Sep 9th 2019 | Posted in Vertical by Texas Government Insider

Councilmembers in Weatherford deliberated the feasibility of building a new a hotel-convention center at their work session August 27, and City Manager Sharon Hayes said they are looking for a private partner.
After the passage of HB 4347 that consolidated 22 standalone bills into one piece of legislation, Weatherford is now eligible for a program that encourages building local convention center hotels using state and local hotel tax rebates. Local alcoholic beverage taxes from the eligible convention will generate rebates for the first 10 years of operation.
The convention centers must be primarily used for conventions and meetings of tourists, have at least 10,000 square feet of meeting space, owned by the municipality, and be located in a separate structure from the convention center hotel.
According to the Texas Hotel and Lodging Association, other cities that are eligible to pursue hotel-convention centers under this program are: Alvin, Arlington (expansion of existing authority), Baytown, Cedar Park, Celina, The Colony, Commerce, Conroe, and Fredericksburg (provided a special exception allowing private ownership of project).
Additional cities that may apply for the program are: Hutto, Kemah (expansion of existing authority), Kerrville, Kyle, Missouri City, Pearland, Presidio, Rio Grande City, Richmond, San Benito, Seabrook, and Webster.
Eligible cities must have a development agreement approved by a September 1, 2023, deadline to participate in the conventional center hotel program.