The city commission of Miami Beach has granted first approval to Portman Holdings for a proposed 800-room convention center hotel. The city has been seeking a hotel to complement the convention center, which is undergoing $500M in renovations to accommodate more business. Atlanta-based John Portman & Associates designed the privately funded $405M hotel. The property will feature 701 rooms, 99 suites and 95k SF of meeting space, according to the South Florida Business Journal. “We look forward to working with the community to create a hotel that reflects the international destination status of Miami Beach and is a source of pride for residents,” said Jack Portman, the vice chairman of Portman Holdings and John Portman & Associates. Portman Holdings also wants to finalize a 99-year lease with the city for a parking lot adjacent to the convention center. Construction should take about two years and could begin in August 2016 with approval from the city council in September and, if it passes, a public vote in November. Additional features of the hotel include a skybridge to the convention center and an amenity deck with pools. [SFBJ]