Headquarters hotel developer Portman unveils new images of $470 million project, announces team

The developer plans to build a new $470 million convention hotel with 800 rooms, a rooftop swimming pool, an interior traffic circle that will divert traffic from the street, and ballrooms with plenty of natural light.

Skanska USA is the general contractor. Bayer Becker will be the civil engineering partner, and Piper Sandler the capital markets partner.

Ambrish Bishiwala is the chairman and CEO at Portman Holdings in Atlanta. He said that the images released on 2 May are not final designs.

Baisiwala, Hamilton County Commissioners, said that the convention business has been strengthening and now is the time to have a discussion.

He said, "The convention group traveler is back."

There will be balconies outside the ballrooms.

Baisiwala stated that he wanted the ballrooms to be lit by natural light. They want to be able to have the pre-function events spill out into the outside.

The interior traffic circles will allow the sidewalk to be widened in front of Fifth Street and create a pedestrian-friendly space between the Duke Energy Convention Center and the hotel.

Baisiwala stated that a similar project was done in an Atlanta hotel. It's a simple way to increase pedestrian traffic. The hotel visitors are completely covered. They are not exposed to the weather.

Marriott, Hilton, or Hyatt are likely to be the flags of the convention center hotel. Portman will bid on the flag once the planning has been finalized and the hotel has received the OK from the city and county.

Baisiwala stated that 'we never select a flag in advance'.