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Convention Center Update ...continued

the rest of the Broward County Convention Center can If MSW is unable to come to acceptable final terms with
continue to operate during the construction. Before the Omni, they will come back to the Board for approval to
eastern expansion of the Convention Center can take place, negotiate with an alternate hotel operator.
new ingress and egress points need to be created to the
As your Broward County Commissioner, this is a project that
ground floor of the parking garage in order to facilitate the I have been interested in and excited about since 2010
flow of tractor trailers, buses and taxis that support the
when I researched the economic losses of our facility
operations of Port Everglades Terminal 2. This design will without a HQ Hotel, so I am looking forward to see it come
push truck and transportation traffic off the arterial roads
to fruition in the near future. This expansion and new
(SE 17th Street Causeway) and allow them to queue and headquarter hotel will not only bolster the local economy by
flow within Port Everglades, instead of in normal traffic
more than $100 million annually, by attracting more
outside the Port. Before demolition of the north end of the convention center and trade show business, increasing
convention center can take place, a reorientation of the
tourism and creating jobs in Broward County. It will also
road access (SE 18th Street) to the Convention Center needs create an iconic destination in Broward County and provide
to be made to provide continued access to the Convention
residents with a beautiful public destination right in our own
Center loading dock.
back yard.
Additionally, several interviews with four hotel operators took If there is anything that we can do to assist you with your
place, which were attended by MSW and County staff.
vision for a better Broward, please do not hesitate to
MSW sought approval to enter into exclusive negotiations contact our office at 954-357-7004 or by email at
with Omni Hotels and Resorts (Omni) to serve as the hotel
clamarca@broward.org.
operator (flag) for the Convention Center Headquarter Hotel,
with the intent of finalizing a deal with them in the coming As always, it is my honor to serve you. HB
months. After a detailed presentation from Omni, the DPA
Chip LaMarca
approved MSW moving forward with the Omni negotiations.
County Commissioner, District IV

34 HARBOR BEACH Magazine | www.harborbeach.org