Despite continuous updates to downtown areas, many cities are finding that improvements are rendered meaningless to meeting planners without a convention hotel present, says The New York Times.
A recent example is Kansas City, which did not make the cut for the 2016 National Convention, even though the city has spent $6 billion into the downtown entertainment district and a number of arena expansions. Cleveland ultimately won the hosting gig, as it has the Convention Center Hotel, Hilton Cleveland Downtown due to open next year.
The improving exhibition and trade show business has helped drive more convention hotel development, typically consisting of 600 to 1,200 rooms. Cities looking to build convention hotels include Miami Beach and Pittsburgh, according to the article.
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