With a Request for Qualifications in the hands of more than 1,000 potential developers, the Savannah International Trade and Convention Center’s quest for more convention hotel rooms on Hutchinson Island is now underway, trade center authority chairman Mark Smith told his board Wednesday. While Smith has made it clear the trade center would still welcome participation from the Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort and Spa, the island’s only hotel, a number of sources have told the Savannah Morning News the hotel has not been in a position to make a commitment because it has been for sale. The request for qualifications to build a 300- to 500-room convention hotel on Parcel 7 on the island — also known as Trade Center Landing — on the other side of the trade center from the Westin has a deadline of March 24. “This is the first step,” Smith said.