The Palm Beach County Commission has approved Related Ross's construction plans for a second convention centre hotel in West Palm Beach, Florida. The project, which will be financed through a sale-leaseback arrangement, is estimated to cost US$300 million. The planned Hilton Curio Hotel will feature 400 rooms, 20,800 square feet of meeting space, and 7,400 square feet of retail space. It will be located at 900 South Rosemary Avenue, directly adjacent to the Palm Beach County Convention Center and the existing 400-room Hilton West Palm Beach.
As part of the agreement, Related Ross will sell the 1.8-acre plot of land to Palm Beach County for US$26 million, then lease it back to construct the 18-storey hotel on the site of the existing car park. The company, led by billionaire Stephen Ross, will be exempt from property tax payments and will not seek any additional financial incentives.
Long-term Revenue for the County
Palm Beach County is expected to generate approximately US$1 billion from the 97-year lease agreement through rental income and a share of hotel revenues. The annual ground rent for the property will start at US$1.1 million and increase by 3 percent annually. Additionally, the County will receive 6 percent of gross revenues exceeding US$77 million, with this threshold also adjusted annually by 3 percent. The lease agreement has an initial term of 33 years, with extension options that could extend the total term to 97 years.
In 2023, Palm Beach County had issued tenders for the construction of a second convention hotel. It was believed that business was being lost because the then-existing hotel was too small. Related Companies, the development firm led by Ross before the founding of Related Ross in 2024, built the first convention centre hotel in 2016. This 310,506-square-foot property is located on a 3.4-acre plot at 600 Okeechobee Boulevard, which is also owned by Palm Beach County.
Related Ross as a Key Player in West Palm Beach
Related Ross has established itself as the most significant developer in West Palm Beach. The developer's overarching goal is to transform the regional city into a leading technology and financial hub. Currently, two Class A office buildings, among other projects, are under construction, for which a US$772 million construction loan was secured in 2025. These continuous investments underscore the ambition to sustainably shape West Palm Beach and strengthen its economic importance.
