Metro announced today that it received two development proposals for the Oregon Convention Center hotel project in response to a Request for Proposals (RFP) issued in early May:
- Langley Investment Properties and Garfield Traub Development, LLC and team members Starwood Hotels/Sheraton, ZGF Architects LLP, RTKL Associates Inc., and Turner Construction Company
- Mortenson Development, Inc. and team members Hyatt Hotels Corporation, Mortenson Construction, Schlesinger Companies, Ankrom Moisan Associated Architects, Elness Swenson Graham Architects, Piper Jaffray and Co., and Jones Long LaSalle Hotels
The proposals were solicited from private hotel development teams for a new and different approach to building a hotel designed to serve national conventions at the OCC and boost travel and tourism statewide. Compared to past hotel projects, leaders are considering a significantly smaller investment of public resources and relying on the private sector for financing, construction, ownership and operation.
“The time is right to take a fresh look at a convention center hotel,” said Teri Dresler, Metro’s general manager of visitor venues. She cited the region’s strong hotel market and solid reputation as a leisure and business travel destination, as well as favorable financing conditions and low construction costs, as reasons for asking private development teams to consider the project.
“We asked developers to consider if they can build and operate a hotel with the least amount of public investment possible,” she added.
“Recruiting national, citywide conventions to the Oregon Convention Center is the single most lucrative way to generate maximum economic impact for local businesses as well as revenues for the facility,” said Scott Cruickshank, executive director of the Oregon Convention Center.
Over the next month, an evaluation committee comprised of representatives of the tourism, hospitality and construction industries; members of the Lloyd District neighborhood; and Metro’s jurisdictional partners in the project - the Portland Development Commission (PDC), City of Portland and Multnomah County – will review and rate the proposals.
In August, the Metro Council and Portland Development Commission are scheduled to consider a final recommendation based upon staff evaluation and the committee’s ratings.
Metro, the regional government that serves 1.4 million people who live in the 25 cities and three counties of the Portland metropolitan area, provides planning and other services that protect the nature and livability of our region. For more information, visit www.oregonmetro.gov.
Contacts:
Stephanie Soden
503-797-1818
Stephanie.soden@oregonmetro.gov
Teri Dresler
503-797-1790
Teri.dresler@oregonmetro.gov
