A Flurry Of Hotel Construction In King Of Prussia

KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa. (CBS) - There's a hotel-building mini-boom going on this year in the King of Prussia area and that has tourism officials hopeful that will mean more visitors and conventions in the region.

Before the end of 2011, the Valley Forge area will have nearly 400 new hotel rooms. The familiar names are Hyatt, Spring Hill Suites and Best Western. Hotel Sierra will make its Pennsylvania debut during the summer months.

Valley Forge Convention and Visitors Bureau President Paul Decker says it's an indication the hospitality industry is weathering the recession, "They're looking for signals that consumer confidence is going to be up. Business travel will return and, when the interest rates are as low as they are today, then there's probably no better time to build than right now."

Decker says the western suburbs are attractive to developers because of two big convention centers in King of Prussia and Oaks. He says the hotels can also market themselves as less expensive alternatives to high priced Center City hotels. The mini-hotel boom is also expected to generate nearly 100 jobs.

Reported by Brad Segall, KYW Newsradio