Everywhere you look these days, cities are caught up in a building frenzy to make their destinations more appealing to tourists and business travelers, especially business travelers. Tulsa is a perfect example. Quite recently, Visit Tulsa, the DMO for Oklahoma’s second-largest city, announced its latest plans for its downtown, 275,000-square-foot Arvest Convention Center. It will soon welcome a sister property to its complex by way of a new, 650-room hotel to be directly connected. How convenient is that for meeting-goers and conventioneers? The new $390 million project is scheduled to break ground in 2026, with completion and opening slated for 2029.
Speaking for the new development, Senior VP of Tourism Renee McKenney of the Tulsa Regional Chamber and President of Tulsa Regional Tourism said: “Tulsa has had great success attracting premier event business thanks to our incredible venues, attractions and hotel options, and the addition of this new hotel will be a true game-changer for the city. Adding this hotel to our skyline makes our city even more attractive and competitive to large-scale businesses, meetings, and conventions. It will further solidify Tulsa as a true international destination for business and leisure travelers.”
At this stage, three firms are vying for the contract. The plan is to design a new anchor hotel to make hosting events – larger events – in Tulsa more attractive and convenient to all visitors, especially those from the corporate sector. The developer should be chosen in June, with groundbreaking set for 2026.
When the hotel opens in 2029, it is expected to significantly boost Tulsa’s economy, drawing more overnight guests to the city and local restaurants, shops, and attractions outside of normal meeting hours. That extra spending is earmarked to add to the more than $327 million that events have already spent annually in the local community.
Tulsa Mayor Monroe Nichols is confident that this new development will continue the city’s upward momentum and is the latest example of the forward-thinking spirit for which our city is known. He says, “I’m excited to watch as this project continues to progress and see the impact it will make on our local economy, and I eagerly anticipate breaking ground on this transformative project.”
As an aside, the Arvest Business Convention Center results from a recent name change thanks to a new ten-year licensing agreement with Arvest Bank. It’s a win-win situation, and the bank’s Kirk Hays, regional executive, Northwest region, has gone on record by saying: “Arvest Bank could not be prouder to have our name on Tulsa’s world-class convention center, and connecting a new, state-of-the-art anchor hotel will only further elevate Tulsa’s downtown. At Arvest, we want to be a community growth engine for Tulsa and the surrounding region, and this hotel will make sure Arvest Convention Center and Tulsa remain a premier meeting destination for years to come.”
Following that comment, Arvest Convention Center Vice President Keller Taylor said: “The advancement of the convention center hotel project is a pivotal moment for Tulsa’s meetings and events landscape. With this critical piece in place, we will significantly enhance our ability to attract major conventions, trade shows, and corporate events. The new hotel will elevate and expand the capabilities of the Arvest Convention Center, enabling us to host a broader range of events throughout the week and deliver an even more dynamic, first-class experience for attendees. This development solidifies Tulsa’s position as a dynamic, competitive destination for large-scale events.”
If you’ve already been to Tulsa, you know it’s a unique host city for any meeting group. It’s famously defined by a unique blend of southern culture, Art Deco architecture, and especially that “Route 66” Americana history everyone loves. But with this new hotel, Visit Tulsa hopes to invite meeting and event attendees to discover that same excitement. It marks a significant step forward in Tulsa’s ongoing mission to become a premier destination for meetings and conventions in the central U.S. and beyond.
For more information, visit www.visittulsa.com. Look for follow-up news on this development in the coming issues of F&D, too!
