Unfinished Convention Center Already Exceeding Records

Raleigh's new convention center is still under construction, but it’s already exceeding expectations.

One national analyst says the building has already doubled its projected bookings and it might be on track to exceed even more expectations.

“Based on my analysis of your data on year-to-date event and room night bookings, it appears that the Raleigh Convention Center is on path toward exceeding our event and room night projections,” said Tom Hazinski, managing director of HVS International and author of the center’s 2003 business plan. “This is one of the best set of advanced bookings I have seen prior to a convention center opening.”

Among the events lined up are three international conferences, 11 national conventions and 18 state and regional events. Ten of the state and regional conventions on board have signed on for multiple events. There are also 142,049 booked hotel nights.

Set to open in 2008, the new, the $215 million Raleigh Convention Center will include more than 500,000 square feet of space, 19 individual meeting rooms, an exhibit hall with 150,000 square feet of space and a 32,000-square-foot ballroom.

An attached four-star Marriott hotel will offer 15,000 square feet of meeting space.