Century II privatization could eliminate tax subsidy, city manager says

After laying off 29 city employees at Century II, Wichita city government now lacks the knowledge and expertise to manage a performing arts and convention center and must privatize operations of the historic building in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, city officials say. The move could eliminate an annual $2.5 million hotel-tax subsidy for Century II operations. “We need a different business model,” City Manager Robert Layton said last week. “It became pretty clear early in the pandemic that the state of convention business is going to be different going forward, even after the pandemic, and we want to use best practices.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle