Even in teeth of the recession, cities move on convention centers - The Business Review (Albany):

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Multi-million dollar expansions are planned at the Saratogq Springs City Center andthe , while officials in Albany negotiate to buy land for a new conventioj center near the state capitol. Officials behinrd the three projects are charging aheadc even as the national tourism industry suffers because the numberr of hotel guestsand convention-goers continuezs to slide. The hotel convention business throughout the Northeastf is lagging well behindlast year, with room bookings down between 10 percenyt and 13 percent, said Jeff Eastman, CEO of Kansas-basedr Trends Analysis Projections LLC. “It’sw a very competitive market out thererighrt now,” Eastman said.
He expectas it to stay that way for at leasy the nexttwo years. The desire to compete for conventionb businessis what’s driviny the expansion and construction of projects in Lake Placid and Saratoga Springs. “Wse are out ahead of the economic saidDavid Zunker, president of the Saratoga Convention & Tourism After more than a decade of planning and negotiations, constructioj of the $16 million City Center expansion in Saratogsa is expected to begin afteer the summer racing The project still needs city approval.
The addition will enabler the center to book larger groupw or host multiple events at the same The 25-year-old convention center, located on Broadwah in downtown Saratoga would be expanded by 12,000 square feet of leasable allowing the center to host groups of 600 to 800 people insteadf of 400 to 600, according to City Centerr President Mark Baker. “Wd have a competitive advantage becausewe don’ty have to ask for money,” Zunker Former state Sen. Majority Leadetr Joseph L. Bruno secured $12 million of the $16 millionm needed to fund the project priotr to retiring from state governmenrtlast year.
The remainder of the financing was raisedf through an occupancy tax and other CityCenter revenue. The Lake Placir Convention Center expansion, approved last also has its financinb already in place fora $14.5 million addition. The monehy was allocated from community development grantswhile Gov. Georger Pataki was in office. The home of the 1980 Winte r Olympics will adda 7,200-square-foot a new ballroom, kitchen and a 3,600-square-foot, third-floorf meeting space with moveable walls. “They’rwe talking about getting a shovel in the ground in saidArlene Day, sales directod of the Lake Placid Convention and Visitorsw Bureau.
While the Saratoga and Lake Placix projects prepareto expand, the convention center project in Albany has more obstacles to including buying parcels of land. Plans to buil a convention center in Albany have been stymied by a lack of but authority officials there said they aremaking progress.