Not to mention that had that been the chosen design, it would’ve cost even more. Given the goings-on with Mizrahi & partners, the project would’ve grounded to a halt sooner than it did, probably early enough to be scrapped altogether.
I think from the beginning there have always been plans for a hotel in the south block. I remember being surprised when I heard there was going to be another hotel in SkyTower (which turned out to be Le Meridien).