Hospitality Group Backs Multipurpose Event Center, Rejects Convention Center

A Florida nonprofit, Escambia County Destination Marketing Organization (DMO), has weighed in on the Bay Center debate—and its message to county commissioners is clear: build a flexible, multipurpose event center, not a dedicated convention center.

In a letter signed by Mitesh “Tish” Patel, chairman of the Escambia County DMO, Visit Pensacola told commissioners that its position has not changed after reviewing the most recent feasibility studies conducted by both Escambia County and the City of Pensacola. Read Baycenter_County

• “The addition of a multipurpose Event Center in conjunction with a significant renovation of the Bay Center is the best option for our community and would support economic returns far greater than the investment,” Patel wrote on behalf of the organization’s membership.

Why Not a Convention Center?

The DMO cited two core concerns: the limited variety of events a convention-only center could attract and the constraints imposed by Pensacola’s size and airport capacity.

• “Our members do not support a dedicated convention center due to the limited types of events we could host and the small number of events that would be attracted to a destination of our size and airport capacity,” the letter stated.

No New Hotel Needed

On the question of a new hotel—a feature both sides of the debate have floated as part of their respective proposals—the DMO doesn’t believe it’s necessary.

• The letter pointed to more than 500 existing hotel rooms in the downtown/Bay Center corridor, with another 500-plus rooms either under construction or in final planning. That inventory, the DMO argued, is sufficient to support whatever facility gets built.

What DMO Wants Built

The DMO laid out four specific action steps it is asking commissioners to pursue:

• Bond the fifth cent to fund a project estimated between $9 million and $100 million
• Build a minimum 75,000-square-foot facility designed for indoor sports—basketball, volleyball, cheer and similar events
• Design it for flexibility, so the same space can accommodate trade shows, expos, boat shows, large single-room events and other non-sports uses
• Build a parking garage on one of the adjacent parcels of land

Patel’s letter closed by underscoring what the DMO views as the broader economic stakes of the decision.

• “Our DMO members look forward to working with the county and its partners going forward,” he wrote, “as success of this project affects our entire county.”

Who is DMO?

Besides Tish Patel, the letter is signed by 17 individuals, including Julian MacQueen and Ted Ent of Innisfree Hotels, Paula Coster and James Debole of American Fidelity Life, Leo and Mike Desai of Omega Hotel Group, Robert Rinke of Levin Rinke Resort Realty, Mallory Studer of Studer Properties, Yash Patel of Pinnacle Management Group, Amy Martin of McGuires Group and Warren Sonnen of O’Riley’s Affiliates.

• Only Yash Patel actually serves on the Visit Pensacola Board of Directors. According to its website, Visit Pensacola is designated as the official destination marketing organization for Escambia County, representing Pensacola, Pensacola Beach, and Perdido Key.

According to the state’s Division of Corporations, Escambia County Destination Marketing Organization was formed in September 2024.

Its registered agent and president is Julian MacQueen. Other officers include VP Tish Patel, Secretary/Treasurer Rusty Branch and directors Ted Ent, Rob Babcock and Patel Dae. See Annual Report DMO

• The Escambia County Destination Marketing is not the official DMO for the county. It’s a nonprofit composed of a collection of individuals in the hospitality industry.