Palm Beach County commission expected to approve contract for new hotel

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Palm Beach County commissioners are expected to approve a contract Tuesday between the county and Related Companies.

Related is the company that built CityPlace, and will also be behind the construction of a 400-room hotel next to the Palm Beach County Convention Center.

According to our news partners at the Palm Beach Post, Related has already given the county its required $5 million security deposit.

Once the contract is approved by commissioners, the company can move forward with construction of the 400-room Hilton hotel.

It has until May of 2014 to do so, or else it will forfeit the deposit.

County officials will meet with construction crews later this week.

The project has a lot of support from local tourism leaders. They say having a hotel next to the convention center will help Palm Beach County compete better against other markets that have more lodging.

County commissioners will meet at 9:30 Tuesday morning.