By BJ Austin, KERA News
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-983652.mp3
Dallas, TX – The Dallas Convention Center Hotel doesn't open for another three months, but the "reservation desk" is already busy. KERA's BJ Austin has an update.
The 500 million dollar city-owned Convention Center Hotel narrowly survived a 2009 public referendum on whether it should be built at all. Hotel proponents cited jobs, and revitalization of the city's convention business. Opponents did not like the idea of city bonds financing a privately managed venture that "could" fail - leaving taxpayers holding the bag.
Phillip Jones, President of the Dallas Convention and Visitors Bureau says failure is not likely. He says the Omni Convention Center Hotel is filling up quickly.
Jones: I'm really proud of the fact that the Omni team has already booked 250 thousand future room nights for the Omni before they even open the doors.
Jones says an "attached" convention center hotel is a must among some convention planners. And now that Dallas has one, business is brisk.
Jones: In the 24 months prior to the convention center hotel being approved, as a city we booked 19 citywide conventions. Those are those large conventions that bring thousands of people to town. In the 24 months since the convention center hotel was approved, we've booked 49.
The Omni Convention Center Hotel at Young and Lamar will open on November 11th: Jones says this hotel is high tech and environmentally friendly.
Jones: You put your keycard into the light switch and that allows you to turn on the electricity and when you leave, it goes off. Also in the middle of the night if you have to get up, you walk on the floor and LED lights actually light the way to the restroom.
Where there are televisions embedded in the mirrors, so you can watch while you brush your teeth or shave. The hotel also has embedded lighting that will allow graphics and messages on the face of the building itself. One message has been up already. For the past few weeks, two letters that will be part of the hotel name atop the building spelled out "Hi" - a friendly message for downtown residents and workers.