hyatt.JPG

A May 2013 rendering of a proposed Hyatt Regency hotel at the Oregon Convention Center.

(Metro)

By Tom Hughes

I read last week that columnist

about the convention center hotel. Fortunately, I have answers, many of which have already been answered repeatedly by The Oregonian’s own reporting and by documents that have been published and available on Metro’s website for more than two years.

Before getting to Duin’s questions, though, it’s important to remember the goal is to use

to help finance a 600-room Hyatt next to the Oregon Convention Center to attract thousands of new visitors and the $300 per day they spend on average in our shops, hotels and restaurants.

Duin questions whether the convention center is “essential to the fabric of the city.” Since opening 24 years ago the convention center has generated

and hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenues for state and local government. The benefits are felt across our region, from Mother’s Bistro to Timberline Lodge, Powell’s Books to Ponzi Vineyards. If we are serious about improving our economy, adding a convention center hotel will add more fuel to our tourism engine and kick our job growth into a higher gear.

Duin also questions Portland’s weather. Convention-goers clearly are happy to partake in our fabled micro-brews and foodie culture, rain or shine. Our top-five months for convention business are October, November, March, April and May (even rainy February comes in seventh!).

Why come here in the rain? Because it beats snow and ice.

In Portland, November is typically the second-rainiest month with temperatures between 40 and 50 degrees. In Minneapolis – a convention competitor – our low temperature is their high, and their average low is 26 degrees! We may get tired of the rain, but our mild climate is one reason why Portland continues to attract groups in the rainy fall and spring months.

Duin also trashes Portland’s east side. Surely he’s followed The Oregonian’s own Elliot Njus’ reporting on the

. That project, plus two new apartment buildings two blocks west, will bring around 1,000 housing units and new shops and restaurants to the area immediately surrounding the convention center. Njus also reported on the sale and $8-10 million remodel planned for the Red Lion Hotel directly across Martin Luther King Boulevard. Things are hopping in the Lloyd District. The addition of a convention hotel will be a catalyst for even more private investment in the neighborhood.

Finally, during the past year and a half Metro publicly aired the full finance proposal for the proposed hotel, invited the public to examine and comment on the use of visitor tax-funded revenue bonds, and held numerous hearings to welcome public testimony. In making decisions, the city of Portland, Multnomah County and Metro heard strong and broad support from business, hospitality, labor and members of the public.

It is unfortunate that a small, well-funded opposition group and their attorneys want to continue arguing about the project and are litigating to cause delay and obstruction.

However, like Steve Duin’s questions, the project’s opponents’ questions have been asked and answered many times. If their best remaining argument is rainy weather, I’d welcome them to join me at the food carts on 6th and Holladay. Bring your umbrella, though, because there is often a long line of convention-goers who have wandered over in the rain.

Tom Hughes is the president of the Metro Council and the former mayor of Hillsboro.