Dallas-Fort Worth hotel boom

LEADERS from Dallas and Fort Worth are in the country this week promoting the region, which is undergoing a hotel boom.

Dallas has 6,000 hotel rooms in 35 new hotels under construction, while Fort Worth is adding 3,000 to its inventory.

Robert Jameson, president and ceo of Fort Worth Convention & Visitors Bureau said the city had over US$300m worth of investments underway to improve the district.

“The work includes a refurbishment of the Fort Worth stockyards, which is popular for Australians after a true western experience, new shopping facilities and improved cultural spaces,” he said.

President and ceo of Visit Dallas Phillip Jones said, “a lot of people are surprised about the transformation of Dallas as a destination; a lot of people think of the city as something out of the 1980’s TV show Dallas”.

He said nowadays both cities were very cosmopolitan with lots of cultural opportunities.

The final touches of a $3b revamp of the Dallas Fort Worth International Airport are being put in place, which has seen a strong influx of Aussies arriving.

Jameson said about 70,000 Australians visit the region.

“Since the Qantas flight started the numbers have exploded.”

Jones said Australia is on the verge of being a top five market.

“It’s a tussle between Germany and Australia to break into the top five,” he said.

Pictured from left at the Tatler in Kings Cross: Mark Thompson, vp of tourism Visit Dallas; Phillip Jones, president & ceo Visit Dallas; Robert Jameson, president & ceo, Fort Worth Convention Bureau; and Mitch Whitten, vp of marketing, Fort Worth Convention Bureau.