Houston's George R. Brown Gets New 1,000-room Hotel; Miami Beach CC Takes a Step Closer to Expansion

December 12, 2012

Both Houston and Miami Beach, Fla., received good news this week that the convention center footprints in their respective cities will have major upgrades in the next few years.

The Houston City Council recently approved a proposal by RIDA Development Corporation and Houston First Corporation for a 1,000-room convention center hotel connected to the George R. Brown Convention Center in downtown Houston.

The hotel will be a Marriott Marquis and will bookend the other side of the center from the existing Hilton Americas-Houston hotel.

The new hotel is the result of a year-long project by Houston First Corporation and will give the city more of a competitive edge to attract larger trade shows and conventions, according to Houston First officials.

Additionally, the new hotel will add more than 1,800 construction jobs and 700 permanent jobs to Houston’s hospitality industry.

Construction is slated to begin in 2014 and has a projected completion date of Spring 2016.

“We are so pleased with the city council’s decision to move forward with the building of this convention center hotel. We are very excited about the opportunity to boost Houston’s exposure and ability to host world-class conferences and events,” said Ira Mitzner, president of RIDA Development.

He added, “RIDA is focused on building a smart, efficient convention-centric hotel and enhancing the surrounding district with activity centers that will appeal to visitors and Houstonians alike. RIDA is looking forward to providing local Houstonians and businesses with jobs that will be created as a result of this project.”

The Global Spectrum-managed Miami Beach Convention Center also is one step closer to a long-awaited expansion and upgrade with Miami Beach Commissioners recently approving two short-listed developers - Portman-CMC, a collaboration between Atlanta-based Portman Holdings and Miami developer Ugo Colombo, and South Beach ACE, led by Tishman Hotel and Realty and Miami Beach developer Robert Wennett.

The project will include upgrades and expansion of the Miami Beach Convention Center, an 800-room anchor hotel and a redevelopment of the surrounding area.

The RFQ required the following items related to the MBCC:

·         enhancements to the convention center, including at a minimum, renovation, outdoor function space, and additional meeting space

·         development of a headquarter hotel

·         a multipurpose/ballroom space of 60,000 net square feet

One of the primary objectives of the RFQ was to “facilitate the ability of the MBCC to attract high impact conventions, meetings, and tradeshows in an increasingly competitive environment,” according to city officials.

By September of 2013, a final developer will be chosen for the project that, according to press reports, will range between $500 million and $1 billion.

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Overview: The award-winning Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) goes the extra mile to make every day extraordinary by offering customer service excellence and industry-leading partnerships. From their dedicated in-house Rigging team to their robust Exhibitor Services, The Center of Hospitality brings your imagination to life by helping you host unforgettable meetings and events. With more than 2 million square feet of exhibit space, world-class services and a dream destination, we are committed to making even the most ambitious conventions a reality. In October 2023, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve allocating Tourist Development Tax funding for the $560 million Phase 5A completion of the OCCC. The Convention Way Grand Concourse project will include enhancements to the North-South Building, featuring an additional 60,000 square feet of meeting space, an 80,000- square-foot ballroom and new entry to the North-South Building along Convention Way. “We are thrilled to begin work on completing our North-South Building which will allow us to meet the growing needs of our clients,” said OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester. “As an economic driver for the community, this project will provide the Center with connectivity and meeting space to host more events and continue to infuse the local economy with new money and expanding business opportunities.” Amenities: The Center of Hospitality goes above and beyond by offering world-class customer service and industry-leading partnerships. From the largest convention center Wi-Fi network to custom LAN/WAN design, the Center takes pride in enhancing exhibitor and customer experience.  The OCCC is the exclusive provider of electricity (24-hour power at no additional cost), aerial rigging and lighting, water, natural gas and propane, compressed air, and cable TV services. Convenience The Center is at the epicenter of the destination, with an abundance of hotels, restaurants, and attractions within walking distance. Pedestrian bridges connect both buildings to more than 5,200 rooms and is within a 15-minute drive from the Orlando International Airport. The convenience of the location goes hand-in-hand with top notch service to help meet an event’s every need. Gold Key Members The OCCC’s Gold Key Members represent the best of the best when it comes to exceptional service and exclusive benefits for clients, exhibitors and guests. The Center’s Gold Key memberships with Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld Orlando and Walt Disney World greatly enhance meeting planner and attendee experiences offering world-renowned venues, immersive experiences and creative resources for their events. OCCC Events: This fiscal year, the OCCC is projected to host 168 events, 1.7 million attendees, and $2.9 billion in economic impact.  The Center’s top five events during their 2022-2023 fiscal year included:  AAU Jr. National Volleyball Championships 2023 200,000 Attendees $257 Million in Economic Impact MEGACON 2023 160,000 Attendees $205 Million in Economic Impact Open Championship Series 2023 69,500 Attendees $89 Million in Economic Impact Sunshine Classic 2023 42,000 Attendees $54 Million in Economic Impact Premiere Orlando 2023 42,000 Attendees $108 Million in Economic Impact