HAMPTON, VA The Hampton City Council hopes to announce by late fall or early winter the hotel that will be the centerpiece of its $95 million Crossroads Convention Center. The city will begin spending $7.8 million in pre-construction costs, such as property acquisition, and design and engineering work. No more than $2 million of the $7.8 million will be spent before a hotel builder is selected to protect the city s investment.
City representatives attended the recent UCLA conference to talk with hotel chains and the people who finance their construction. The final decision of which hotel brand to go with will be made by the council, but the city has said it wants a full-service chain to build the hotel. The hotel deal must be in place before construction of the convention center can begin. (1/25/01)
SOURCE:Daily Press, Newport News, VA