Someone is building a hotel and convention center in our region and it’s not near downtown Tucson. The Pasqua Yaqui tribe is building a hotel and convention center west of downtown Tucson. Private money building private projects is a novel concept. Unless and until Tucson government starts getting out of the way we’ll never see a downtown revitalization.  

The best quote from the article:

Larry Hecker, a local attorney and member of Downtown Tucson Partnership’s board, said the Sol Casinos project announced Friday can only increase the viability of Tucson as a convention destination.

“I think the more people who identify Tucson as a destination for these kind of things - a destination for conventions and for large group meetings - the better everyone does,” Hecker said. “It just enhances Tucson’s image in the marketplace as a desirable place for conventions and group meetings.”

At the same time, the revitalization of the Tucson Convention Center is progressing “fairly aggressively,” Hecker said.

Kimberly Schmitz, director of communications and public relations for the Metropolitan Tucson Convention and Visitors Bureau, also welcomed Sol Casinos’ plans.

“The Pascua Yaqui have created some really great products for our destination,” Schmitz said. “An additional 215 rooms to Southern Arizona’s offering are always welcome, and we will definitely look forward to promoting this and the convention center as part of our product.”