PITTSBURGH— The long-awaited completion of the new David L. Lawrence Convention Center here this spring has spurred the growth of room supply in the city as hoteliers look to capitalize on what may now be considered one of the more desirable “meeting places” in the country. To that end, many area hotels have opted to either add more rooms or renovate their existing rooms to help draw from what is expected to be a significant amount of business to the convention center in 2004 and beyond. The newly built facility just saw the completion of its third phase of construction and is considered a state-of-the-art downtown building supported by approximately 20 hotels within 10 minutes. The Westin Convention Center, which just completed phase one of an extensive $10 million renovation, is one such hotel. According to Joe Kane, gm of the upscale 618-room property, which can be reached from the new convention center by walking across a bridge, the timing of the renovation was no accident. “The timing was set to coordinate with [the completion of]the Convention Center,” Kane said. “We wanted to be a first-class property.” Kane, who estimated that half of the guestrooms have been redone, maintains some 25% of the hotel’s business will be derived from the Convention Center. He, for one, believes the new and improved David L. Lawrence Convention Center was quite necessary. The former David L. Lawrence Convention Center, which occupied some of the footprint of the current center, opened in1981 and was demolished in 2001. “The old convention center was quite dismal,” said Kane. “We expect 2004 will be a major year for growth and activities at the new Convention Center.” The four floor, $354 million convention center features 330,000 square feet of exhibit space, 250,000 of which is column free exhibit free space. It contains 53 meeting rooms, 37 loading docks, and 34,000 square foot ballroom. It features a unique sail-like roof and a suspension bridge form to recognize the city’s early bridge designers . As for the Westin, Kane said all the rooms are being renovated with new furnishings, carpeting, wall coverings, and lighting. Earth tones— greens, maroons and browns— new drapes and carpets are designed to further brighten the guest rooms. Each room will have a 27-inch flat screen TV. The guest bathrooms will feature granite tiled floors and walls, new lighting and mirrors and higher showerheads to accommodate taller guests. Its meeting rooms are being renovated with new carpeting, painting, wallcoverings, lighting and partitions. Meanwhile, there has been extensive hotel development planned for the area. Kane estimates that supply has grown by some 800 rooms in the past year and that’s just the beginning. For example, a $17 million, 132-room Courtyard by Marriott is planned for the city’s Shadyside neighborhood, an area known for its proximity to many major hospitals. Construction began in 2002 and it is scheduled to open this summer. Another Courtyard by Marriott is planned by Oxford Development Co. The182-room hotel is on Penn Ave., near the new Convention Center. Construction began January 2003 and should be complete by January 2004. In March, a $6.5 million, 125-suite Holiday Inn Express opened on Pittsburgh’s south side, just minutes from downtown. The hotel includes a 1,400 square foot outdoor patio, two small retail shops, and a restaurant on the ground floor. The property was developed by Kratsa Properties, which also unveiled plans to open a 198-room hotel with street level retail and a restaurant on Pittsburgh’s North Shore, across from PNC Park. Construction on the Spring Hill Suites Hotel by Marriott begins in May 2002 and will be complete by fall 2004. According to the Greater Pittsburgh Convention & Visitors Bureau, plans are currently in the works for an adjoining hotel but there has been no formal announcement. As of presstime, no information was available about what flag it will carry or when
