Related also developed the $600-million CityPlace retail andentertainment center in the city's central business district. Keyfactors in its selection to develop the convention center hotelinclude the company's financial strength, its success in executinghigh-profile public/private projects and its prior investment inCityPlace.

"There is no doubt that the hotel is a lynchpin to the successof the county's very significant investment in the conventioncenter and will be a powerful tourism attractor and key amenity,"Stephen Ross, Related chairman and CEO, stated in a release. Headded that the Hilton project will create at least 600 constructionand permanent jobs, and give West Palm Beach a new edge inattracting meetings and conventions when the hotel opens in2014.

Related and Hilton are joined in the hotel project by CoastalConstruction and Catafulmo Construction, and Coral Gables-basedarchitects Nichols Brosch Wurst Wolfe & Associates Inc.Financing discussion and contract negotiations between Related andPalm Beach County officials are expected to take four to sixmonths.