DES MOINES, Iowa
The Des Moines City Council and Polk County Supervisors approved details for a $101 million dollar, 330-room convention hotel to be added on to the southwest side of the Iowa Events Center, which is the largest convention center in the state.
The Des Moines Register reported that elected officials gave unanimous approval for a financial-assistance package and a final application seeking funding from the Iowa Economic Development Authority. Officials said they felt that the convention hotel would increase the potential for Des Moines to secure national events and earn additional tax revenue.
The proposed 10-story hotel project is actually a scaled down version of previous plans to build a 450-room, 16-story hotel at $130 million. The hotel will be owned by a nonprofit called IEC Convention Hotel, created by Polk County.
In addition, The Register reported that no hotel brand has been named for the proposed construction project, but that Hilton, Hyatt and Westin brands are all possibilities. If fully approved, construction is expected to begin on the hotel around March 2016.
