RALEIGH, N.C.--Workers are putting the finishing touches on Raleigh’s glittering $221 million new convention center.  But there’s growing concern that the center won’t reach its full potential unless more hotel rooms are built in and around downtown.

Discuss This Story

    

“We have enough rooms for what we need right now, but bookings are going great, so we’ll need more,” said David Diaz, the CEO of the Downtown Raleigh Alliance. “But I’m convinced the hotel rooms will come. The private sector will take care of this because Raleigh is a good destination.”

   

There will be about 1,000 hotel rooms by late this summer after the new Marriott City Center opens across the street from the center. But convention planners say to book even medium- sized conventions, about 600 more rooms are needed.  There were projects on the drawing board which included 850 more rooms, but because of the credit crisis and the slow economy, most of those projects are on hold.

  

Developer Greg Hatem still plans to build the condo-hotel project called 'The Lafeyette' near the center, but it will be delayed for about a year.

  

“We have to work a little harder to get them financed,” said Hatem. “But the fundamentals of the project are still strong. Developers just want to see more cash up front.”

    

Convention planners said they are booking groups to fit what’s available now, not what might be.

 

And there are some conventions the city hasn’t been on just because of the shortage.

 

“We’re selling what we know we have, and it’s a pretty good package for the center,” said Dennis Edwards, CEO of the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors bureau. “Interest is strong; we just have to hope the economy turns around soon.”