(10-09-2014 09:23 AM)JMU Wrote:  

(10-09-2014 09:20 AM)NovaDukes Wrote:  

(10-09-2014 08:59 AM)PurpIeHazed Wrote:  Why do we even need this? Jeff Bourne is going to make sure we are always small time small town. I heard he's moving us to D-2. WHY IS NO ONE ELSE YELLING ABOUT THIS?

Do you have a problem with the JMU Administration? I can't tell from your hundreds of posts saying the same thing in every thread on this board.

In case you didn't realize, PupIehazed is trying to impersonate Purplehazed. They are not the same poster.

It's interesting that people can't tell the difference.

First I have heard of this project. I think it is great! I have been in the similar H & Conf. Center at Clemson.

Good for JMU!

(10-10-2014 10:22 AM)South Carolina Duke Wrote:  First I have heard of this project. I think it is great! I have been in the similar H & Conf. Center at Clemson.

Good for JMU!

Agree, Clemson's is very nice and is surrounded by golf course and a lake. Also, I have stayed at University of Georgia's hotel and Alabama's Hotel Capstone. Both of these are nice as well. I think this project will be good for JMU and for Harrisonburg.

(10-08-2014 09:25 PM)DoubleDDuke Wrote:  How often you gonna go? Is your company going to have a conference there? It seems like a dumb idea to me.

This pretty much is how I look at it. It'll be nice for me personally maybe once a year (assuming my wife is planning ahead enough in advance to get a reservation for homecoming a year in advance). But a conference center? In Harrisonburg?

Has anyone seen this guy around King's office lately?

http://www.dnronline.com/article/city_co...town_hotel

this project gets approved by the city. could something like this help boost a hotel management and hospitality program for the university? it's now an on-campus hotel and conference center that will be on the block right next to the new student success center at main and mlk way (old cantrell).

(10-15-2014 08:05 AM)Potomac Wrote:  http://www.dnronline.com/article/city_co...town_hotel

this project gets approved by the city. could something like this help boost a hotel management and hospitality program for the university? it's now an on-campus hotel and conference center that will be on the block right next to the new student success center at main and mlk way (old cantrell).

JMU already has a Hospitality degree program, and was given its administrative autonomy only about two-three years ago (although the program is much older than that). So, the short answer to your question is "yes"...the JMU Hotel and Conference Center will help with that program, just one of many other advantages this project brings to the Burg.

(10-15-2014 09:28 AM)Longhorn Wrote:  

(10-15-2014 08:05 AM)Potomac Wrote:  http://www.dnronline.com/article/city_co...town_hotel

this project gets approved by the city. could something like this help boost a hotel management and hospitality program for the university? it's now an on-campus hotel and conference center that will be on the block right next to the new student success center at main and mlk way (old cantrell).

JMU already has a Hospitality degree program, and was given its administrative autonomy only about two-three years ago (although the program is much older than that). So, the short answer to your question is "yes"...the JMU Hotel and Conference Center will help with that program, just one of many other advantages this project brings to the Burg.

I really like that angle of the project. I hope the hospitality program will be involved in the day to day operations.

(10-15-2014 09:34 AM)JMU2004 Wrote:  

(10-15-2014 09:28 AM)Longhorn Wrote:  

(10-15-2014 08:05 AM)Potomac Wrote:  http://www.dnronline.com/article/city_co...town_hotel

this project gets approved by the city. could something like this help boost a hotel management and hospitality program for the university? it's now an on-campus hotel and conference center that will be on the block right next to the new student success center at main and mlk way (old cantrell).

JMU already has a Hospitality degree program, and was given its administrative autonomy only about two-three years ago (although the program is much older than that). So, the short answer to your question is "yes"...the JMU Hotel and Conference Center will help with that program, just one of many other advantages this project brings to the Burg.

I really like that angle of the project. I hope the hospitality program will be involved in the day to day operations.

Mason and Tech both have similar setups and it's a pretty great program. My sis-in-law started in the program at VT and has gone on to a great career in the industry. She currently works for Kimpton. Really a ton of upside to the whole idea if they can fill the place consistently.

(10-10-2014 11:54 AM)91Alum Wrote:  

(10-08-2014 09:25 PM)DoubleDDuke Wrote:  How often you gonna go? Is your company going to have a conference there? It seems like a dumb idea to me.

This pretty much is how I look at it. It'll be nice for me personally maybe once a year (assuming my wife is planning ahead enough in advance to get a reservation for homecoming a year in advance). But a conference center? In Harrisonburg?

Has anyone seen this guy around King's office lately?

Ye of little faith.

There are many state-wide and regional conferences this facility can (and will host). Not every event needs to be the size of a national convention for the center to be successful. And at 250 rooms the scale of the project doesn't lend itself to major conventions anyway.

Smaller corporate meetings, state-wide annual meetings of professional organizations, as well as hosting university guests, visiting scholars and VARSITY ATHLETIC TEAMS from FBS programs will make great use of this new facility.

It's amazing to me how limited the vision is by some folks who purport to want big-time athletics, but forget about the logistics of how to provide for them once their team arrives in H'Burg. Just as many have already pointed out the Shenandoah Regional Airport runways can handle jets in the 727/737 range, but once here where are you going to put them up overnight? Even a traveling FCS team (say a Montana or NDSU) are going to need a large block of rooms...and as of right now where are you going find that available room space given the interest those sort of opponents will generate? Hampton Inn? Think beyond the end of your noses people!

This project will be great for H'Burg, great for JMU, and in general just reflects that the university is continuing to "grow up."

I'm all for it as long as it is totally promoted to an upscale market and priced beyond what the private lodging industry in the Harrisonburg area has established. It should compete on service not price as it will have many advantages afforded to it the private hotels do not. I'm not sure what can be done to prevent a $99.00 promotion when it has a 50% occupancy rate, but that is my fear.

Reminds me of the "Penn Stater" hotel/conference center in State College. Between football events, alumni base and amount of weddings hosted on the campus throughout the year it makes great sense.

There are some very valid points made against the JMU version.

(10-15-2014 09:40 AM)Longhorn Wrote:  

(10-10-2014 11:54 AM)91Alum Wrote:  

(10-08-2014 09:25 PM)DoubleDDuke Wrote:  How often you gonna go? Is your company going to have a conference there? It seems like a dumb idea to me.

This pretty much is how I look at it. It'll be nice for me personally maybe once a year (assuming my wife is planning ahead enough in advance to get a reservation for homecoming a year in advance). But a conference center? In Harrisonburg?

Has anyone seen this guy around King's office lately?

Ye of little faith.

There are many state-wide and regional conferences this facility can (and will host). Not every event needs to be the size of a national convention for the center to be successful. And at 250 rooms the scale of the project doesn't lend itself to major conventions anyway.

Smaller corporate meetings, state-wide annual meetings of professional organizations, as well as hosting university guests, visiting scholars and VARSITY ATHLETIC TEAMS from FBS programs will make great use of this new facility.

It's amazing to me how limited the vision is by some folks who purport to want big-time athletics, but forget about the logistics of how to provide for them once their team arrives in H'Burg. Just as many have already pointed out the Shenandoah Regional Airport runways can handle jets in the 727/737 range, but once here where are you going to put them up overnight? Even a traveling FCS team (say a Montana or NDSU) are going to need a large block of rooms...and as of right now where are you going find that available room space given the interest those sort of opponents will generate? Hampton Inn? Think beyond the end of your noses people!

This project will be great for H'Burg, great for JMU, and in general just reflects that the university is continuing to "grow up."

I couldn't believe I was reading along (a pretty fine, sensible back and forth, pros and cons, all legit IMO) and it went this far and the obvious, for this place anyway(CSN), hadn't been mentioned.

If this thing is started tomorrow it will still be a couple years or more until it greets it's first guests. Growth in the greater area as well as JMU may create sufficient demand on it's own. Regional Association meetings and stuff, a lot of which currently goes to The Homestead or Greenbrier, hardly near major airports, could very likely add this into a rotation of sorts.

But all that aside, what happens when there are an additional 10, 15 even 25,000 people showing up in H-Burg for 6 weekends a year and an additional 3-5,000 for events at the Convo, M & WBB games, TWO graduations a year and a whole host of other things this may help make possible?

Bottom line- this isn't something being built for the here and now, it's being built for the next half century or more.

(10-15-2014 11:37 AM)BleedingPurple Wrote:  ...as it will have many advantages afforded to it the private hotels do not. ...

Can you clarify? Are you talking about financial advantages (tax breaks, cheap rent?) or just location/affiliation type advantages?

Looks like they tightened up the renderings a bit (same basic design but more details shown in the attachments found on page 1 of the link below). Also there was a schematic released showing the footprint of the building and the new parking garage that the university is building behind it. The whole project is slated to open in 2016.

http://www.downtownharrisonburg.org/asse...ources.pdf

(10-15-2014 12:43 PM)POTUS#4 Wrote:  

(10-15-2014 11:37 AM)BleedingPurple Wrote:  ...as it will have many advantages afforded to it the private hotels do not. ...

Can you clarify? Are you talking about financial advantages (tax breaks, cheap rent?) or just location/affiliation type advantages?

Those type things you mention could very well be afforded to this project which could be unfair to a total private entity with which it competes. As long as it doesn't find itself feeling pressure to under-price what it offers (which should be much more than the local lodging industry currently offers) then by all means move forward.

I simply don't want us to have a dip in the economy as we had in 08 where people and corporations stop spending, traveling etc. and occupancy rates take a nose dive for the area. Then this entity decide to pull customers in from the Holiday Inn Express by lowering its prices to compete with the everyday traveler.

It should be established to cater to a specific clientele. There should be enough market research done to be very positive that its competition the Homestead and the Greenbrier except for the special events like a JMU homecoming where there is always a shortage of rooms.

It already is proving it needs government support just to get built, thus is already in a favorable position relative to a private business.

On a much grander scale, we have two hospital systems down in Charlotte. Presbyterian/Novant and the CMC system. CMC has a lot of government backing and receives millions of dollars to help offset the cost of treating emergency room patients. Presbyterian does not receive this money.

Now, take a look at the upper management of CMC. There are 19 executives who receive over $1M in compensation. One can take a real quick look and tell the tax payer is not supporting the emergency room, but rather some top brass at CMC. Presbyterian is off doing its own thing and doing it very well, but not throwing anywhere near the money in the direction of the top earners as the more publicly funded CMC does.

By the way, if your desire is to make a lot of cash in your lifetime, finding your way to the top of a hospital can become very financially rewarding whether public or private.

The new renderings are sweet. Wouldn't mind having that thing sitting on the corner of campus. And yes, if you wait to build this thing until it's needed, then it's too late. With the growth JMU has shown, it will be needed sooner rather than later. Getting it started now will have it completed by the time the need is there...and the need WILL be there. Being situated on the corner of campus, but only a few blocks from downtown is awesome. Luckily my parents still live in Bridgewater, so I have no need to stay at a hotel in the burg, but if they ever move I would MUCH rather stay within walking distance of downtown than having to cab it back over by the mall.

If the project is so good and needed as many claim, then why isn't it privately financed?

(10-15-2014 01:52 PM)BDKJMU Wrote:  If the project is so good and needed as many claim, then why isn't it privately financed?

Well, I'm sort of asking myself the same question. That lead to my concern that it may simply be taking from Peter to pay Paul after its all is said and done. Whenever any level of government is needed, a lot of red flags go up. If it were to be such a great idea some big money would have already jumped all over it.

There needs to be private money with skin in the game. I don't mind if JMU and/or the city become 25% partners in the venture with private funds making up the remaining 50%. I need not look any further than the USPS to see how things can be good for a long time, people get fat, and then there is the nose dive with the taxpayer taking the hit.

I was not aware until reading the DNR article that GMU had a hotel conference center on campus that is now closed after 4 years. I live nearby and had never even heard of it.

Just curious -- are the same people who are against public subsidies of a JMU facility on principle the same ones who are ok with students subsidizing the athletic program since it couldn't survive on alumni (private) support alone?