HomeMy WebLinkAboutContract 31500 CITY SECRETARY 1
CONTRACT NO.
03-15-05AG8 : 20 �
ROOM BLOCK& MEETING SPACE AGREEMENT
Between
THE CITY OF FORT WORTH, TEXAS
"CITY"
and
BCWCHI WORTHINGTON, INC
"OWNER"
DATED: /�
ROOM BLOCK& MEETING SPACE AGREEMENT
THIS ROOM BLOCK & ETING,,S,,.,P�A,,�E AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is
made and entered into as of the day of , 200Athe "Effective Date"), by and
among THE CITY OF FORT WORTH, TEXAS, a municipal corporation organized and
existing under the laws of the State of Texas (hereinafter called the "Ciff") and BCM1CHI
Worthington, Inc. (hereinafter called the"Owner").
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the City is in the process of redeveloping the community's convention
assembly venue, currently known as the Fort Worth Convention Center (hereinafter called the
"Convention Center"); and
WHEREAS, to maximize the performance of the Convention Center and to encourage
convention and tourism business in the City, the City desires to facilitate the re-development of
first class, full service Hotel in the vicinity of the Convention Center; and
WHEREAS, Owner desires to renovate its first class hotel of approximately 504 rooms
(the "Hotel")that will be initially operated by Renaissance Hotel Management Company, LLC, a
Delaware limited liability company(hereinafter called the"Initial Operator"); and
WHEREAS, Owner has entered into a hotel management agreement, under which
Owner has agreed the Hotel will be renovated, maintained and operated in accordance with the
physical and service standards of a full service Renaissance or similar Hotel; and
WHEREAS,the City and Owner have entered into an Economic Development Program
Agreement on file in the City Secretary's Office as City Secretary Contract No. (the
"Economic Development Agreement") under which the parties agreed to, among other things,
enter into a Room Block Agreement pursuant to which specific percentages of the Hotel's
standard guest rooms and suites will be reserved for specific periods of time for attendees,
participants and planners of conventions and/or trade shows at the Convention Center, and
WHEREAS, the City and Owner intend for this Agreement to satisfy the above-
referenced obligation of the parties to the Economic Development Agreement; and
WHEREAS, Owner has directed Initial Operator to administer, on behalf of Owner and
as the Owner's agent,this Agreement; and
WHEREAS, Owner shall grant any successor to the Initial Operator the authority and
responsibility to administer, on behalf of Owner and as the Owner's agent, this Agreement; and
WHEREAS,the City and the Owner desire to enter into this Agreement for their mutual
benefit;
NOW, THEREFORE:
AGREEMENT
For and in consideration of the foregoing recitals and of the mutual promises, obligations,
covenants and benefits herein contained,the City and the Owner contract and agree as follows:
ARTICLE 1
TERMS AND DEFINITIONS
In addition to terms defined in the body of this Agreement, the following terms have the
meaning set forth in this Article 1. Words used herein in the singular, where the context so
permits, also include the plural and vice versa. The definitions of words in the singular herein
also apply to such words when used in the plural where the context so permits and vice versa.
1.01 Agreement. As defined in the preamble to this Agreement
1.02 Binding Contract. The contract between Potential Convention Center Customer
and Owner and/or Operator that sets forth the terms and conditions under which the
Owner/Operator will make an Event Room Block available to the attendees of a specific
Citywide Event.
1.03 Block Notice. Block Notice shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section
11.01(a)of Exhibit A.
1.04 Business Days. Each day other than a Saturday, Sunday, or any legal holiday
recognized as such by the City.
1.05 Com. As defined in the preamble to this Agreement (or its successor) acting by
and through its City Manager or any Assistant City Manager. Unless provided otherwise in this
Agreement,the interests of the City are represented by the Director in this Agreement.
1.06 City-Wide Event. A convention, trade show or other event held at the Convention
Center during which a Potential Convention Center Customer, in anticipation of the event,
requests that a minimum of 600 hotel guest rooms for one day or more while the event is being
held.
1.07 Convention Center. As defined in the preamble to this Agreement and better
defined as the convention center facility to be located at 1201 Houston Street in downtown Forth
Worth, Texas.
- 3 -
1.08 CVB. The Fort Worth Convention& Visitors Bureau or its successor.
1.09 Director. The senior executive of the Convention Center or that person's
designee.
1.10 Effective Date. The date set forth in the preamble of this Agreement.
1.11 Exhibit A. Exhibit A is the first exhibit to this Agreement and specifies the
functional procedures for administering the day-to-day requirements under the Agreement.
1.12 Event Nim Any night during a City-Wide Event that the number of rooms
blocked at the Hotel under this Agreement for a City-Wide Event is greater than or equal to 300.
If rooms are blocked under this Agreement for multiple City-Wide Events on the same night,that
night will be considered only as one(1)Event Night for purposes of the Maximum Event Night
Ceiling.
In no event shall any night during a City-Wide Event be considered an Event Night for
purposes of the Maximum Event Night Ceiling if the City has not exercised its rights under
Section II.01(c) of Exhibit A by giving a Block Notice to the Operator.
1.13 Event Room Block. A block of guest rooms at the Hotel, offered to or reserved
for the planners/attendees of City-wide Events.
1.14 Exempt Inventory. The difference between (i) the actual number of guest rooms
at the Hotel and(ii)the Maximum Event Room Block.
1.15 Hotel. As defined in the preamble to this Agreement.
1.16 Hotel Site. The tract or parcel, whether one or more, of real property upon which
the Hotel, or any part of it, is constructed.
1.17 InitialOffer. Initial Offer shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section II.01(b)
of Exhibit A.
1.18 Initial Offer Date. The date upon which the Operator is required to make an
Initial Offer as described in Section II.01(b) of Exhibit A.
1.19 Initial Operator. As defined in the Recitals to this Agreement
1.20 Managed Hotel . Full-service Hotels that are generally comparable to the Hotels
that are managed by the Operator or any entity affiliated with, controlled by, under common
control with, or controlling Operator.
. �� IN
1.21 Management Agreement. The Agreement between Owner and Operator that sets
forth, among other things,their respective responsibilities relating to the day-to-day operations of
the Hotel.
1.22 Maximum Event Room Block. The Maximum Event Room Block is as follows:
(i) for a Citywide Event whose first Event Night is scheduled to occur 48 calendar months or
more from the Initial Offer Date, the Maximum Event Room Block shall be 60% of the
inventory of Suites plus 60% of the Standard Guest Rooms (rounded); (ii) for a Citywide Event
whose first Event Night is scheduled to occur 36 months or more, but less than 48 months from
the Initial Offer Date, the Maximum Event Room Block shall be 50% of the inventory of Suites
plus 50% of the Standard Guest Rooms (rounded); (iii) for a Citywide Event whose first Event
Night is scheduled to occur 24 months or more, but less than 36 months from the Initial Offer
Date, the Maximum Event Room Block shall be 40% of the inventory of Suites plus 40% of the
Standard Guest Rooms(rounded); (iv)for a Citywide Event whose first Event Night is scheduled
to occur less than 24 months from the Initial Offer Date, the Maximum Event Room Block shall
be none of the inventory of Suites and none of the Standard Guest Rooms.
1.23 Maximum Event Night Ceiling_ The maximum number of Event Nights in any
calendar month during which the Owner (or Operator) shall be obligated to provide blocks of
rooms pursuant to this Agreement. Under this Agreement, the Maximum Event Night Ceiling
shall be fourteen (14), unless a single Citywide Event causes the number of Event Nights in a
given month to go from less than fourteen to greater than fourteen (Example: There are 9 Event
Nights on the books for June 2010 and the City exercises it rights under this Agreement to offer a
block to an another Citywide Event that will consume an additional 7 Event Nights. In this
instance,the Maximum Event Night Ceiling for that month would be 16.)
1.24 Meeting Facilities. The approximately 55,000 square feet of rentable function
space in the Hotel,together with all circulation and support space.
1.25 Notice or notice. Each and every communication, request, reply, or advice
required or permitted to be given, made or accepted by any party to this Agreement to any other
party to this Agreement, each of which shall be given in writing, and deemed received by the
intended recipient, in accordance with Section 9.02 below.
1.26 Opening_ The later of the date upon which the Hotel receives a temporary or
permanent certificate of occupancy or opens to the public.
1.27 Operator. Either the Initial Operator (as defined in the preamble to this
Agreement) or any successor entity. The Operator is the entity responsible for overseeing the
day-to-day management of the Hotel and for administering the Owner's responsibilities under
this Agreement.
- 5 -
1.28 Owner. Owner shall initially mean Owner as defined in the Preamble to this
Agreement and any successor entity.
1.29 Party. Either the City or the Owner,the parties to this Agreement.
1.30 Parties. Both the City and the Owner,the parties to this Agreement.
1.31 Potential Convention Center Customer. A person, entity, group or association (or
any combination thereof) who is planning a City-Wide Event.
1.32 Rate Quote. Rate Quote shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section II.01(b)
of Exhibit A.
1.33 Room Block Request Notice. Room Block Request Notice shall have the
meaning ascribed to it in Section II.01(a)of Exhibit A.
1.34 Sales Representative. Sales Representative shall have the meaning ascribed to it
in Section 11.01(a) of Exhibit A.
1.35 Standard Guest Rooms. The Hotel's entire inventory of single-bay sleeping
rooms. As of the Effective Date, Owner expects the Hotel to contain 474 Standard Guest
Rooms.
1.36 Suite. Any guest room comprised of multiple guest room bays. As of the
Effective Date, the Owner expects the Suite inventory to be comprised of 3 Hospitality Suites, 26
Terrace and Balcony Suites, and 2 Suites (Presidential Quality).
1.37 Term. The Term of the Agreement shall be consistent with that set forth in
Article 5 below.
ARTICLE 2
REPRESENTATIONS
2.01 Representations of the City. The City hereby represents to the Owner that as of
the Effective Date:
(A) The City is a duly created and existing municipal corporation and authorized to
carry on the governmental functions and operations as contemplated by this Agreement.
(B) The City has the power, authority and legal right to enter into and perform this
Agreement and the execution, delivery and performance hereof (i)have been duly authorized,
will not, to the best of its knowledge, violate any applicable judgment, order, law or regulation,
and(ii) do not,to the best of its knowledge,constitute a default under,or result in the creation of,
- 6 -
6
any lien, charge, encumbrance or security interest upon any assets of the City under any
agreement or instrument to which the City is a party or by which the City or its assets may be
bound or affected.
(C) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the City
and, constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the City, enforceable in accordance with
its terms except to the extent that (i) the enforceability of such instruments may be limited by
bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, moratorium or other similar laws of general application
in effect from time to time relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights and (ii)
certain equitable remedies including specific performance may be unavailable.
(D) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the City does not
require the consent or approval of any person which has not been obtained.
2.02 Representations of the Owner. The Owner hereby represents to the City that as of
the Effective Date:
(A) The Owner is duly authorized and existing in good standing under the laws of the
State of Texas, and is qualified to do business in Fort Worth.
(B) The Owner has the power, authority and legal right to enter into and perform its
obligations set forth in this Agreement, and the execution, delivery and performance hereof have
been duly authorized, and will not,to the best of its knowledge,violate any judgment, order, law
or regulation applicable to the Owner.
(C) The Owner, having the power, authority and legal right to do so, has notified
Operator (and will notify any successor Operator) that Operator is required to administer and
perform the Owner's obligations set forth in this Agreement, and the execution, delivery and
performance hereof, (i) have been duly authorized, and will not, to the best of its knowledge,
violate any judgment, order, law or regulation applicable to the Operator or any provisions of the
Owner's partnership agreement.
(D) Owner shall ensure that Operator has sufficient capital to perform its obligations
under this Agreement at the time Operator needs to have sufficient capital.
(E) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered and constitutes
a legal,valid and binding obligation of the Owner, enforceable in accordance with its terms.
- 7 -
ARTICLE 3
SPECIAL OBLIGATIONS OF CITY
3.01 Convention Center Standards. In addition to its other obligations under this
Agreement, during the Term, the City shall operate and maintain the Convention Center to the
standard of quality consistent with to a standard of other convention centers that reasonably
compete with the Convention Center taking into account the Convention Center's age, ordinary
wear and tear and damage from events of casualty excepted.
ARTICLE 4
SPECIAL OBLIGATIONS OF OWNER AND OPERATOR
4.01 Records. Owner shall cause Operator to use best efforts to keep reasonable and
accurate records relating to the provision of services provided hereunder. The Operator shall
prepare and submit to the Director, with a copy to the Fort Worth Convention and Visitors
Bureau, on a monthly basis, a summary of all applicable actual and potential bookings at the
hotel under this Agreement in a manner that would enable a reasonable person to readily
determine what future rooms inventory at the Hotel is available to the City under this Agreement.
4.02 Hotel Standards. At all times during the term of this Agreement Owner shall
ensure that the Hotel is operated and maintained in a manner generally consistent with the
physical and service standards required under the Management Agreement. In the event of any
expiration or termination of the Franchise Agreement, Owner shall ensure that the Hotel is
operated and maintained in a manner generally consistent with the physical and service standards
required under any first class hotel franchise agreement or substitute Management Agreement
that replaces the Management Agreement or, if no such agreement replaces the Management
Agreement, Owner shall ensure that the Hotel is operated and maintained to a standard of other
comparable first class hotels taking into account the Hotel's age, ordinary wear and tear and
damage from events of casualty excepted.
4.03 Designated Representative. At all times during the Term, Owner will ensure
that there is a designated representative available and authorized by Owner to perform the
obligations set forth in this Agreement.
4.04. Compliance with Obligations Set Forth in Exhibits. At all times during the Term,
Owner shall comply with and shall cause Operator to comply with all obligations of Owner and
Operator that are set forth in Exhibit"A", which is attached hereto and hereby made a part of this
Agreement for all purposes. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, a failure by
Operator to comply with any of its obligations set forth in Exhibit "A" shall constitute a default
by Owner, in which case Article 6 shall apply.
. L' . ✓a:Ufl� V ✓:a
ARTICLE 5
TERM AND TERMINATION
5.01 Commencement of the Term of this Agreement. The Term of this Agreement
shall commence on the Effective Date.
5.02 Termination of the Term of this Agreement. The Term shall continue until
expiration of that certain Economic Development Program Agreement between the City and
Owner, effective as of May 25, 2004 unless this Agreement is terminated sooner in accordance
with its terms and conditions.
ARTICLE 6
EVENTS OF DEFAULT
6.01 Default. A default under the terms of this Agreement shall occur if any party
hereto shall materially breach any of the terms, conditions or covenants contained in this
Agreement to be performed or observed by it, and such party does not remedy such default
within thirty (30) days after Notice or, if the default is of such character as to require more than
thirty (30) days to remedy, then if such party fails to commence to cure and correct the default
within said thirty (30) day period and thereafter prosecute such corrective action diligently and
without interruption and complete the cure thereof within ninety (90) days unless extended by
mutual consent following the original Notice of such default (an "Event of Default").
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the failure of Owner to comply with the provisions of Section
4.04 hereof within the time frames set forth therein shall constitute an Event of Default by
Owner hereunder without the need of Notice and without any opportunity to cure such Event of
Default. Any Notice of default shall be provided to Owner (and to Operator) and shall also be
given to Owner's mortgagee (provided such mortgagee has provided Notice to the City and the
Director of its name and address where Notices to it hereunder are to be sent).
6.02 Remedies. If an Event of Default is not cured as provided in Section 6.01 hereof,
then the non-defaulting party shall have the right to (i) initiate and thereafter prosecute an action
in equity for the specific performance of any covenants or obligations to be performed by the
defaulting party hereunder or (ii) exercise such other rights as shall be available at law or in
equity (excluding, in the case of actions or claims against the City, the recovery of monetary
damages).
In addition to the foregoing, if an Event of Default is caused by Owner and/or Operator
and is not cured as provided in Section 6.01 hereof, the City, at its sole option, shall have the
right to (i)terminate this Agreement and the Economic Development Agreement immediately by
providing written notice thereof to Owner or (ii) seek and obtain an order of specific
performance against Owner so as to compel Owner to comply herewith. As to the City's right to
obtain specific performance under this Agreement, Owner acknowledges and agrees that
- 9 -
:f S
Owner's covenants, obligations and representations as set forth in this Agreement are a material
and fundamental inducement to the City's redevelopment such that actual damages may not be
an adequate remedy at law for the breach hereof by either the Owner or Operator. Accordingly
City shall be entitled to seek relief mandating action by Owner hereunder in accordance with this
Agreement or declaratory relief with respect to any matter under this Agreement. In addition,
the Owner recognizes and agrees that monetary damages could not be calculated to compensate
the City for any material breach by Owner of the covenants and agreements contained in this
Agreement. Owner further agrees that the City may restrain and enjoin any material breach or
threatened material breach of any covenant, duty or obligation of Owner contained in this
Agreement without the necessity of (i) posting a bond or other security, (ii) any showing of
irreparable harm, balance of harms, consideration of public interest or the inadequacy of
monetary damages as a remedy, or (iii) that the administration of an order for injunctive relief
would be impracticable. In the event of any breach by Owner of any covenant, duty or
obligation contained in this Agreement, Owner stipulates and agrees that the balance of
hardships weigh in favor of injunctive relief and that the City may seek and obtain injunctive or
other form of ancillary relief from a court of competent jurisdiction in order to maintain the
status quo and enforce the terms of this Agreement on an interim basis pending the outcome of
the dispute or controversy hereunder. Further, the Owner hereby irrevocably stipulates and
agrees that the rights of the City to injunctive relief under this Agreement shall not constitute a
"claim" pursuant to Section 101(5) of the United States Bankruptcy Code and shall not be
subject to discharge or restraint of any nature in any bankruptcy proceeding involving Owner.
6.03 Owner's Reservation of Rights. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
contained in this Agreement, this Agreement shall in no way limit Owner's or Operator's rights
and remedies against a Potential Convention Center Customer resulting from such Potential
Convention Center Customer's default under a Binding Contract with Owner or Operator.
ARTICLE 7
NO LIABILITY FOR PROPOSED CONVENTION CENTER CUSTOMER;
OWNER RESPONSIBILITY TO CAUSE OPERATOR TO PERFORM
7.01 No Liability to City. In no event shall the City, CVB, or any other department or
bureau of the City be in any way responsible or liable for the performance by any Potential
Convention Center Customer of each customer's obligations under its Binding Contract with the
Owner or Operator or for any charges, liabilities or other sums owed by, or liabilities of, such
Potential Convention Center Customer (or for those for whom it blocks rooms) to either Owner
or Operator.
7.02 Owner and Operator Responsibility. Owner shall cause Operator to perform all of
the covenants and agreements of the Operator under this Agreement, and to cause the Operator to
observe all of the covenants and agreements of Owner.
Owner may have delegated the performance of its obligations and rights hereunder to the
Operator under the Management Agreement, but no such delegation shall release or relieve
- 10 -
Owner from its obligation to perform, or cause to be performed, all of its covenants and
agreements set forth herein. Furthermore, all consents, decisions and determinations to be
made hereunder by the City shall be made by the Director (or the Director's designee) and no
inference to the contrary shall be made because the word "City" is used in some places in this
Agreement and the words "Director"is used in others.
ARTICLE 8
MISCELLANEOUS
8.01 Severability. If any provision of this Agreement or any application thereof is held
to be invalid or unenforceable by any court of competent jurisdiction for any reason, such
provision shall be fully severable, and the remainder of this Agreement shall remain in full force
and effect. This Agreement shall be construed and enforced as if such invalid or unenforceable
provision had never comprised a part of this Agreement.
8.02 Notice. Any notice or other communication required or permitted to be given
pursuant to this Agreement shall be given to the other party at the following address:
CITY: City of Fort Worth
Attn: Director of Public Events
1111 Houston St.
Fort Worth, TX 76102
with copies to:both the City Manager and the City Attorney,
each at: City of Fort Worth
1000 Throckmorton
Fort Worth,TX 76102
OWNER: Capital Hotel Investments, LLC
548 Cabot Street
Beverly, MA 01915
Phone: 978-522-7000
t
L
with copies to:
Attn: Nina Matis
Katten Muchin Zavis
525 West Monroe Street, Suite 1600
Chicago, Illinois 60661
Phone: 312-902-5560
Barry R. Knight
Winstead Sechrest&Minick P.C.
5400 Renaissance Tower
Dallas, Texas 75270
Phone: 214-745-5400
OPERATOR: Renaissance Hotel Management
Company, LLC
c/o Renaissance Worthington Hotel
200 Main Street
Fort Worth, TX 76102
Any mortgagee, trustee or beneficiary under any mortgage or deed of trust on the Hotel
may, by Notice to the parties set forth hereinabove, designate an address to which notices to it
hereunder shall be sent. Any such party may from time to time by Notice as herein provided,
designate a different address to which Notices to it shall be sent.
Any such notice or communication shall be deemed given on the date so delivered or so
deposited in the mail, unless otherwise provided herein. Either party may change the above
address by sending written notice of such change to the other party in the manner provided
above. With the written consent of the receiving party, notice may be given by facsimile
transmission or electronic mail.
8.03 Amendments. This Agreement may not be amended or modified unless such
amendment or modification is approved by the City's City Council and reflected in a written
document that is signed by the parties hereto.
8.04 Successors and Assigns. All covenants and agreements contained by or on behalf
of the City in this Agreement shall bind its successors and assigns and shall inure to the benefit
of the Owner and its successors and assigns. The Parties specifically agree that the Owner may
not assign its rights, duties and obligations under this Agreement to any other party without the
expressed written consent of the City and conditioned on the proposed assignee or successor
having executed a written agreement with the City under which such assignee or successor has
agreed to assume all covenants and obligations of Owner under this Agreement, as further
provided in Section 8.11 of this Agreement.
8.05 Exhibits: Titles of Articles, Sections and Subsections. The exhibits attached to
this Agreement are incorporated herein and shall be considered a part of this Agreement for the
l y. 771
- 12 -
W t.
purposes stated herein, except that in the event of any conflict between any of the provisions of
such exhibits and the provisions of this Agreement, the provisions of this Agreement shall
prevail. All titles or headings are only for the convenience of the parties and shall not be
construed to have any effect or meaning as to the agreement between the parties hereto. Any
reference herein to a Section or Subsection shall be considered a reference to such Section or
Subsection of this Agreement unless otherwise stated. Any reference herein to an exhibit shall
be considered a reference to the applicable exhibit attached hereto unless otherwise stated.
The headings in this Agreement are for purposes of reference only and shall not limit or
define the meaning hereof. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts,
each of which shall be an original, but all of which shall together constitute one and the same
instrument.
8.06 Construction. This Agreement is a contract made under and shall be construed in
accordance with and governed by the laws of the United States of America and the State of
Texas.
8.07 Nature and Extent of Agreement. This Agreement contains the complete
agreement of the parties as to the matters contained herein. There are no oral or written
conditions, terms, understandings or other agreements pertaining to the booking policy
obligations of Owner, Operator and City that have not been incorporated herein. The laws of the
State of Texas shall govern the validity, interpretation, performance and enforcement of this
Agreement, without regard to conflicts of law principles. Tarrant County, Texas shall be the
exclusive venue for all suits or other legal actions arising out of this Agreement.
8.08 Approval by the Parties. Whenever this Agreement requires or permits approval
or consent to be hereafter given by any of the parties, the parties agree that such approval or
consent shall not be unreasonable withheld or delayed.
8.09 Additional Actions. The Parties agree to take such actions, including the
execution and delivery of such documents, instruments, petitions and certifications as may be
necessary or appropriate, from time to time, to carry out the terms, provisions and intent of this
Agreement and to aid and assist each other in carrying out said terms, provisions and intent.
8.10 Enforcement. The City Attorney or his or her designee may enforce all legal
rights and obligations under this Agreement. The Owner shall provide to the City Attorney all
documents and records that the City Attorney requests to assist in determining the Owner's
compliance with this Agreement, with the exception of those documents made confidential by
federal or state law or regulation.
8.11 Transfer of Owner's Interest. In the event of the sale, assignment or transfer by
Owner of its fee interest in the Hotel Site (other than a collateral assignment to secure a debt of
Owner) to a successor in interest, Owner shall be released or discharged from all of its covenants
and obligations hereunder, except such obligations as shall have accrued prior to any such sale,
assignment or transfer; and City agrees to look solely to such successor in interest of Owner for
performance of such subsequently occurring obligations. Notwithstanding the provisions of the
preceding sentence, any successor to Owner hereunder shall in all respects be obligated to honor
any contract or agreement previously executed with a Potential Convention Center Customer and
shall be bound by any outstanding Initial Offers or Amended Offers, each Room Block Request
Notice and the Event Rate then in effect.
8.12 Termination of Operator. In the event that Owner shall terminate the Operator
for any reason or should the rights of the Operator under the management agreement for the
Hotel expire for any reason, Owner shall be obligated to secure the written consent and
agreement of any replacement operator to all of the terms, provisions and conditions set forth
herein; provided, that, a failure by the Owner to do so shall in no way release or relieve Owner
from performing the obligations of the Owner hereunder.
8.13 Owner and Operator Responsibility under the Binding Contract. Nothing
contained in this Agreement shall relieve the Owner and/or Operator (or their respective
successors) from the contractual obligations to provided services to a Potential Convention
Center Customer under a Binding Contract, irrespective of whether this Agreement has been
terminated at the time services are to be rendered or whether this Agreement is terminated after
the effective date of the Binding Contract but before the time services are to be rendered.
8.14 Gender; Singular and Plural. As used herein, the neuter gender includes the
feminine and masculine, the masculine includes the feminine and neuter, and the feminine
includes the masculine and neuter, and each includes a corporation, partnership or other legal
entity when the context so requires. The singular number includes the plural, and vice versa,
whenever the context so requires.
8.15 Binding Effect. Subject to express provisions hereof to the contrary, this
Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their
respective heirs, successors and assigns during the Term hereof and during any extensions or
renewals of said Term.
8.16 Exculpation. So long as the Owner is the owner of the Hotel, the liability of
Owner for monetary damages under this Agreement shall be limited to its equity interest in the
Hotel. In the event that the mortgagee under any deed of trust becomes the "Owner" hereunder,
by assignment or otherwise, the liability for monetary damages of such mortgagee under this
Agreement shall be limited to its interest in the Hotel. Nothing within this Article 8 shall limit
the right of the City to seek specific performance of the terms and provisions of this Agreement
by Owner and Operator, and their respective, permitted successors hereunder, or shall otherwise
restrict the right of the City to pursue other relief.
8.17 Estoppel Certificate. Within ten (10) Business Days after request therefore by
any party hereto, the other party(ies) shall execute and deliver to the requesting party a statement
in recordable form and reasonably satisfactory to the requesting party and directed to any
proposed mortgagee, purchaser or other transferee certifying any facts that are true with respect
to this Agreement, including without limitation(if such be the case)that this Agreement is in full
force and effect, that the requesting party is not in default hereunder, and that there are no
defenses or offsets to the Agreement claimed by the other party. A failure by the Owner to
execute, acknowledge and deliver upon request the certified statement described above within
- 14 -
ten (10) Business Days from such request shall constitute acknowledgment by the party to whom
the request is directed to all persons entitled to rely on the statement that this Agreement is
unmodified and in full force and effect and shall constitute a waiver, with respect to all persons
entitled to rely on the statement, of any defaults that may exist before the date of notice.
8.18 No Waiver. The failure of either party to insist upon the performance of any term
or provision of this Agreement or to exercise any right granted herein shall not constitute a
waiver of that party's right to insist upon appropriate performance or to assert any such right on
any future occasion.
EXECUTED as of the last date indicated below:
CITY OF FORT WORTH: BCM/CHI Worthington, Inc:
By:
Joe Paniakua U 0 Name: r
Assistant City Manag Title. �s
Date: r! Date:
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY:
By:
:Peter Vaky
Assistant City Attorney
M&C: C-2009q S-2S-O�
Attested By:
n[arty Hendrix
Citv Secretary
t
- 15 -
^'cl.�Jl, iUy T�6gyp,
EXHIBIT "A"
SECTION I
SERVICES
I.01 Services. Owner shall cause convention room block services outlined in this Exhibit "A" to be
provided in accordance with this Exhibit"A".
SECTION II
COMMITMENT TO PROVIDE CONVENTION ROOM BLOCK SERVICES
II.01 Booking Procedure. During the Term, the City, acting through the Director shall require the
Operator, as the Owner's representative, to offer an Event Room Block to Potential Convention Center
Customers in accordance with this Agreement provided that(a)the Maximum Event Night Ceiling has not been
attained and (b) the total number of rooms in the requested Event Room Block on a given night does not cause
the Maximum Event Room Block on such night to be exceeded. The right to require that the Operator so offer
the Event Room Block will be exercised in accordance with the procedures outlined below. It should be noted
that under this Agreement, all obligations of the Owner are expected to be administered by the Operator and
that nothing in relationship between Owner and Operator nor any action or inaction on the part of either Owner
or Operator shall relieve the other from their respective responsibilities under this Agreement
(a) A management, sales or booking representative of the City, the Director or any of their
respective designees, including the CVB (each a "Sales Representative"), will notify the Operator that a
Potential Convention Center Customer is seeking offers from local Hotel to accommodate, among other needs,
the guest room needs of the Potential Convention Center Customer for a City-Wide Event (the "Room Block
Request Notice"). The Room Block Request Notice will: (i) identify the Potential Convention Center
Customer, (ii) set forth a documented history of the group's room block events for the most recent three year
period including a comparison of the number of rooms blocked and the actual number of rooms actually used
(provided the same is generally available to the City), (iii) specify each specific date for which the Potential
Convention Center Customer will require blocks of guest rooms (including those dates commonly known as
"move in" and "move out" dates; and (iv) specify the number of guest rooms the Potential Convention Center
Customer is seeking to block on each of the specific dates. The Room Block Request Notice will be
communicated to the Operator in the same manner as such notifications are customarily communicated to other
Hotel by the Sales Representative.
(b) Unless the deadline is specifically extended in writing by the Sales Representative, within five
(5) Business Days after Operator's receipt of the Room Block Request Notice, the Operator shall deliver to the
Potential Convention Center Customer (with a copy to the Sales Representative and the Director) an initial
written offer in response to the Room Block Request Notice (the "Initial Offer"). In the Initial Offer the
Operator will (i) offer, for each specific date that the Potential Convention Center Customer requires a block of
guest rooms as specified in the Room Block Request Notice, an Event Room Block equal to the lesser of(y)the
actual number of the guest rooms in the Room Block Request Notice for each specific date or (z) the Maximum
Event Room Block, less any previously offered Event Room Blocks under this Agreement for other City-Wide
Events covering such dates, which offers have either been accepted or are still outstanding, and (ii) quote a
specific room rate for both a standard single and double room (the "Rate Quote"). The a„mo„nt of the Rate
16
Quote in the Initial Offer will be at the Operator's sole, but good faith, discretion and Operator will not, in an
effort to discourage use of the Hotel by the Potential Convention Center Customer, make a quote that is
unreasonably high as measured by the rate history of the hotel or of other comparable downtown Fort Worth
Hotel , taking into account reasonable differences in quality, amenities, location and suitability. In all respects,
the Initial Offer shall be structured in accordance with Operator's normal booking policies as described in
Section II.01(e)below.
(c) After reviewing the Initial Offer, the Sales Representative may consult with the Operator
regarding the Rate Quote contained in the Initial Offer. If at any time within ninety (90) calendar days from the
date the Director receives the Initial Offer, the City, the Director or the Director's designee (which may include
the CVB) determine, in their sole discretion, that it might be in the City's best interest to compel the Operator to
offer the Potential Convention Center Customer an alternative rate structure, the City or CVB may, after
consultation with the Operator and within the ninety (90) calendar day timeframe, elect to ask Operator to
consider (which election shall be communicated by Notice from the Director or the CVB to the Operator)
offering to the Potential Convention Center Customer a rate lower than the rate in the Initial Offer. Within_3
business days following receipt by Operator of such notice from the City or CVB, Operator shall provide the
City and the CVB with a written response to such a request, either agreeing or refusing to offer a rate to the
Potential Convention Center Customer that is lower than the rate in the Initial Offer.
(d) If, pursuant to Section II.01(c) of this Exhibit "A", Operator agrees to offer the Potential
Convention Center Customer a rate lower than the rate in the Initial Offer, Operator shall amend the Initial
Offer by substituting an alternative rate(the "Amended Offer") and deliver such Amended Offer to the Potential
Convention Center Customer(with a copy to the Sales Representative and the Director) within two (2) Business
Days following the date of Operator's written response to the City's and/or the CVB's request under Section
II.01(c)of this Exhibit"A".
(e) In negotiating a Binding Contract, Operator's customary booking policies, including policies relating to
acceptance deadlines, contracts, advance deposits and cancellation shall be applied, provided that (i) these
policies shall adhere in all material respects to the general customs employed by the Operator at its Managed
Hotels and (ii) Operator has provided Director with such booking policies as modified from time to time.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Potential Convention Center Customer shall have no more than (90)
calendar days from the date of the "Current Offer" is received (i) to verbally accept the Current Offer and (ii)
negotiate and execute a Binding Contract. (The term, "Current Offer" is hereinafter defined as the most recent
of either the Initial Offer or the Amended Offer.) Upon verbal acceptance of the Current Offer, Operator shall
promptly begin negotiating a Binding Contract with the Potential Convention Center Customer.
(f) If a Potential Convention Center Customer has not (for any reason other than Owner/Operator's
breach of their obligations) executed a Binding Contract with the Operator within ninety (90)days following the
date of the receipt of the Current Offer, then such offer will expire, whereupon the Owner/Operator shall have
no further obligation to the City or the Potential Convention Center Customer in regard to such City-Wide
Event under the Current Offer; provided, that, if such offer expires on a date that is more than twenty-four (24)
months in advance of the City-Wide Event's first Event Night, nothing in this Agreement shall prohibit the City
from issuing a new Room Block Request Notice for such City-Wide Event.
(g) During the "Negotiations Period" (defined as the date the Initial Offer is made until the earlier of
(i) the Current Offer expiration or (ii) the date the Potential Convention Center Customer formally
rejects/accepts the Current Offer) the Operator shall consider the Event Room Block from an inventory
management/reservations standpoint as if it were booked under a Binding Contract and shall not agree to
reserve any amount of guest rooms for other customers that would impede the ability of the Hotel to
17 , jv , L `j.
v
accommodate the Event Room Block under the Current Offer. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if another
Potential Convention Center Customer seeks, during the Negotiations Period, to reserve an Event Room Block
on one or more of the Event Nights being held for the first Potential Convention Center Customer ("First
Customer") pending the conclusion of the Negotiation Period, Operator shall be permitted to accelerate the
Current Offer expiration date of the First Customer to a date that is seven (7) calendar days from the date that
Operator notifies First Customer, in writing, of such acceleration. Operator's ability to accelerate the Current
Offer expiration date is acknowledged by the parties to be part of the Operator's customary booking policies.
(h) During the Negotiations Period, the Event Room Block offered in the Initial Offer shall not be
modified downward by virtue of the fact that the time parameters that dictate the release of rooms under the
definition of Maximum Event Room Block expire. If, for example, the Event Room Block offered in the Initial
Offer was for 80% of the Hotel's Standard Guest Rooms and the 48 month cut-off period expires during the
Negotiation Period, as specified in Section 1.22 of this Agreement, the Event Room Block under negotiations
shall continue to be 80% of the Standard Guest Rooms.
(i) If a Potential Convention Center Customer that has executed a Binding Contract provides written
notice to Owner/Operator that the Potential Convention Center Customer is terminating the Binding Contract,
and the date of receipt by Owner/Operator of such notice is less than twenty-four (24) months from the first
night reserved for the Potential Convention Center Customer's Event Room Block, then, provided that
Owner/Operator has provided the City with advance written notice of such termination, Owner/Operator will
have no further obligation to the City in regard to such Event Room Block and Operator shall not be obligated
to extend the rooms to another Potential Convention Center Customer hereunder. If such notice of termination
is given on a date that is twenty-four (24) months or more before the first Event Night, the Event Nights
covered by the Room Block Request Notice for such City-Wide Event will not be included in calculating the
Maximum Event Night Ceiling, and the City may require that Operator extend the rooms to another Potential
Convention Center Customer in accordance with the provisions hereof; provided, however, if the Maximum
Event Night Ceiling had been reached prior to such cancellation, Operator will have no obligation to cancel any
bookings to accommodate such subsequent request (for example, once the Maximum Event Night Ceiling has
been reached, the Operator is free to book the remaining inventory of rooms hereunder for such month and
Operator shall not be obligated to cancel any rooms reservations for such month to accommodate a replacement
block). The City recognizes that under the Operator's contract with the Potential Convention Center Customer,
Owner/Operator may be entitled to collect cancellation fees from such Potential Convention Center Customer
and the City hereby acknowledges and agrees that such fees shall be the sole property of Owner. Similarly, the
Owner/Operator recognizes that under the City's contract with the Potential Convention Center Customer, the
City may be entitled to collect cancellation fees from such Potential Convention Center Customer and the
Owner/Operator hereby acknowledges that such fees shall be the sole property of the City. In addition,
Owner/Operator agree that although this Agreement requires Owner/Operator to offer and reserve Event Room
Blocks to Potential Convention Center Customers, the City, the CVB, and their officers and employees, shall
not be liable to Owner or Operator for damages of any kind whatsoever, including, without limitation, damages
for lost profits or lost business, as a result of any breach or termination of a Binding Contract by a Potential
Convention Center Customer.
0) Operator will reserve the inventory of rooms required in an Event Room Block for purchase by
the persons attending a given Potential Convention Center Customer's event until the thirtieth (30'') calendar
day preceding the first night reserved for the Potential Convention Center Customer's Event Room Block, after
which time any unbooked rooms will be released from the obligations under this Agreement(but not necessarily
from the obligations under the Binding Contract) and may be rented without any restrictions imposed by this
Agreement. If within ninety (90) calendar days of the first night reserved for the Potential Convention Center
Customer's Event Room Block, the number of rooms actually booked is less than the number of rooms blocked,
18
then Operator may seek the City's consent to release some or all unbooked rooms and the City agrees not to
unreasonably withhold such consent. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Operator shall be permitted at any time to
release some or all unbooked rooms without the consent of the City,provided (A) that the Potential Convention
Center Customer has granted its written consent to do so and (B) in so doing, Operator shall not waive any
cancellation rights to which the Hotel may be entitled. (Under this Section II.01(i), the term, "booked," means
there is a room reservation on file that guaranteed (i) by time of arrival, (ii) by deposit or (iii) by credit card as
required under the Hotel's normal reservation policy.) Furthermore, if the group history of the Potential
Convention Center Customer reflects a pattern whereby the block of rooms reserved by such customer is greater
than the actual number of rooms used, then the Operator, with the written consent of the Director (which
consent shall not unreasonably be withheld), shall have the right to only block such number or rooms which
Operator, in the exercise of its professional judgment and based on such history of the customer, believes will
be adequate to accommodate the number of rooms which will be actually used by such customer; provided, that
such decision shall not release or relieve the Owner/Operator from, at Owner/Operator's own cost, providing
other comparable guest accommodations if the number of rooms so blocked by Operator actually is not
adequate to satisfy the actual use of rooms by the Potential Convention Center Customer.
(k) There are three categories of inventory that, under this Agreement, may be reserved by Operator,
without restrictions imposed by this Agreement. The first category is Exempt Inventory. Exempt Inventory is
free from any City-imposed booking restrictions under this Agreement and the Operator may, at its discretion,
take reservations for up to the amount of the Exempt Inventory for any given day in the future. The second
category is inventory that becomes released after the Maximum Event Night Ceiling is achieved. In any month
that the Hotel achieves the Maximum Event Night Ceiling, upon of the execution of a Binding Contract that
causes the Maximum Event Night Ceiling to be achieved, any remaining inventory for that month not
contractually reserved under this Agreement (the "Unreserved Inventory") will be immediately released from
further booking restrictions under this Agreement (subject to subsection (h) above). The third category is
inventory that has not been reserved under this Agreement as of any date that is less than twenty-four (24)
months from the start of any City-Wide Event. Any room inventory meeting these criteria shall be available for
rental by the Operator without restrictions imposed by this Agreement.
(1) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Potential Convention Center Customer has a documented
history of causing material property damage in connection with group events or of poor credit, then Operator
shall have the right to decline to accommodate such customer hereunder upon provision of written notice to the
Director given within five (5) Business Days following the date of the Room Block Request Notice, which
notice a reasonable and specific basis for the Operator's conclusions, which conclusions are subject to the
Director's reasonable challenge and will be kept confidential to the full extent of the law,by the Director.
II.02 Confidentiality. Subject to its obligations under applicable law, the City will not disclose any
Initial Offer or Amended Offer to any person or entity other than its employees, counsel and other consultants,
or in connection with any legal proceeding (or alternative dispute resolution procedure), all of whom shall be
advised of the confidentiality provisions hereof and agree to the same.
SECTION III
OTHER COOPERATIVE PROGRAMS
III.01 Cooperative Advertising. The Owner, through the Operator and at no cost to the City, will
cooperate with the City and or the CVB by placing logos and slogans, approved by Operator, on Hotel
advertising material targeting the meetings and tourism markets as directed by the City/CVB.
19
U
III.02 Site Selection Assistance. The Owner, through the Operator and at no cost to the City, will
periodically assist the City and CVB with its convention marketing efforts by providing, subject to availability,
mutually acceptable complimentary or discounted-to-cost rooms and facilities to event planner conducting site
visits and or participating in familiarization trips.
20
I J
City of Fort Worth, Texas
Mayor and Council Communication
COUNCIL ACTION: Approved on 5/25/2004
DATE: Tuesday, May 25, 2004
LOG NAME: 17WORTHINGTON REFERENCE NO.: C-20094
SUBJECT:
Authorize Execution of Economic Development Program Agreement with BCM/CHI Worthington,
Inc. Regarding Redevelopment of the Renaissance Worthington Hotel
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council:
1. Authorize the City Manager to execute an Economic Development Program Agreement with BCM/CHI
Worthington, Inc. (Worthington) or an affiliated entity related to the redevelopment of the Renaissance
Worthington Hotel; and
2. Find that the terms and conditions of the incentive program, as outlined below, constitute a custom-
designed economic development program in accordance with Chapter 380 of the Texas Local Government
Code.
DISCUSSION:
According to studies that have been commissioned by the City to analyze how tourism and convention
business in the City can best be promoted, there is a need for at least 1,500 first class hotel rooms in
downtown Fort Worth. Despite the fact that the City is in negotiations to cause development of a 600-room
hotel directly across from the Convention Center, this hotel alone will not be sufficient to accommodate a
full-size convention at the Convention Center or to fulfill the hotel needs of the City,that have been identified
in the City's studies.
The Worthington is one of only two hotels in downtown Fort Worth that were identified by the study
undertaken by HVS International as "good quality". As a result, it is in the City's best interest to ensure that
the Worthington at a minimum maintains its current standards.
Under the proposed agreement, the Worthington has committed to i) substantially complete at least $6.7
million in upgrades to the hotel by December 31, 2004, and at least $4.5 million in upgrades to the hotel by
December 31, 2008; and ii) spend at least 30% of its total construction costs in making those
improvements with Fort Worth contractors; and iii) spend at least 20% of its total construction costs in
making those improvements with Fort Worth contractors that are certified as Fort Worth M/WBE
companies. Worthington will be required to maintain a Mobil Travel Guide 3-Star rating at a minimum; and
ensure that the Hotel continues to operate and market itself under a first tier flag brand name, as outlined
below. In addition, Worthington will be required to enter into a Room Block Agreement with the City that
allows rooms to be reserved for Convention Center events.
Worthington will make major renovations to the hotel ballrooms, the facade, and the 505 guest rooms. The
planned renovation will be instrumental in increasing Fort Worth's ability to attract large conventions. In
return for the economic benefits and the number of first class hotel rooms that will be retained as a result of
the Hotel, the City will make economic development program grants to Worthington, as authorized by.
Logname: 17WORTHINGTON Page 1 of 3
Section 380 of the Texas Local Government Code, until either i) Worthington has received the maximum
grant payments outlined in the attachment or ii) the expiration of 20 years. These grant payments will
commence in the first full year following the renovation.
Employment:
Worthington has committed 60% of the total number of full-time jobs on the property to be filled by Fort
Worth residents, and 30% of the total number of full-time jobs on the property to be filled by Central City
residents. However, in any year that these commitments are not met and Worthington's occupancy rate is
less than 63%, Worthington will have the right to a public hearing before the City Council before any
program grant payment under the Agreement may be reduced.
Utilization of Fort Worth Businesses:
Regarding the utilization of Fort Worth based businesses, Worthington has committed 30% of total
construction to Fort Worth construction contractors and/or subcontractors.
Utilization of Fort Worth M/ BE:
Regarding the utilization of Fort Worth Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs) and Fort Worth Women
Business Enterprises (WBEs), Worthington has committed 20% of total construction spending to certified
Fort Worth M/WBE construction contractors and/or subcontractors.
Annual Grants
The actual amount of each grant will depend upon the extent to which Worthington meets all of its
commitments outlined above, and will be an amount equal to i) up to 100% incremental sales tax (1%)
generated on the property and ii) up to 100% incremental Hotel Occupancy Tax (7%) generated on the
property, as capped per the attached schedule. However, each grant may be reduced by the cumulative
degree to which Worthington fails to meet its construction spending goals and its employment goals. In
addition, the City will suspend the payment of grants for any period in which (i) the Hotel fails to retain a
Mobil Travel Guide 3-Star rating or to operate as a first tier flag hotel or ii) Worthington is in breach of its
Room Block Agreement.
The proposed Agreement is authorized by Chapter 380 of the Texas Local Government Code and is
consistent with the City's commitment to use custom-designed incentives and partnership programs with
private businesses on a case-by-case basis to help ensure the growth and diversification of the local
economy, as stated in the 2004 Comprehensive Plan adopted by the City Council on February 24,
2004. The 2004 Comprehensive Plan recognizes, and the City Council hereby finds, that tourism, both for
business and for pleasure, is a significant component of the City's economy and that the Fort Worth
Convention Center and downtown hotels are critical elements in the City's efforts to promote tourism in the
City.
This property is located is COUNCIL DISTRICT 9.
Logname: 17WORTHINGTON Page 2 of 3
FISCAL INFORMATION/CERTIFICATION:
The Finance Director certifies that this action will have no direct expenditure from currently held City funds.
TO Fund/Account/Centers FROM Fund/Account/Centers
Submitted for City Manager's Office by: Reid Rector (6140)
Originating Department Head: Tom Higgins (6192)
Additional Information Contact: Petery Vaky (7601)
Tom Higgins (6192)
Logname: 17WORTHINGTON Page 3 of 3