We told you Monday about the transformation of College Park. It's about to get one more cherry on top when Southern Management (here's CEO David Hillman) and the University of Maryland break ground on a $115M hotel and conference center next spring, the partners announced yesterday. (David's also speaking at our Future of Prince George's County event August 26—more on that in a bit.) The property, adjacent to the Turner Hall visitor center, will include 295 rooms, 43k SF of meeting space, two full-service restaurants, and perhaps most importantly, 1,637 new jobs for Prince George's County. The property will be finished by 2016.

David will be part of a great panel at our Future of Prince George's County event Aug. 26 at National Harbor's Sunset Room. We'll have packed panels of the biggest stakeholders, including WMATA's Stan Wall, University of Maryland's Brian Darmody, Donaldson Group prez Carlton Einsel, and more. It's an afternoon event, and following the program we're holding one of our signature Schmoozaramas. More info.