- Artist’s Rendering
The PD’s Michelle Jarboe McFee broke the news this morning that Hilton Worldwide will be the likely operator of the hotel connected to the Cleveland Convention Center. The $260 million publicly financed project will replace the former County Administration building at Ontario and Lakeside. And on first blush, the renderings look totally swanktastic.
From McFee’s story:
“We had kind of a gaping hole in Cleveland, relative to our representation,” said Ted Ratcliff, Hilton’s senior vice president of operations for eastern North America. “We really didn’t have a hotel in the city. Some of our brands are represented there, but not the Hilton flag in a significant downtown location.”
So this will be a legit Hilton (maybe of the tropical or futuristic ilk), not one of those sub-Hiltons — Embassy Suites, Hampton Inn, Doubletree etc. Based on reports, the hotel will probably end up with about 600 rooms; and if the Hilton folks follow market research suggestions, ample meeting spaces and a restaurant should be part of the final package.
McFee reported that Hyatt, Omnit Hotels & Resorts, Marriott, Sheraton and others were all vying for the location.
Chriss Quinn, on this morning’s Reporter’s Roundtable on WCPN, suggested that one of the biggest benefits of the new hotel will be making Cleveland more attractive as a destination for either the Democratic or Republican National Conventions. Cleveland has been a finalist several times, but increased lodging options and amenities downtown should improve the city’s chances.
This article appears in Oct 9-15, 2013.
$260 million in public funds for a better chance to compete for a one-time convention? Are these people effing serious? One in four children in this county live in poverty. Every “save the city” project is another handout to rich people. Unbelievable!
The only thing that is “unbelievable” is the that there are still people in Cleveland who would rather see the city shrivel up and die than develop. Every city in the top 10 tourism category in the US has invested in their development knowing that the money comes back in taxes, jobs, and tourism. If stupid people in Cleveland are allowed to grind much needed projects to a halt than the poverty rate in Cuyahoga County will skyrocket. Ya gotta give to get…it’s not nice but it works. If you want to believe to opposite then travel to Detroit and see where your plan leads. Cleveland is on a roll and while downtown development is not the entire answer is it a major piece.