Feb. 6--TAMPA -- Local hotel industry officials have requested a study of the viability of building a meeting or conference center in Tampa's West Shore district to draw business to an area where hotel room inventory will grow in 18 months from 8,600 rooms to 10,000.

The Hillsborough County Tourist Development Council on Thursday approved spending $25,000 for Tampa Bay & Co., which is the county's visitors bureau, and PricewaterhouseCoopers to conduct a preliminary assessment of the need for a West Shore meetings venue.

The size, location and funding for a meetings facility have not been formally studied.

One issue would be whether such a facility would compete with the Tampa Convention Center. Backers of the study said competition should not be a factor, but there was no immediate response from convention center officials when the point was raised at the TDC's quarterly meeting.

Reporter Ted Jackovics can be reached at (813) 259-7817.

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