On Jan. 7,  developers broke ground on the Palmetto Sheraton at the Bradenton Area Convention Center, adjacent to the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (BACVB) off U.S. 41-301 on Haben Boulevard. The groundbreaking marked the beginning of the 20-month construction project, with the eight-story hotel expected to open in September 2021. The hotel will have 252 guest rooms, a full-service restaurant, more than 10,000 square feet of meeting space, including a ballroom; a rooftop lounge; a 1,500-square-foot fitness center and outdoor pool; and 32,420 square feet of outdoor event space. It's designed by Sandvick Architects Inc., with interior design by Krause Sawyer. Following its completion, the hotel will connect via covered walkway to the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, which also will see a major expansion and renovation.