The closing — although the closing is supposedly temporary — of the Portofino Hotel, located on the banks of the Yazoo Diversion Canal in downtown Vicksburg, leaves an immediate and gaping hole in downtown’s business district that must be quickly addressed.

As Vicksburg’s vibrant tourism and convention center has grown, so has the importance placed on hotel accommodations near the Vicksburg Convention Center. As such, the Portofino can play, and should play, a vital role in the downtown economy, regardless if the proposed 30,000-square-foot casino project becomes reality.

The hotel’s abrupt closing and the start of a reported remodeling project threw many in Vicksburg for a loop, especially those officials with the VCC who had to scramble to find alternate hotel rooms for already scheduled conventions.

The area around the convention center is one of the more high profile locations in Vicksburg outside of the visitors’ center just off the interstate and the Vicksburg National Military Park. But there remains plenty of work that is needed to have that area become the showpiece that it should be.

The convention center is an amazing facility and honestly should be renamed the Vicksburg Event Center. The number of people who come through that facility on an annual basis would amaze the average resident and shock many on just how big  an economic impact it has for Vicksburg.

Having a viable hotel partner, just a few blocks away, we are sure has been a luxury for center officials and it is something that we hope returns far sooner than later.

With a history of failed casino projects on the waterfront in downtown Vicksburg, we’re not betting on this potential project to take downtown to the next level.

Instead, the safe bet for success, is having true partnerships, leaders with economic growth in mind and an environment built on ensuring Vicksburg is always presented in the best possible way.