THE BALLOON MAN

Manatee County tries to lure hotel
By VINCENT F. SAFUTO
Correspondent
from: Sarasota Herald Tribune
Thursday, August 2, 2012

MANATEE COUNTY - For years now local officials have been trying to bring a hotel to augment the convention center, and with the addition of several new businesses in the area — including the circus group Feld Entertainment — that need has become even more acute.

To address the shortage of available rooms in the area, the county is stepping up its efforts to woo a hotel to the area.

Feld Entertainment, which has said it intends to employ nearly 400 people at its new headquarters in Ellenton, desperately needs more hotels and RV parks for performers who come to practice for shows.

Currently, Feld is using space in Lakewood Ranch, but something closer in Palmetto would be better, company officials have said.

"Within the next year, they're going to be desperate for rooms, so we need to get our thinking caps on," Manatee County Commissioner Carol Whitmore said. "We like these businesses and we want them to be successful, but we don't have the infrastructure for them. We do, but it's not convenient for them."

Commissioner Donna Hayes said the problem is that there is nothing with high capacity in the area, and pointed to the area of Seventh Street in Palmetto near the Convention Center as a location. "That needs to come through," she said.
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http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20120802/VISIT07/120809906/-1/sports?Title=Manatee-County-tries-to-lure-hotel-