SAN JOSE, Calif., June 24, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The San Jose visitor industry and the City of San Jose recently gave the green light to expand and renovate the San Jose Convention Center for the enjoyment of business and leisure travelers.
The $120 million expansion and renovation, which will be funded through a special hotel tax, will add an additional 125,000 square feet of flexible meeting and ballroom space, increasing San Jose's Convention Center space to total 550,000 square feet of usable space for major conventions and public events. The Center will remain fully operational throughout the project, which will be complete in Fall 2013.
Other destination developments include:
Hotels
The Crowne Plaza Hotel, which will be rebranded as the Convention Plaza Hotel on July 1, is gearing up to launch a nearly $7 million renovation, scheduled to start in July and finish in October 2011. The project will include a complete transformation of all guestrooms and public areas. The
Attractions
Raging Waters Park just debuted Bombs Away, the west coast's first standing drop slide. This one-of-a-kind looping waterslide is for thrill seekers and compliments the 23 acres of attractions built for families and kids. Translucent sections of Bombs Away allow guests to watch as their friends and family literally plummet a single rider over 200 feet towards Lake Cunningham.
Shopping
San Pedro Square Market, a new destination for shopping, dining, and nightlife in Downtown San Jose, is scheduled to open Sept. 10, 2011. This revolutionary 50,000 square foot multi-use property features three Market halls filled with over 20 local vendors selling prepared food, consumer goods, and fresh vegetables. The heart and soul of the project is the historic Peralta Adobe, the oldest building in San Jose. The Market will host live, family-friendly entertainment including music, storytelling, and performances from local arts groups over 300 days a year.
Transportation
Mineta San Jose International Airport, which recently underwent a $1.4 billion modernization, recently added 50 flights per week: Alaska added three flights per week to Lihue, four per week to Maui, and five per week to Seattle; Southwest added seven flights per week to Denver, seven to Las Vegas, seven to San Diego, seven to Seattle and seven to Orange County; and Volaris added 3 flights per week to Guadalajara.
For the full release of destination updates check out http://www.sanjose.org/press-release/what-s-new-san-jose-tourism-summer.
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408-792-4101
shildenberger@sanjose.org
Team San Jose, Inc. is an innovative partnership unifying the San Jose Convention and Visitors Bureau, hotels, arts, labor and venues to deliver an exceptional visitor experience and serve as the gateway to San Jose as a destination. Our company manages the San Jose Convention Center and Arts and Entertainment venues including the California Theatre, the Center for the Performing Arts, Montgomery Theater, Parkside Hall, San Jose Civic and South Hall. For more information about San Jose and Team San Jose, please visit the new www.sanjose.org.
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