Tourism boom reshapes coastal city.

Before 2001, $2 billion will be invested in tourism and recreation-related infrastructure and facilities in Greater Fort Lauderdale, including a staggering $502.5 million in new attractions and a $750 million expansion and renovation of the Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport.

"No other destination in the country can claim a greater commitment to tourism and growth than this community," says Nicki E. Grossman, president of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau. "Twelve years ago, we were attracting 350,000 college kids for a few weeks of sophomoric fun on the beach. In 1997, our convention center alone drew almost 500,000 attendees, and a total of 6.3 million vacationers chose Greater Fort Lauderdale over other warm weather destinations. And, record-breaking 1997 figures to date show that tourism remains strong and growing."

For planners, this commitment means more accommodations and attractions to choose from than ever before. At the top of the list is the expansion of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention Center, which will add 150,000 square feet, including a new 50,000-square-foot exhibit area.

Hotel boom underway

Hotel construction and renovation is booming in the Greater Fort Lauderdale area, with more than $67.5 million to be invested by 2000. One of the most anticipated projects is the reopening of the Diplomat Hotel in 2000. In addition to an 18-hole golf course, the 1,000-room, 52-suite, 45-story property will feature a 50,000-square-foot ballroom, a 30,000-square-foot ballroom, a 20,000-square-foot ballroom, and two 12,000-square-foot ballrooms.

The long awaited 500-room Convention Center Hotel is set to begin construction this fall, with completion slated for early 2000. As the first African-American-owned convention center hotel, the property will offer 20,000 square feet of meeting space and will sit along the Intracoastal Waterway adjacent to the Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center and the 17th Street Causeway.

In Sunrise, a 400-room, full-service hotel yet to be named is scheduled to open next to Sawgrass Mills and the new $212 million Sunrise Civic Center, home to the Florida Panthers hockey team. The first phase of this project will open in December 2000.

Plenty to do for sports fans

Complementing the onslaught of new hotel construction and renovation are a multitude of can't-miss attractions. For sports fans, several attractions are of particular interest, including the Las Olas Riverfront, an entertainment and retail complex with everything from sports bars to bumper cars. The Riverfront is home to several new restaurants in the area, including famed Dolphin football quarterback Dan Marino's Tavern.

The Florida Panthers hockey team is getting a new $212 million NHL arena in Sunrise. Scheduled to open in October, the arena is expected to pump $4.4 billion in to the area over the next 25 years.

Outdoor World, Bass Pro Shops' 150,000-square-foot store will open this year. Not your typical outdoor shop, this $45 million facility will include an aquarium, museum, restaurants, a four-story waterfall, full-scale log cabin, trout pool, and indoor shooting range. Outdoor World is located inside Sportsman's Park, a 51-acre anglers' and boaters' paradise. Also in the park is the International Game Fish Association's (IGFA) World Fishing Center, a 60,000-square-foot, fun-filled, hands-on facility with activities and educational programs for all ages.

A lively cultural scene

Greater Fort Lauderdale is also positioning itself as a top spot in cultural tourism. Besides special events like the "Be Our Guest Beauty and The Beast" promotion and Beethoven By the Beach, the area has a plethora of arts and cultural attractions, not to mention several new projects in the works.

The $12 million African-American Research Library and Cultural Center, scheduled for completion in 2000, will have a 300-seat auditorium and will house a collection of books and artifacts tracing the South Florida history of people of African descent. Old Fort Lauderdale is finishing renovation this year on historic downtown properties that provide cultural activities and historical reenactments concerning Fort Lauderdale history.

For culture of a different sort, Sawgrass Mills, the world's largest outlet mall, is planning an expansion to include GameWorks, Regal Theater, American Wilderness Experience, and eateries for an opening later this year. This is in addition to a $15 million addition that included specialty shops and theme restaurants.

"Our hotels already rival those of any domestic or island tourism destination; our cultural, dining, and entertainment scenes are as sophisticated and lively as any in Florida; and we are attracting a remarkable variety of vacationers, ranging from singles, families, and seniors to special interest groups, sports enthusiasts, and conference delegates," says Grossman.