Area hotels hope convention center boosts business

It’s not business as usual at area hotels. Companies are cutting their budgets left and right, and one of the first things to go is non-essential travel.

“We know its tough times, we want you to remember us when it gets good again,” said Stephen Williams of the Hilton Riverfront.

Hotel representatives said groups that usually hold convention or conference meetings in hotel meeting rooms are thinking twice before booking too far in advance.

“We all know that certain companies are making cut backs, so it’s nice if we can maybe bring the group in, lower their minimum, or at least tie in a lower rate for the rooms,” said Nicole Jones of Shell Island Resort.

With the new convention center under construction right down the street, area hotels say the new facility will actually boost their business.

The city of Wilmington has rolled out the new logo for the convention center.

The opening date of the new convention center is still up in the air, but construction is expected to wrap in May of 2010.