Convention Center

[Spartan]

Before I say anything else negative about the convention center project, it is worth noting (as a basis in fact) that most all cities get paid back over time the incentives they give to a CC hotel, so it's only a slightly bad deal. Worth it to get the thing built, I'd say.

That said, I will go berserk if I see a "food court" in this convention center. Grrrr...see how many more suburban-styled amenities we can roll into this self-contained convention palace built by taxpayers.

[ljbab728]

I agree, Spartan. A catering kitchen, yes, but a food court, no. We should be encouraging the convention visitors to sample other local places for meals. They won't have to go that far.

[Spartan]

We're locating this thing at Bricktown's beck and call.

[Larry OKC]

They had talked about it being completely self contained early on so folks wouldn't have to leave if they didn't want to, but certainly could go to Bricktown or where ever they chose. What I was talking about earlier wasn't the C.C. folks having to exit to get to the retail etc if it interacted with the street, but that access to food/retail would be from both sides so folks on the street wouldn't have to go into the C.C. either.

I was thinking the Thunder shop is set up this way??? Can folks go in there without having to enter the Arena first (and be a ticket holder for an event). Or some of the hotels that have access to a restaurant for their guests from within the hotel, but folks on the street can get in too, without having to go into the hotel lobby???

[betts]

I was thinking the Thunder shop is set up this way??? Can folks go in there without having to enter the Arena first (and be a ticket holder for an event). Or some of the hotels that have access to a restaurant for their guests from within the hotel, but folks on the street can get in too, without having to go into the hotel lobby???

Yes, you can access the Thunder shop from the west side of the arena, and it is open daily M-F (and maybe Saturday) from about 10 to 5 p.m.

[OKCisOK4me]

Yes, there is a ThunderShop entrance on the west side of the building, but I don't think it is accessible from the outside on game days.

[mmonroe]

This was 9 years ago, but when I was in Houston (back before AstroWorld died), I was here:

http://www.reliantpark.com/reliant-park-facilities

[HOT ROD]

Perhaps the CC and hotel will NOT be built at the boulevard?

If Hilton is involved and the bid brings up Skirvin, then perhaps that location is in play (which may explain the city's reluctance to implement the quiet zone)? Or, would there now be more serious incling of the city to use the original proposed location (side of the park)?

Personally, I like side of the park and Skirvin as #1 and #2 options; maybe the city is seeing the light given the boulevard and its impact/role.

All I know is 425 rooms is ridiculous, we need to shoot big here:600-1000 please. Also, Convention Center hotels aren't typically upscale are they? I have never heard of a 5-star Convention Center hotel or any luxury name tied to a convention hotel. ....

[soonerliberal]

All I know is 425 rooms is ridiculous, we need to shoot big here:600-1000 please. Also, Convention Center hotels aren't typically upscale are they? I have never heard of a 5-star Convention Center hotel or any luxury name tied to a convention hotel. ....

Most convention center hotels are 4 star.

Some hotels attached to convention centers:
-San Diego Marriott Marquis
-Omni Dallas Hotel
-Chicago Hyatt Regency McCormick Place
-Omni Georgia World Congress Center
-Hilton Americas Houston
-The Westin Convention Center Pittsburgh
-The Westin Boston Convention Center

[ljbab728]

Most convention center hotels are 4 star.

Some hotels attached to convention centers:
-San Diego Marriott Marquis
-Omni Dallas Hotel
-Chicago Hyatt Regency McCormick Place
-Omni Georgia World Congress Center
-Hilton Americas Houston
-The Westin Convention Center Pittsburgh
-The Westin Boston Convention Center

That's exactly correct. A convention center hotel caters to the masses, not just high level executives who require luxury accommodations and facilities.

[kevinpate]

Perhaps the CC and hotel will NOT be built at the boulevard?

...

I agree the cc hotel ought not be a smallish offering. As to any notion the powers what be might change their mind about plopping the cc between MBG and the new park .... I'd put that in the snowball survives hell percentile range.

[HOT ROD]

that was my point, thanks guys

[Midtowner]

Would the Hilton want to open another hotel downtown which directly competed with their already existing Skirvin-Hilton? I'd really hate to see that as I'm afraid they'd make the Skirvin less of a priority.

ETA: should have looked at current page before replying.

[BoulderSooner]

Would the Hilton want to open another hotel downtown which directly competed with their already existing Skirvin-Hilton? I'd really hate to see that as I'm afraid they'd make the Skirvin less of a priority.

ETA: should have looked at current page before replying.

hilton doesn't own the skirvin marcus hotels does

[Larry OKC]

Right, it is just Hilton branded. Hilton brands include: Luxury (Waldorf-Astoria & Conrad); Full Service (Hilton, DoubleTree, Embassy Suites); Focused Service (Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton, Homewood Suites, Home2)
http://hiltonworldwide.com/portfolio/

Not sure what Hilton's philosophy on it is but the Marriott brand has many many many branded hotels in the metro area

[Oil Capital]

Right, it is just Hilton branded. Hilton brands include: Luxury (Waldorf-Astoria & Conrad); Full Service (Hilton, DoubleTree, Embassy Suites); Focused Service (Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton, Homewood Suites, Home2)
http://hiltonworldwide.com/portfolio/

Not sure what Hilton's philosophy on it is but the Marriott brand has many many many branded hotels in the metro area

Hilton also has many many branded hotels in the metro area. (There are 18 Hilton branded hotels, including 2 downtown; 21 Marriott branded hotels, including 3 downtown.)

But that tells us nothing about whether either of them would be okay with having two of their flagship flag properties in downtown OKC. Perhaps just as important, it tells us nothing about the rights of the Skirvin. They may very well have an exclusive on the Hilton flag for downtown OKC.

At the end of the day, so long as the Skirvin is flagged as a Hilton Hotel, it is unlikely that the convention center hotel will be a Hilton Hotel. It could possibly be a Doubletree, but I don't think they are generally in the business of convention center hotels, per se.

[G.Walker]

I would like to see a new brand enter the OKC market via the CC Hotel. Like a Omni, W, Ritz-Carlton, or JW Marriot. But I think our best hope would be an Omni.

[Spartan]

What if you had two brands (serving two different price-points) in the same facility? Kind of like the Bricktown hotel going up right now... except instead of joined next door, stack the lower-end hotel on top of the higher-end hotel. That way you can get a range of price-points and also get to the sheer volume of hotel rooms needed to book the CC solid with major conventions, and you also make a legitimate skyscraper economically feasible.

Like say, W for the first 20 floors, then Aloft or some other Starwood for another 15-20 floors..

[metro]

What if you had two brands (serving two different price-points) in the same facility? Kind of like the Bricktown hotel going up right now... except instead of joined next door, stack the lower-end hotel on top of the higher-end hotel. That way you can get a range of price-points and also get to the sheer volume of hotel rooms needed to book the CC solid with major conventions, and you also make a legitimate skyscraper economically feasible.

Like say, W for the first 20 floors, then Aloft or some other Starwood for another 15-20 floors..

Um W is way nicer and pricier than Aloft, why would you give Aloft the premium space? Neither are convention brands either, as much as I'd love a W here.

[pure]

What if you had two brands (serving two different price-points) in the same facility? Kind of like the Bricktown hotel going up right now... except instead of joined next door, stack the lower-end hotel on top of the higher-end hotel. That way you can get a range of price-points and also get to the sheer volume of hotel rooms needed to book the CC solid with major conventions, and you also make a legitimate skyscraper economically feasible.

Like say, W for the first 20 floors, then Aloft or some other Starwood for another 15-20 floors..

Just 2?? How about 5 like in Indianapolis. JW Marriott, Marriott, Courtyard, Fairfield, and Springhill all connected to their convention center.

http://www.jwindy.com/marriottplace

Wishful thinking on my part, I suppose.

[Rover]

What if you had two brands (serving two different price-points) in the same facility? Kind of like the Bricktown hotel going up right now... except instead of joined next door, stack the lower-end hotel on top of the higher-end hotel. That way you can get a range of price-points and also get to the sheer volume of hotel rooms needed to book the CC solid with major conventions, and you also make a legitimate skyscraper economically feasible.

Like say, W for the first 20 floors, then Aloft or some other Starwood for another 15-20 floors..

This is done in residential high rises where the "for rent" floors are the lower floors and the condos are upper. They have separate elevators and may have separate entrances/lobbies. It works with hotels, but the better brand/service would be upper, not lower. I don't know of any examples in the hundreds of hotels I worked on, but it sure could work fine with one developer and two operators/franchises. It is done with combination of condos and hotels...usually premium brands.

[Spartan]

This is done in residential high rises where the "for rent" floors are the lower floors and the condos are upper. They have separate elevators and may have separate entrances/lobbies. It works with hotels, but the better brand/service would be upper, not lower. I don't know of any examples in the hundreds of hotels I worked on, but it sure could work fine with one developer and two operators/franchises. It is done with combination of condos and hotels...usually premium brands.

Sure, for some reason I was thinking proximity to street amenities could be the prime space, but obviously the higher you go, the more upscale it should be..is the rule of thumb. My point wasn't to specifically illustrate where a W could go in relation to the Aloft, but rather just to point out that all of these chains operate a number of hotel brands - going with a family hotels may be a better way to achieve what we're looking for with the convention hotel project, particularly if the city is fronting any of the bill for it.

[ljbab728]

This is done in residential high rises where the "for rent" floors are the lower floors and the condos are upper. They have separate elevators and may have separate entrances/lobbies. It works with hotels, but the better brand/service would be upper, not lower. I don't know of any examples in the hundreds of hotels I worked on, but it sure could work fine with one developer and two operators/franchises. It is done with combination of condos and hotels...usually premium brands.

A perfect example of the dual hotel concept is the Mandalay Bay Hotel in Vegas which has a Four Seasons Hotel on the upper floors.

[Rover]

A perfect example of the dual hotel concept is the Mandalay Bay Hotel in Vegas which has a Four Seasons Hotel on the upper floors.

Yes...I forgot about Mandalay Bay. Good example. On a smaller scale, perfect for OKC.

[metro]

A perfect example of the dual hotel concept is the Mandalay Bay Hotel in Vegas which has a Four Seasons Hotel on the upper floors.

Yep, have stayed at that Four Seasons.