On July 11, 2023, a ribbon cutting ceremony marked the grand opening of the DoubleTree by Hilton Abilene Downtown Convention Center hotel. For more information about the hotel and its features, visit the DoubleTree by Hilton website.
Hotel & Convention Space Funding
Hotel Funding | Convention Space Funding |
---|
$41,970,000 | Abilene Convention Center Hotel Development Corporation | $5,000,000 | Intergovernmental |
$11,050,000 | Abilene Improvement Corporation | $5,120,000 | Predevelopment expenditures |
|
| $8,000,000 | Cash on Hand |
|
| $5,030,000 | Abilene Improvement Corporation |
|
| $4,980,000 | Convention & Hotel Revenue |
$53,020,000 | Hotel Total | $28,135,000 | Convention Space Total |
$82,986,174 Total Cost (including cost of issuance of debt) |
Why Tourism & Conventions are Important
- In FY 2018-2019, 380 meetings were hosted in Abilene ($27.5 Million in revenue)
- 425 Groups are booked at existing hotels through 2022 ($32.8 Million in expected revenue)
- In 2018
- $498 Million was generated by traveler spending in Abilene
- $27.5 Million was generated from traveler lodging in Abilene
- 4047 local jobs were created
- $44.2 Million in taxes were generated
- Tourism offered $690 per year of average taxpayer savings
Sources: Abilene Convention & Visitors Bureau, Texas Office of the Governor, Economic Development, Travel & Tourism