Yet another hotel project is going though the approval stages in Ft. Lauderdale.  With all of the hotel projects, it's almost like Las Vegas (well, minus the casinos for now).  The newest proposal is for a major convention hotel off of 17th Street, near the existing Broward Convention Center.  As of now, there are 2 hotel brands competing for the spot - Marriott and Hilton.  This new hotel would not replace the existing convention center, but rather help it out.

Currently, any large groups planning events at the center must use a pool of 50 hotels in the area.  This can be very tricky and actually becomes a deal breaker for many groups.  Both Marriott and Hilton are proposing a 1,000 room luxury hotel that would be about 30 stories high.  Once the winner is announced the hotel could be open by 2012.  Each is planning a ballroom, meeting space, a spa and pool and of course restaurants.

Marriott and Hilton are actually the 2 finalists for the project.  Starwood Hotels and Gaylord Entertainment lost out because they didn't supply all the information in the time needed.  This also isn't the first time a hotel was proposed for this area.  Once in the early 1990's then again in 2001 and 2003 developers tried to get a hotel built.  Economic hard times and bad planning were the reasons those deals fell through.  Marriott and Hilton are different.  Each are experts are operating convention center hotels.

There are a few issues with the land.  Located right at Port Everglades, they are trying to build on land so that guests don't have to pass through security.  As everyone knows...since 9/11, the Port's security has been beefed up.

It should be interesting to see which hotel wins.  I'm pulling for Marriott. 

I'll keep everyone up to date as I get information.