AMERICAS - The Fox Cities Convention and Visitors Bureau (FCCVB) in Wisconsin, USA, has awarded the city of Appleton a US$250,000 grant for the design of the proposed Fox Cities Exhibition Center. The grant was taken from the bureau's Tourism Development Fund.
The entire development project will cost an estimated $20m and the centre is proposed to open in 2014.
“It's not just about putting up any building; you must put up the right building," says FCCVB Executive Director, Lynn Peters. "Meetings and conventions represent a significant percentage of the tourism we see in the Fox Cities. The convention center feasibility study indicated a well-designed expo center located adjacent to a large convention hotel will increase our ability to attract and retain convention business."
Zeidler Partnership has been appointed as the architect for the project and will work with Boldt Construction on the design, which is set to cost $287,000. The total cost of all design and engineering services is budgeted at $1,284,500.
The grant is contingent on the Fox Cities Exhibition Center Board securing a commitment from the Radisson Paper Valley Hotel to operate and staff the facility, and the city of Appleton and Outagamie County negotiating an acceptable sales price and terms for the purchase of the construction land.
The estimated number of hotel room-nights to be generated by the centre is 18,650 per year.
Wisconsin's World Dairy Expo is constructing a 2,400sqm temporary trade centre to cope with demand for this year’s show, as the Exhibition Hall at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison, does not provide enough space.
Any news? Email exhibitionworld@mashmedia.net
