tourism grad student network

You may have seen the recent announcement that they have broken ground for a new Hilton in Baltimore. This development is being funded with $301 million in municiple bonds.
http://www.hotel-online.com/News/2006_Feb_17/k.BZG.1140194433.html

Needless to say, this is both controversial and not limited to Baltimore (see the $54 million hotel and conference center that opened in Trenton in 2002).

If you're interested in hotel development, the interface of tourism and public policy, etc. this would make a great research project.