ARRIVE MORE HOTELS WILL BE WAITING. ERIKA: IT WAS APRIL, 2021 A FIELD HOSPITAL, BOSTON HOPE OPENED UP IN THE BOSTON CONVENTION AND EXHIBITION CENTER. COVID WAS AT ITS PEAK AND IT WAS HARD TO FATHOM A RETURN TO NORMAL OPERATIONS. HERE WE ARE. >> IT WILL HAVE ITS BEST YEAR IN 23. AND 24 WILL BE BETTER. ERIKA: DAVID GIBBONS IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE AUTHORITY. >> OUR MISSION IS TO BE AN ECONOMIC ENGINE. WE DO ABOUT 800 MILLION, TO A BILLION DOLLARS OF ECONOMIC IMPACT. ERIKA: ALL THAT CASH BROUGHT INTO OUR STATE WITH THOUSANDS, SOMETIMES TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ATTENDING A GIVEN CONVENTION. THEY NEED TO SLEEP SOME MORE. >> WHEN THEY WERE LOOKING TO BUILD A HOTEL HERE, WE SAID, CAN YOU MAKE IT A BIG ONE? ERIKA: THE OMNI BOSTON HOTEL WITH A THOUSAND PLUS ROOMS OPENED IN 2021, UNDER UNIQUE MODEL. MASSPORT REQUIRED LANDLORD’S BIDDING TO REQUIRE ACQUITTING TO FINANCING, TO OPERATIONS. THE HOTEL MANAGER. >> THE MODEL WAS CREATED WITH A GROUP OF 39 DIVERSE INVESTORS. 17% OF WHAT WE HAVE TO BE WITH DIVERSE ORGANIZATIONS. OUR STAFF IS AT 74% DIVERSE. OUR LEADERSHIP TEAMIS 50% WOMEN AND PEOPLE OF COLOR. WE’RE PROUD OF WHAT WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED HERE. ERIKA: THEY BOTH SAY THAT THE HOTEL RIGHT ACROSS FROM THE ECBC IS A HUGE WIN FOR BOSTON. BEFORE CONVENTION GOERS DO NOT STAY NEARBY. >> WE WOULD PUT THEM IN CAMBRIDGE, IN THE BACK BAY, AT THE AIRPORT. IT WAS DECIDED DISADVANTAGE FOR CHICAGO AND PHILADELPHIA, WHERE THEY CAN HOUSE EVERYBODY IN THE CORE. WE NEEDED MORE HOTEL ROOMS. ERIKA: IN THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS ABOUT 2000 ADDITIONAL ROOMS HAVE BEEN BUILT IN THE SEAPORT. >> WE’VE HAD THE OMNI OPEN, THE HAMPTON, AND THE HYATT PLACE. IT’S A 60% INCREASE FOR THE SUBMARKET. IT MEANS THE CONVENTION CENTER’S CALENDAR THIS YEAR AND NEXT, IS SET UP WELL TO ABSORB THOSE ROOMS. ERIKA: SEBASTIAN, AN EXPERT IN HOTEL ASSET MANAGEMENT SAYS OTHER GROWTH IN BOSTON BODES WELL, NOT JUST FOR THE HOTEL INDUSTRY, BUT FOR THE CITY OVERALL. >> THE OFFICE AND CONSTRUCTION ACROSS THE CITY, THE CONCERT VENUE AT FENWAY PARK OR THE EXPANSION AT TERMINAL E OR THE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT WE ARE GETTING THE WORLD CUP IN FOUR YEARS, ALL THOSE THINGS DRIVE LODGING DEMAND, BUT THEY ARE ALSO CONNECTED TO THE BROADER ECONOMY. >> WE CREATED THE HOTEL AROUND THE FOR MURRAY -- PERFORMING ARTS, THE VISUAL ARTS AND SCIENCE. ERIKA: THE OMNIBUS HOTEL HAS SEVEN RESTAURANTS, A FULL SMALL -- SPOT, A POOL, PLENTY TO ATTRACT GUESTS. HE IS FEELING GOOD ABOUT THE FUTURE. >> HAVE CREATED A LITTLE CITY OF OUR OWN FOR PEOPLE TO COME AND ENJOY THEIR -- THEMSELVES. THERE’S SO MUCH TO DO. ANTHONY: EXPERTS BELIEVE ALL THE NEW HOTEL ROOMS WILL BE ABSORBED QUICKLY. SHAYNA: SEBASTIAN PROTECTS THIS WILL HAPPEN -- PROJECTS THIS WILL HAPPEN LATER THIS YEAR. MORE ROOMS WILL BE NEEDED IF EXPANSION OF THE EXHIBITION CENTER HAPPENS.