Nov. 4--Familiarity breeds comfort when it comes to advising City Hall and, once again, Convention Center Hotel Advisors has been hired as consultant for a proposed 1,000-room downtown hotel.

The Minneapolis-based firm, or related entities, has prepared at least two feasibility studies in recent years on whether to build a major convention hotel, and also has advised the city on past expansions to Bartle Hall as well as the planning that led to construction of the Sprint Center.

On Tuesday, the Kansas City Convention Center Hotel Development Committee approved a proposal that calls for Convention Center Hotel Advisors to return within six months with a viable financing plan, developer, hotel operator and site for the estimated $300 million project. The firm's principals are John Kaatz and Mark Tobin.

"It was the feeling these individuals represent the best chance to bring forward the best possible deal," said Bill George, co-chairman of the hotel steering committee. "They've had a lot of experience and we feel comfortable using them because of their familiarity with Kansas City."

The committee also hired KC Consulting, a firm led by Kim Carlos, to handle its communications.

A third consultant is expected to be hired by the end of the year to provide an independent financial analysis of the recommendation made by Convention Center Hotel Advisors.

Any hotel project will be expected to require significant public assistance.

"We want to know if it's a deal we can do," said Councilwoman Cindy Circo, the other hotel steering committee leader.

Funding for all three contracts will come from a $500,000 budget authorized in June by the Kansas City Council.

The hotel proposal is strongly backed by the Kansas City Convention & Visitors Association. The association funded a study that indicated the city has had problems attracting major conventions because it lacked adequate hotel rooms near Bartle Hall.

In a related development, a site selection subcommittee is expected to reduce the number of potential hotel sites to three or four by Nov. 23. Eight are being reviewed, and there is a "philosophical debate" on whether a hotel should be built on the north or south side of Interstate 670, George said.

To reach Kevin Collison, call 816-234-4289 or send e-mail to kcollison@kcstar.com.

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