The city of Sugar Land is seeking a private-sector partner for a future hotel and convention center to be located near Smart Financial Centre at the Hwy. 59 and University Boulevard intersection. The hotel would serve as a key component of a developing arts and entertainment district and is intended to complement the 6,400-seat Smart Financial Centre that has brought in more than 350,000 attendees in its first two years of operation, according to a release from the city. The project is the next step in fulfilling the vision for five specific destination venues outlined by a citizen-led task force in 2007. Constellation Field and Smart Financial Centre serve as two of these venues. Similar to these completed projects, the development and operation of the hotel and convention center will not be funded by general property tax dollars, according to the release. “Several years ago, citizens developed a vision for the future that included this project, and we are now at the brink of adding an asset that will improve the quality of life and financial well-being of our city,” Director of Economic Development Elizabeth Huff said in the release. “Just like the other projects we are continuing to pursue and support—such as a world-class light-industrial business park on the former Central Unit prison property and the transformation of the Imperial Sugar refinery site into a thriving regional activity center—we fully expect this venue will spur additional commercial and retail growth that further establishes Sugar Land as one of the strongest economies in the region.” Ideally, the city would like to bring in a private development parter who will build and operate a 350-room nationally branded hotel and convention center of up to 50,000 square feet, according to the release. For more information on this project or to download the request for statements of interest, visit www.sugarlandtx.gov/hotelcc. The deadline for submittals is March 15 at noon.