Council must vote on the recommendation and that is tentatively set to occur in September. The city's EDC came out in support of Portman at its meeting Tuesday, Ft. Worth officials have confirmed.

Portman was vying against Atlanta competitor Stormont Hospitality, Dallas-based Garfield Corp. and Austin-based Landmark Organization for the lucrative contract.

Portman has developed some of the most high-profile hotels and office complexes in the world. Its credits include San Francisco's premier Embarcadero Center, Atlanta's Peachtree Center, New York City's Marriott Marquis and Shanghai Centre, the first and largest complex to come out of the ground after China opened its doors to the West. Portman also is the developer and owner of the $143-million, 700-room Westin Charlotte Hotel, which neighbors the Charlotte, NC Convention Center. That project delivers in late 2002. In all, Portman has developed 16,000 hotel rooms, 3.5 million sf of retail space, 9.5 million sf of marts and exhibition space and 12 million sf of office space.