Loews Hotels & Co tells Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 that it plans to build a new convention center hotel at Penn Avenue and 10th Street, where two parking lots currently exist.A letter of intent has been signed by Loews, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato, Pittsburgh Mayor Corey O’Connor and other partners involved in the deal.A spokesperson for the luxury hotel brand confirmed the project with Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 in a statement, saying, “Loews Hotels & Co looks forward to continuing to work closely with the City of Pittsburgh on plans for a new ground-up convention center hotel development project.”Government leaders involved in the project say plans for a convention center hotel were always in the plan since the day the David L. Lawrence Convention Center opened.Looking for more news in your area | Subscribe to the WTAE YouTube ChannelShapiro says the addition of a Loews Hotel is part of his 10-year revitalization strategy for Downtown Pittsburgh.Lt. Gov. Austin Davis says it will become a major catalyst to bring major conventions to Pittsburgh for the first time.”And Loews stepped up and was able to make it work for its business model; they decided to make this investment, and we’re proud to be partners with them in this endeavor,” Davis said. Shapiro’s office says the new hotel will be a $418 million investment shared by Loews Hotels & Co, the state and the county.Pennsylvania will invest $30 million, and Loews Hotels & Co has signed off on a $135 million investment, while Innamorato says more financing will come from county tax dollars generated over the years, with the idea of investing in a convention center hotel project.”For example, our hotel tax, part of that was designed to actually encourage the development of a hotel attached to our convention center,” Innamorato said. People close to the project are not ready to announce when groundbreaking will happen, but some believe it could happen as early as 2027.Shapiro’s office also says the project will generate 1,200 union construction jobs and 400 permanent jobs.O’Connor said landing a hotel brand like Loews is paramount for the growth trend that has started for the Downtown sector.”It helps with tourism, it creates a whole new economy, and it builds off the economy we saw a couple of weeks ago when we had the NFL draft and when we can start competing for more and more conventions,” O’Connor said. Download the WTAE app to stay connected with breaking news. Sign up for our email newsletters to get breaking news in your inbox.

PITTSBURGH —

Loews Hotels & Co tells Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 that it plans to build a new convention center hotel at Penn Avenue and 10th Street, where two parking lots currently exist.

A letter of intent has been signed by Loews, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato, Pittsburgh Mayor Corey O’Connor and other partners involved in the deal.

A spokesperson for the luxury hotel brand confirmed the project with Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 in a statement, saying, “Loews Hotels & Co looks forward to continuing to work closely with the City of Pittsburgh on plans for a new ground-up convention center hotel development project.”

Government leaders involved in the project say plans for a convention center hotel were always in the plan since the day the David L. Lawrence Convention Center opened.

Looking for more news in your area | Subscribe to the WTAE YouTube Channel

Shapiro says the addition of a Loews Hotel is part of his 10-year revitalization strategy for Downtown Pittsburgh.

Lt. Gov. Austin Davis says it will become a major catalyst to bring major conventions to Pittsburgh for the first time.

“And Loews stepped up and was able to make it work for its business model; they decided to make this investment, and we’re proud to be partners with them in this endeavor,” Davis said.

Shapiro’s office says the new hotel will be a $418 million investment shared by Loews Hotels & Co, the state and the county.

Pennsylvania will invest $30 million, and Loews Hotels & Co has signed off on a $135 million investment, while Innamorato says more financing will come from county tax dollars generated over the years, with the idea of investing in a convention center hotel project.

“For example, our hotel tax, part of that was designed to actually encourage the development of a hotel attached to our convention center,” Innamorato said.

People close to the project are not ready to announce when groundbreaking will happen, but some believe it could happen as early as 2027.

Shapiro’s office also says the project will generate 1,200 union construction jobs and 400 permanent jobs.

O’Connor said landing a hotel brand like Loews is paramount for the growth trend that has started for the Downtown sector.

“It helps with tourism, it creates a whole new economy, and it builds off the economy we saw a couple of weeks ago when we had the NFL draft and when we can start competing for more and more conventions,” O’Connor said.

Download the WTAE app to stay connected with breaking news. Sign up for our email newsletters to get breaking news in your inbox.