At this point you are in too deep to stop construction and walk away from the convention center itself...so continue to build that albatross around your neck. However, to continue this crazy dream of a world-class hotel or worse, to start thinking about dedicating even more money to entice a world-class hotel to locate here is ludicrous. The absence of any hotel willing to step up to the plate tells you that their projections don't agree with yours....and that brings us to the old WW II saying, "They're all out of step but Jim." What's the big info that the City Council knows, but no hotel chain believes? I can't speak of the Raleigh convention centers, but can tell you that New Bern offers a prime example of what you're facing. Look at the scheduled events and tell me how many of them would keep any hotel located at the convention center in business. (http://www.newbernconventions.com/events.html) Most of the events over the next couple of months are Navy or Marine Corps balls. We will not attract them, as New Bern is far better situated for both CLNC and MCAS CPNC, plus downtown Wilmington's anti-military predjudices are well-known. These balls also occur within a one-month period every year. There are relatively small, private events such as birthday parties and wedding receptions, several shows that we currently hold quite well at the Coastline Center, or very small conventions such as the NC Septic Tank Association and American Guild of English Handbell Ringers. (Betcha THAT'S a wild crowd!) The NC Symphony? We hold that at Kenan Auditorium...and moving it downtown won't require a hotel. Livingston Taylor in concert? We could probably hold in a local restaurant....and he can stay at the Hilton. Also don't fail to recognize how many events are tied to business or organizations that are based in Eastern NC and even New Bern itself. Those folks don't need a hotel - they walk or drive home. New Bern built the center in an area ripe with existing hotels and Bed and Breakfast accomodations. They didn't dream of the Hotel Pierre or the Willard Intercontinental opening up a new hotel AT the convention center. They anticiapted modestly and realistically, and that's what they are seeing. So here it is, the bottom line for the Wilmington Convention Center: IF THE ANTICIPATED REVENUE WAS TRULY GOING TO BE THERE, HOTELS WOULD BE LINING UP AND YOU'D HAVE A BIDDING WAR TO SEE WHO GOT TO BUILD THERE.... ...but that's not happening, is it?