The plan to upgrade, expand and modernize the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center into a 21st century convention destination has passed the final hurdle with Wednesday's unanimous vote by the Public Authority Control Board. Tourism, civic, labor and community leaders hailed the vote as a watershed moment for the city's $24 billion tourism industry and the catalyst for future development of Manhattan's Hudson Yards. The expansion would create more than 6,350 permanent jobs as well as nearly 15,460 construction-related jobs during construction. The increased numbers of delegates and visitors would yield approximately 400,000 additional hotel room nights per year.
