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Palm Springs council authorizes negotiations with Oakview Group to manage convention center
Summary
After an evaluation of two national firms, council authorized staff to begin contract negotiations with Oakview Group to operate and market the Palm Springs Convention Center, citing goals to boost occupancy, diversify event mix and increase revenue.
The Palm Springs City Council on May 28 authorized the city to begin contract negotiations with Oakview Group (OVG) to operate the Palm Springs Convention Center, following a competitive request for proposals and multi‑panel interviews.
The nut graf: staff and an external evaluation panel recommended Oakview Group based on a combination of cost proposal, higher proposed capital investment, and plans to increase facility occupancy through targeted market segments including tech, wellness and nontraditional sports and events.
David O’Neil, an independent convention‑center consultant retained for the selection process, said the evaluation emphasized measurable performance standards. “We want measurable and verifiable, incentive fee targets,” O’Neil said during the presentation, describing a focus on fiscal performance, future bookings and user satisfaction measures.
Oakview Group’s team described a strategy to expand bookings by pursuing corporate board retreats, wellness conferences, regional sporting events and trade groups that match Palm Springs’ destination strengths. Peter Zingoni, senior vice president for Oakview Group, said the company manages hundreds of venues and plans to bring dedicated sales and marketing resources to the market. Oakview representatives also emphasized transition planning and local hiring; they said their approach typically retains about 90% of existing staff during transitions.
City staff described the procurement and evaluation process: the RFP drew two national firms, Oakview Group and ASM Global. Panels with city subject‑matter experts, a representative from Palm Springs Resorts, and a tribal representative interviewed both firms. Staff said Oakview proposed a higher capital contribution and a lower cost plan that the panel judged most likely to increase occupancy and revenue.
Council discussion covered community priorities such as preserving opportunities for local nonprofits and arts groups, keeping a local flavor in concessions, and ensuring the new operator works closely with Visit Greater Palm Springs and downtown businesses to link events to local restaurants and cultural destinations. Council members also asked that the general manager selection include community input and asked staff to present a comparison to the existing management agreement when the negotiated contract is ready for council review.
Action: the council authorized staff to begin formal negotiations with Oakview Group and to request a fully negotiated agreement back to council for approval, with a target to complete the transition before the current management agreement ends in late September 2025.
Ending: staff and Oakview agreed to a rapid negotiation and transition schedule and said they would present a negotiated contract and performance metrics to the council for final approval; council members asked for regular reporting on performance and for a community engagement component during the general manager selection and transition.
