Lessons from other cities’ projects

Baltimore: Officials say they couldn’t have anticipated the worst tourism downturn in 20 years. Result: Average daily room rates for the city-owned convention hotel running about half of projected levels. more

St. Louis: Since its convention center hotel opened in 2003, it has repeatedly failed to earn enough revenue to make payments on interest, and owners defaulted on bond payments in December. Result: Foreclosure on the property. more

Portland, Oregon: Hotel tax revenues drop as costs for proposed city-funded convention center hotel continue to rise. Result: Officials pull the plug, saying a government-owned hotel is not feasible in times of crippling recession. more

Indianapolis: Hotel rooms and convention exhibit space sit empty, as the new convention center complex operates at a deficit. Result: $47.4 million annual budget shortfall. more

Nationwide: Attendance at the top 200 trade and convention shows declined from by more than a million from 1996 to 2003. Result: Convention centers are now expensive, money-losing propositions even before you count the costs and debt, a study for the Brookings Institution concludes. more