BOSTON—By an overwhelming margin of 31-6, the State Senate has approved the $1-billion expansion plan of the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center.
The massive capital improvement project is aimed at helping the city of Boston attract larger events and thereby increase tourist spending in the state.
Senate Democrats noted during Thursday's debate on the legislation that the expansion of the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center is projected to fuel $180 million annuallly in increased spending on hotel rooms, meals and other tourist-related services, according to the Boston Globe.
The project will increase the size of the South Boston facility by approximately 60% and will add 1.3 million square feet of exhibit space, ballrooms, and meeting rooms. Separately, the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority is looking to develop a headquarters hotel near the facility with up to 1,200 rooms.
The House had previously approved the expansion bill and Gov. Deval Patrick is expected to sign the legislation into law. Construction on the expansion is expected to commence in the next 18 months. See story in the Boston Globe.
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