

The convention center, one of several projects under the $777 million MAPS 3 temporary sales tax issue, has the largest price tag of the bunch, at $286 million. Officials have already secured the land just south of the Myriad Botanical Gardens and plan to begin construction in early 2016. Ultimately, it is expected that the new center will replace the 50-year-old Cox Convention Center.

The city says a hotel market study projects a 13.6 percent increase in demand for hotel rooms in 2019 associated with completion of the convention center, followed by an additional 12.2 percent increase in demand in 2020.

The city says the study indicates a hotel with at least 500 rooms would be necessary. The study found five nearby existing upscale hotels have 1,265 rooms. Hotel needs for current conventions, at the aging Cox Convention Center, already exceed available rooms, it said.



Convention center hotel plan moves ahead | News OK (http://newsok.com/convention-center-hotel-plan-moves-ahead/article/5386373)

The time is ripe; look at the convention centers in Charlotte & Nashville which are farther east of OKC. We are right in the middle of the United States. Dallas is overbooked with conventions.

Oklahoma City has a chance to become an alternative destination; great meeting place for national meetings between the east & west coasts. Let's get the new convention center & hotel complex built. We should go with the recommendation of 735 rooms or larger. Out-of-state money will greatly enhance our local economy.

Study suggests Oklahoma City can support $200 million, 735-room conference hotel | News OK (http://newsok.com/study-suggests-oklahoma-city-can-support-200-million-735-room-conference-hotel/article/3914440)

It would be awesome if they did 1000 rooms @ 20 rooms per floor and that would come to 50 stories.

I like the way yiou think! That would be a game changer and could even help bring in more conventions. If only I had the money, I would love to put up this kind of hotel that would be featured endlessly on TV during the Thunder games! That is some great, great advertising right there.

this is great to hear.

just a journalism question: why does the Oklahoman keep saying 'at least 500-room convention hotel' when the study recommended 'at least a 750-room convention hotel'? Are they setting this up for another bait and switch (then they can say, we always said 500 room) OR is this just bad journalism since all other 'lesser' media sources are saying 'at least 735 rooms'. ....

BIG difference between 735 room and 500 room convention hotel (at least 30+ floor tower vs. 20 floor tower, resp) hence my question why they keep understating the convention need. ... Renaissance is 15 floors on a skinny site with 311 rooms, Sheraton is 15 floors fronting a block with nearly 400 rooms, the convention site is more ala Sheraton than Renaissance, get my point now? (if not, we're likely to have a block fronting hotel (ala Sheraton) which can fit a lot of rooms per floor. If it is only 500 rooms then that likely would only give 20 floors. ...)

It would be fantastic if the Oklahoman got with it regarding editing, content, and consistency of its articles but that is another thread. (no offense to Steve, Brianna, and the wonderful local reporters)

I like the way yiou think! That would be a game changer and could even help bring in more conventions. If only I had the money, I would love to put up this kind of hotel that would be featured endlessly on TV during the Thunder games! That is some great, great advertising right there.Thanks!

Using the average floor height for hotels(12-16ft. per floor - http://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/Assets/Public+Website/Downtown/Floor+to+Floor+Memo+3-8-10.pdf) I would say basing this off of 15 ft. per floor(which is probably a bit high), but that would come out to 750'. Using 12 ft. per floor, it comes out to 600' tall. Devon Complex is 844' tall and the next highest is the Cotter Ranch Tower which is 500'.

Either way, this would easily be the second tallest in the city no matter what if 1000 rooms unless it is super girthy. I think 20-25 rooms per floor is likely. If it were 25 rooms per floor @ 1000 rooms, then the height at 12ft. per floor than that would put it at around 480 ft. tall which would be the third tallest. If we went with 735 rooms @ 15 rooms per floor, it could be 49 stories tall and at 12. ft per floor that would come to 588 ft. making it the second tallest. If they did a higher average floor count, let's say 15ft. per floor, the height would then come to 735'. 735 feet tall with 735 rooms! ;)

If they were to add more rooms per floor though, say 25 rooms per floor, that would put us at about 30 stories tall. 30 stories @ 12ft. per room is 360 ft. tall and @ 15ft. per room it is 450ft. tall. Not too impressive, but as long as it is great quality, I'd take it over anything smaller.

Also, we could add about two stories at the bottom and one or two at the top for retail, taller ceiling heights in the bottom for the lobby at around 30ft. and 20 ft. for a second level with 20 ft. for the top level. So just for fun, we could have 1000 room hotel at 54 stories and the rooms would come to 700 ft. @ 14ft. per floor + 30ft. high ceilings for the lobby + 20 ft. high for the second floor and 20 ft. for the top floor, that would gives us a 770 ft. high hotel. If you really wanted to go crazy, we could add an additional 8 stories of parking above the second floor @ 10ft. per floor(http://www.shockeyprecast.com/downloadable.files/PSbook.pdf) which puts the floor count to 62 and gives us an 850 ft. tall hotel which would be taller than the Devon Tower. ;)

If we went by the current room count at 20 rooms/floor giving us a 480ft. tall tower at 24 stories for the hotel room, plus a 30' lobby and two additional 20 ft. tall levels(one a the second floor and one at the top) and 8 levels of parking @80 ft. that would push a 735 room hotel to 630ft. tall! Still pretty good.

I would also love to see LED lighting wrapped around the entire building.

http://maosuit.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/mix-c-4.jpg

http://electronicsb2b.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/miamitower.jpg

http://s3.amazonaws.com/bundlr-app-production/content_images/images/large/51fbd7fc1cacfa0002000008/buildings1.jpg?1375459325
(a tower can be iconic without having to be perceived as dominant)

http://www.barco.com/projection_systems/images/me_uniqa_2006_01_l.jpg

http://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/static.brit.co/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/belgium-645x489.jpg

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_NaflaJsPzOU/TP6TtlMyU9I/AAAAAAAAADM/EMcssnAeeGM/s1600/Nexxus_Building_l.jpg

Panda, I approve of any of the above. If only OKC can do the same and get away from making our entire CBD a parking lot.

I love the enthusiasm you guys have but you're just setting yourself up for disappointment. If you expect 15-20 stories then anything that is actually announced will either meet expectations or be really exciting. :)

Also, remember that, for a variety of reasons, hotels and residential towers typically have lower average floor heights than office buildings.

Here is a link once again for the Omni Fort Worth. I would love something like this. It is a 618 room hotel and 33 stories and 447 feet tall. If we followed the same format, with 735 rooms, we would be talking about something around 37 floors and over 500 feet. This could become our second tallest building. It would be even way cooler if we added a few additional floors for residential. Is this locatiion a good spot for a 500 foot tower? I think it would look great there and on TV all the time.

https://www.google.com/search?q=omni+fort+worth+hotel+fort+worth+tx+photo s&es_sm=93&biw=1366&bih=667&tbm=isch&imgil=rReXA5ao-WhU1M%253A%253BY8WlwM9d1z_fZM%253Bhttp%25253A%2525 2F%25252Fwww.omnihotels.com%25252Fhotels%25252Ffor t-worth&source=iu&pf=m&fir=rReXA5ao-WhU1M%253A%252CY8WlwM9d1z_fZM%252C_&usg=__3Eombbqv3xfB9z4-WCy1x3FevSQ%3D&ved=0CDUQyjc&ei=v7zCVKfuFMGngwTp9oCIBg#imgdii=_&imgrc=nBc5yXeLYc6ymM%253A%3BX8dRh7fAK5aTFM%3Bhttp% 253A%252F%252Fwww.psma.com%252FHTML%252Fnewsletter %252FQ1_2014%252Fpics%252Fomni_fort_worth.jpg%3Bht tp%253A%252F%252Fwww.psma.com%252FHTML%252Fnewslet ter%252FQ1_2014%252Fpsma_update_2014-Q1.html%3B430%3B267

The Omni would be a perfect selection. A fresh brand.

The Ft. Worth Omni is a very nice hotel and represents FtW very well.

The Omni in Ft Worth is pretty cool. I also really like the Marriott in New Orleans. With the convention hotel, I care more about the brand and architectural than the height personally. I love Charlotte's Westin convention center hotel. It isn't tall but it has a unique, memorable design. Sort of like Kansas City's Marriott.

Pete brought up a valid point:


Also, remember that, for a variety of reasons, hotels and residential towers typically have lower average floor heights than office buildings.

Those of you who are looking for a convention center hotel to add a mid-rise tower will probably see something in the range 500-600 rooms to tower 325-400 feet (20-30 stories); 735 plus rooms/450-500 feet (37-45 stories).

OKC's location (mid east-west coasts) will probably lend for the potential success for a convention center-hotel complex. The convention center was the least popular project among those in MAPS 3; the city doesn't want to damage the MAPS momentum brand. The city appears cautiously optimistic about the convention center-hotel complex. Personal, I think the potential is grossly underestimated.

The city should consider some type of financial incentive to entice a reputable name-brand hotel to build something in the neighborhood of 900-1,000 rooms. This would allow the city to pursue much larger convention industry gatherings.

The way it seems to work is they will get this built and then realize it doesn't have enough rooms to attract the conventions that they thought it would.
They should go at least 800-1000 rooms.

My guess is they'll go fairly conservative. They'll build the 735 room hotel. It will be a bit wider than people are imagining and will be somewhere around 350 to 400 feet tall. They will realize ten years or so down the road that they need more hotel rooms. They'll then do a small addition that adds another 150 to 200 rooms or so with a little 10 story tower that goes somewhere else on that piece of land.

I think people are going to be disappointed if they're looking for the city to have a big grand palatial hotel that really "puts us on the map". The city will get a very nice hotel. It will be smaller than people want but it will be significantly better than what we have now, and the financing will be within the city's budget. MAPS has always been a very fiscally conservative program and I think that will continue.

I hope they start with the intention of going to 1000, so when it does get scaled back it will be at the 750 mark.

The Grand Hyatt convention center hotel in downtown San Antonio has 1,000 rooms and is only 32 stories.

It's all about footprint.

700-is will probably be fine considering all of the downtown rooms already here and the ones in the pipeline. The only thing that is important is for the hotel to be of a quality and room count adequate to secure bookings for which the city is capable of landing with the new convention facility. No more, no less. Overflow will happily land at the significant number of rooms downtown is blessed with.