As expected, the Palm Beach County Commission has chosen the Related Companies as the developer for the long-awaited 400-room Palm Beach County Convention Center Hotel. Plans for a new hotel next to the convention center in West Palm Beach have failed to get off the ground on numerous occasions over the past three years. Most recently, a contract with developer Ocean Properties fell through after a federal investigation into alleged corruption in the deal. Related, which developed the massive CityPlace retail and entertainment center in Downtown West Palm Beach, was recommended for the deal by a county selection committee. Contract negotiations and financing arrangements between Related and Palm Beach County are expected to take four to six months. Once built, the hotel will operate under the Hilton Hotels brand. TRD

The contract for Palm Beach County’s convention center hotel has drawn
a quintet of bidders. The Related Companies said it would team up with
Hilton Hotels and Palm Beach Gardens-based Catafulmo Development for
the project. West Palm Beach-based FRI Investors, National Investment
Co. and Weston Hotels & Resorts also submitted a proposal. Other
potential developers include Grove Street Partners, an Atlanta-based
development company, Acquest Realty Advisors, based in Michigan, and
Garfield Traub Development, a Texas-based company. County staff will
make a recommendation to the full commission on November 3. [more]