Palm Springs Launches Community Survey for Massive $135 Million Convention Center Modernization Project

PALM SPRINGS, California — The City of Palm Springs is officially asking residents, local business owners, and regional stakeholders to help guide a sweeping, multi-year plan to revitalize one of the city's primary economic drivers. Officials have launched a comprehensive public survey aimed at gathered community feedback on a dual-phase project designed to modernize the Palm Springs Convention Center and completely redesign its physical link to the surrounding downtown core.

The Palm Springs Convention Center has served as a cornerstone of the Coachella Valley's tourism and hospitality economy since its initial construction in 1984, but it has not undergone a significant capital upgrade since 2005. To keep pace with rising competition among national meeting and exhibition hubs, the city council is advancing an ambitious $135 million modernization and expansion strategy. The project's targeted construction window is slated to begin in November 2026 and run through March 2029. Planned facility enhancements include a full reconfiguration of Oasis Hall, the addition of flexible indoor-outdoor social spaces, food and beverage kiosks, integrated digital public art, and a major expansion of the facility's eastern entrance.

A crucial element of the long-term project involves creating a cohesive, highly accessible urban pathway dubbed the "Convention Center Connector District." Rather than treating the venue as a standalone facility, city planners are collaborating with specialized urban design firms to construct a shaded pedestrian corridor. This revitalized stretch will integrate themed wayfinding signage, specialized streetscape upgrades, and evening lighting installations to create an identifiable, walkable corridor linking convention attendees and local residents directly into downtown restaurants, hotels, and retail shops.

To help finance the massive capital undertaking, the Palm Springs City Council recently approved a resolution to establish a citywide Tourism Improvement District (TID). Supported heavily by local hospitality groups and short-term rental associations, the TID will collect a one percent assessment fee on lodging stays within the city boundaries, generating an estimated $4 million annually dedicated entirely to the convention facility and public realm walkability projects. Palm Springs Mayor Naomi Soto emphasized that the initiative creates a sustainable revenue path funded by the visitor economy to ensure the destination remains top-tier, while Karen Totaro, General Manager of the Convention Center, highlighted that the investments will maximize local economic impact and secure high-quality jobs.

Community members can review initial design concepts, track upcoming public workshop schedules, and voice their personal priorities regarding shaded areas, bike access, and public spaces by participating in the official city survey. Residents can easily access the digital questionnaire by clicking on the Newsroom tab on our website at NBCPalmSprings.com.

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