Developer Related Ross, led by billionaire Stephen Ross, has submitted a new plan to build a $290 million, 400-room Curio by Hilton next to the Palm Beach County Convention Center — a major expansion for West Palm Beach’s convention and hospitality scene.
The hotel would rise on a Related-owned parking lot at 900 S. Rosemary Ave., just across from the existing Hilton Convention Center Hotel that the company built in 2016.
💰 The $1 Deal
Under the proposal, Related would sell the land to the county for $1 and lease it back for 99 years, making the site tax-exempt while allowing the firm to build and operate the hotel privately — the same public-private structure used for the first Hilton.
🏗️ Boost for Tourism and Jobs
The proposed hotel would:
- Generate $123 million in annual visitor spending
- Create 255 permanent and 766 construction jobs
- Provide the county up to $2 million a year in rent and 50% of profits above a 10% return
If approved, construction could start within months and take about 30 months to complete, bringing the total number of convention center hotel rooms to nearly 800.
📈 Investment Confidence
Despite high financing and construction costs, Related Ross remains bullish on West Palm Beach’s growth. The company is also in the process of purchasing The Ben Hotel, a 208-room Marriott Autograph Collection property on Narcissus Ave., for an undisclosed amount — further signaling confidence in the city’s luxury hotel market.
🌴 What’s Next
County officials are reviewing the proposal under Florida’s public-private partnership law. If approved, the new hotel would enhance West Palm Beach’s ability to attract large-scale conventions and solidify its standing as one of Florida’s premier event destinations.
