July 19–Corpus Christi's convention scene and skyline are candidates for significant overhaul.
The City Council discussed a proposed expansion of the American Bank Center and an adjacent hotel with 300 rooms at a workshop meeting Wednesday.
The convention center expansion would add 12 meeting rooms, bolster the exhibit hall by 40,000 square feet and grow the entry lobby by 8,000 square feet, consultants for the city's Convention and Visitor's Bureau told the Caller-Times.
The proposal comes on the heels of the Texas FFA convention, which brought about 13,000 visitors to the area annually. The organization announced after that convention that it would no longer come to Corpus Christi for its annual state meeting because of space constraints at the venue.
Elvia Aguilar, the director of brand management for the visitors bureau, said the expansion wouldn't be enough to keep the FFA event, but it would allow the city to book "simultaneous smaller meetings."
The expansion is estimated to cost $75 million, which would be funded by hotel occupancy tax revenue. Early estimates presented to the council Wednesday valued the potential future economic benefit around $445 million.
Funding for the hotel, which is being proposed as a public-private partnership because it would be on city property, won't be known until potential partners step forward with proposals.
In addition to its 300 rooms, the hotel also would feature six meeting rooms, a large ballroom and a restaurant.
Paulette Kluge, CEO of the visitors bureau, told the council the proposed expansion would help existing hotels fill large swaths of vacancies that exist during the work week.
"We need more room nights Sunday through Thursday, because we are a weekend destination first," Kluge said.
While occupancy rates on Friday and Saturday nights during the summer routinely eclipse 95 percent, the Sunday occupancy rate citywide is about 30 percent, she said.
Members of the City Council largely supported the concept.
City Councilwoman Paulette Guajardo called the expansion project "visionary," and Councilwoman Lucy Rubio said it was long overdue.
"We are losing opportunities out there," Rubio said. "I'm all for (the expansion plan). I see the need, so let's figure out how to get it done."
Councilman Michael Hunter applauded the project but said the council needed more details about the project's funding before he could fully endorse it.
The council unanimously approved a motion of direction for city staff to continue exploring the expansion of the convention center and the adjacent hotel project.
It's not immediately clear when the issue is expected to be brought up for City Council decisions in a regular meeting.
