Hilton Hotel gets one step closer to moving to Downtown Moline - CBS4 - WHBF Quad Cities, IL-IA News Weather Sports

Hilton Hotel gets one step closer to moving to Downtown Moline

By: Christine Souders

csouders@cbs4qc.com

A new hotel for Downtown Moline gets initial approval from the city council.

The plan would convert an empty historic building into a Hilton Garden Inn, but with two hotels already in downtown, could competition be a problem?  

Tuesday Night's vote means developers are one step closer to transforming the former Deere Collector's Center into a Hilton. We talked to one of the developers who said the new hotel won't compete with the Radisson or Stoney Creek Inn, two hotels already in downtown Moline.  

"It would actually be complementary to both hotels. It's a different brand. We'll be on the higher end of the rate structure,"said Neil Densmore, Great Lakes Management Group, also part of The Moline Hotel Group.

Densmore said the 4 story, Hilton Garden Inn will be for a more higher clientele base.

Council members are going ahead with an agreement by The Moline Hotel Group to look into the specifics of how this hotel will benefit the city, and what Moline can do to make it happen.

Right now, the  group has a contract to buy the former John Deere Collector'sCenter on 16th Street, only a block away from the Radisson.

Radisson's General Manager David Yordy said he has one main concern, and anticipates talking with the developers about their plans, "If it's direct competition to the Radisson, yea I don't know, but if it's an alternative that would bring in a different traveler we attract then absolutely, we're all for it."

The Moline Hotel Group hopes to start demolition on a portion of the building Mid March.

Council members will vote again next week to finalize the development plans.