Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau hotel proposal chosen for recommendation

MANATEE -- If all goes as planned, the Bradenton Area Convention Center in Palmetto will get a 250-room Sheraton Hotel next door.

The Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau hotel committee decided Friday to recommend one of two hotel proposals under consideration for property adjacent to the convention center at 1 Haben Blvd.

The committee includes Manatee County officials Christine Pearson, John Barnott, Melissa Wendel and Elliott Falcione, executive director of the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. The group, in consultation with Tony Peterman of Strategic Advisory Group, decided to recommend the $59 million hotel proposal from S. Goodman and Associates, based in Pleasanton, Calif.

The project also plans for a "60,000-square-foot cluster of businesses centered on restaurants and bars, enclosed with a 40,000-square-foot outdoor event space" and just over 2,000 parking spaces to accommodate the convention

center, planned hotel and entertainment district.

"The completion of the hotel and development project will allow the BACC to more effectively attract larger groups that will result in greater economic impact benefiting the larger Bradenton area," according to the proposal's statement of interest.

Co-developers on the project are Acquest Realty Advisors Inc. and Teitelbaum Developers, Inc., the latter headed by Manatee County Tourist Development Council member David Teitelbaum.

Nick Azzara, spokesman for the county, said the committee determined the Sheraton proposal to be the "clear standout."

"The company had more in-depth experience, their capital plan was more complete and their vision for the project was the greater of the two," Azzara said in an email.

The recommendation will be officially presented to County Administrator Ed Hunzeker next week and barring any concerns, he will give approval to enter negotiations "shortly thereafter," Azzara said.

After negotiations are finished and a contract is finalized, the deal will go before the Manatee County Board of County Commissioners for approval.

Janelle O'Dea, business reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7095 or follow her on Twitter@jayohday.

This story was originally published January 8, 2016 at 11:49 PM with the headline "Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau hotel proposal chosen for recommendation ."