Hotel Fort Des Moines to See Renovation

[Better Life dude]

Here's a clue about the upcoming renovation of the Hotel Fort Des Moines:
From the Register:
http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/index.php/2009/09/04/new-location-for-the-winter-blues-fest/

New location for the Winter Blues Fest
BY SOPHIA AHMAD • [email protected] • SEPTEMBER 4, 2009

The 2010 Winter Blues Fest will be held at the Downtown Marriott. The annual fest had been held at the Hotel Fort Des Moines, but the 90-year old 10th Street hotel will be closed for a $40 million renovation.

The festival date is scheduled for January 30, 2010.

According to the Central Iowa Blues Society newsletter, Marriott event room rates are $99, be sure to book ahead and let them know you are coming for the Blues Fest.

[Better Life dude]

My update: I was just poking around Hotel Fort Des Moines web site and if you're trying to book a room at the hotel, the last date available on their online reservation system is for checkout on Friday, November 20th. After that, no rooms are available. This makes sense since that would be the last business traveler's day before the traditional start of the holiday season - business traveler-wise.

So look for the Hotel Fort Des Moines' renovation project to begin around that time.

[DMRyan]

The Register had an online piece of content today stating that the renovation of the hotel has now been pushed back to the spring at the earliest due to difficulty achieving financing. The planned closure of the hotel late this fall won't take place.

[Better Life dude]

Another sign of the times. Sigh.

[Ingersoll1978]

According to an article in the Des Moines Register today about KFMG, the Hotel Fort Des Moines is slated to begin renovations in November. The studio for KFMG is located on the 11th floor of the hotel and will be displaced by the renovation.

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/p ... 0106160356

[DMRyan]

Hopefully this timeline works out. Every timeline they've had so far hasn't fallen into place due to financing issues with hotels being so difficult right now.

[dogbo]

Ryan, in your opinion, is this more difficult because it is a renovation (vs. building new) or it is just difficult for all hotel projects.

Also, are you able to provide any idea of how many hotel proposals are currently being thrown around for downtown? Are they all new construction? Any boutique hotel ideas? Is the Sherman hotel for Riverpoint still a go? Anything for East Village?

[BenRoethig]

Its hard to getting financing for almost any kind of project right now. Renovations in some cases might actually be easier depending on available tax credits.

[DMRyan]

Ryan, in your opinion, is this more difficult because it is a renovation (vs. building new) or it is just difficult for all hotel projects.

Also, are you able to provide any idea of how many hotel proposals are currently being thrown around for downtown? Are they all new construction? Any boutique hotel ideas? Is the Sherman hotel for Riverpoint still a go? Anything for East Village?

Based on the track record so far, it seems all hotels are going through difficult financing. This has been reported on lately in various business publications too. I'm not able to dive into specifics, but there are at least 3 serious hotel proposals, not including the renovation of the Hotel Fort Des Moines. Some sites under consideration of come and gone over the past few years. A hotel for the East Village is one that has passed us by currently. Sherman is still trying hard to land a hotel component to Riverpoint West. This all changes so quickly, but the important thing to note is that there are eyes looking at adding downtown hotel rooms. Unfortunately, only the Hyatt Place proposal has gone anywhere so far.

[DMRyan]

Meh, I saw a blip in the Register earlier this week that the renovation of the Hotel Fort Des Moines has been sidelined due to the inability to get financing. The owner of the hotel didn't say the renovation idea was dead, but wanted customers to know that the hotel is very much open for the foreseeable future.

[MusicMan]

There have been probably a half dozen dates "set" to begin this project in the past couple years. I can imagine it has ruined their bookings of larger events. I can't believe he is just finally realizing that he shouldn't keep setting dates if there isn't any financing!

[BenRoethig]

Unfortunately, nothing's getting off the grounds right now that doesn't have substantial government funding attached to it.

[dogbo]

I was at a lunch event today where Paul Rottenberg was guest speaker. When asked, he confirmed quickly and without hesitation that the Hotel Fort DSM still holds licensing agreement with Hilton and this still is a very viable possiblity in the future.