Westin Resort looks to expand in Cape Coral

CAPE CORAL, Fla.- A big company wants to build a large conference center in Cape Coral and wants residents to help pay for it.

The Westin Resort at Marina Village envisions turning a parking lot into a 34,000-square-foot conference center with the ability to host meetings and mid-size group conventions.

“We turn away, probably, 12,000 group room nights a year, that would love to come to the area and that’s only the ones we know about. Others don’t even get submitted to us because we don’t have the space currently,”said manager Eric Ashton.

Westin would spend $10 million to build the facility. The corporation wants Cape Coral to waive impact fees on the new construction which would save the company around $172,000.

“They say within the first three years of this being operational, will bring up to $33 million to the local area. So, a small ask and return for a large return in the future of Cape Coral,” said Ashton.

Westin also wants the city to spend $500,000 to re-pave a stretch of Pelican Boulevard. City leaders say they will ask Lee County government to help with that expense.

However, the county is currently investing money into Harborside Event Center in Fort Myers. In the future, the Westin would be competing with Harborside to book events and groups.

The Westin believes there’s more than enough business that wants to come to Lee County, to justify a third even center to go along with Harborside and the Hyatt at Coconut Point.

Cape Coral is recommending approval of the incentives for Westin. City council is supposed to vote on the issue Monday night.