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News for the Hospitality Executive |
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| GREATER FORT LAUDERDALE, FL (July 16, 2007), The Broward
County Board of County Commissioners has published a proposal seeking parties
interested in the development, construction and operation of a 1,000-room,
world-class hotel to be built immediately adjacent to the Greater Fort
Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center on prime waterfront land.
According to Broward County Mayor Joseph Eggelletion Jr., �This is a major development opportunity for Broward County, the state of Florida and the development community. A hotel of this nature, located in our already thriving convention center and cruise port complex, will add a new dimension to the destination�s ability to attract major conventions and trade shows. We�ve proven ourselves to be an attractive destination for group business and the new hotel will be the next giant step forward for our meetings industry and in turn significantly influence the local tourism economy.� Broward County has identified three potential hotel sites in close proximity to the Intracoastal Waterway and adjacent to the Broward County Convention Center. The RLI will ask prospective bidders to evaluate and make recommendations as to the specific site location. Responses to the detailed proposal are expected by September 13, 2007, with presentations and selection scheduled for November 1, 2007. �Greater Fort Lauderdale has been experiencing strong tourism growth over the past several years and the destination has many qualities that support large-scale, first-class hotel development,� said Nicki E. Grossman, president of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau. �The Convention Center headquarter hotel must have national and international marketing capabilities and be a good fit for the state-of-the art-facilities found at the Broward County Convention Center.� A Master Planning team was selected in March 2005 in anticipation of a hotel development project to allow for a development team with an appropriate capital structure to formulate a proposal to ensure an opening in 2011. Responses to the development opportunity will be evaluated on, among other considerations, the strength of the financial package, the development program, the marketing and promotion resources, management plan and overall capability to service the Broward County Convention Center. The Broward County Convention Center opened in 1991 and is located on
a 33-acre site in Port Everglades, the third largest cruise passenger port
in the world. Currently the site consists of the 600,000 square foot,
three-story convention center, a cruise terminal, a retail/office building,
a 2,500 space parking garage and related common areas. Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood
International Airport is 1.5 miles from the site.
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| Contact:
Greater Fort Lauderdale Dale Convention & Visitors Bureau
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