b'C o m m u n i t yThose bowlers and their families who were competing in Corpus Christi back in the 1990s and 2000s filled all of the rooms in the six downtown hotels of over 100 rooms, displacing seasonal, spring visitors at the low-est group rates, while most were lodged at the SPID properties, on the islands, and as far away as Rockport, Kingsville and Sinton. Adding to their inconvenience and disappointment was, despite the wonderful beau-ty of Corpus Christi Bay, theres not much to do.Looking at a lovely bay only goes so far. It goes less far when you have to drive an hour from Sinton to look at itno offense to the lovely people of Sinton. Com-pared to Reno with gambling and a bustling live enter-tainment scene, or New Orleans with the riverfront and the French Quarter, a handful of seafood restaurants and Whataburger-on-the-Bay just isnt enough. Thats the hard truth, and if the citizens and leaders of the city wish for it to become a major convention destination again, visitor product must be developed. The conven-tion business is out there. Corpus Christi is a beautiful, year-round destination. As of now, however, no lead-ership has emerged who will find the investors and go out and sell the city.Thecornerstoneofthecitysconventionindustry should be a major hotel that provides a one-stop, stay-and-meet option for mid- and large-sized groups. InIn 2017, a plan was developed and submitted to the City of Corpus Christi for a much-needed convention center hotel, to be built as fact, such a proposal was delivered to the City in 2017an expansion of the American Bank Center itself on land owned by the City. The developer of the plan was Rees Associates, one of the by Rees Associates, one of the premier architecturalmost respected and innovative architectural design firms in the region. No action was ever taken on the proposal.56THE COASTAL BEND GUIDE TheCoastalBend.com'