Changes could be coming at the Quad City International Airport in the form of a multi-million dollar project. A local group wants to build a new hotel on the airport grounds. A leasing agreement was just approved to get the ball rolling.
Where Frontier Hospitality Group of Davenport wants to build is right in the center of a busy area. There are almost a dozen hotels already within a mile of the airport in Moline. The new one would go just North of the terminal and West of Hampton Inn. Even with it being dense in hotels there, the group says there is a demand and it's from more than just airport traffic.
Dan Huber, President of Frontier Hospitality Group says a 100-room hotel is what's being proposed for just over three acres of airport ground. Huber says he think this is the time and the place to build. "Interest rates are low, construction costs are relatively low, and the hotels that are newer and more modern have done really well."
Even with several hotels already nearby he says it's a strong market for a new one. Room bookings are coming from both air travel and traffic on major nearby thoroughfares. "I think there's demand because of the airport and because of the combination of Interstate 280 and Interstate 74," added Huber.
The hotel manager at Super 8 Hotel on 52nd Avenue says generally hotels are 70 percent full on weekends. At La Quinta Inn on 27th Street, the manager tells KWQC rooms are completely booked an estimated eight weekends out of the year. The Hampton Inn, currently on airport ground, has 80 to 90 percent annual occupancy according to Assistant Director of Aviation for QCIA, Bryan Johnson.
"I think a lot of it is just how busy the quad cities is and different events we host. It seems like every weekend there's some activity," said Johnson.
The agreement just signed for the new hotel is similar to the lease with the Hampton Inn where monthly rent is paid to the airport. "The Hampton Inn has been very successful for us generating non-aeronautical revenue and this new hotel will basically be doing the same thing," added Johnson.
The project is expected to be $10 to $12 million in largely private investment, and include long-term perks to the area. "We're not only paying property taxes, but generating hotel-motel taxes," said Huber.
Frontier Hospitality still needs to get licensing with a national chain but hopes to start the project next summer and open in 2014.
