The Dallas Convention Center, ranking 10^th in size in Trade Show Executive’s directory of the World’s Top Convention Centers, received voters’ approval to add a new 1,000-room Omni hotel to the convention center. A challenge had been made to the city’s ownership of hotels but Dallas voters turned that challenge down ending a 30-year wait for an attached convention center hotel. The city can now proceed with the sale of construction bonds for the hotel which is scheduled to open in 2011.

Matthews Southeast will be the developer of this $500 million project which will also include new restaurants and retail space. The Dallas Convention and Visitors Bureau said it has already booked 400,000 room nights based on the approval of the hotel. Groups including the Helicopter Association International, Safari Club International, and the Custom Electronic Design and Installation Association have booked rooms.

Omni Hotels will operate the new hotel alongside of the convention center’s 1,018,942 square feet of prime exhibit space. The hotel, along with new restaurants and retail space, should add a little more revenue to the area.