There is no mistaking it for another hotel.
“[The Heritage Hotel] will be open within weeks,” said Quincy’s Mayor Mike Troup.
The Eagle’s Nest was shut down in February 2021, leaving the building vacant for almost four years.
Troup said The Heritage Hotel of Quincy is set to open before Thanksgiving, or at least one-half of it will. The north wing, closest to town, will open with 50 hotel rooms.
Troup said the owners want to wait and see how business shakes out before occupying the south wing.
Troup said right now, Quincy only has about 750 hotel rooms, but that number needs to double.
“Somewhere between 1200-1400 to really get to the next level with our tourism and the other activities,” Troup said.
Troup said the city’s lodging is always booked solid for those jam-packed weekend events.
“[The Heritage Hotel’s owners] were actually trying to be open in order to house some of the Tin Dusters that were just recently here,” Troup said. “Unfortunately, that didn’t work out with the deadline. They had supply issues.”
Troup said as a result they had to lodge the overflow guests in Missouri.
“Unfortunately, our hotel/motel tax only comes back to Quincy,” Troup said. “We don’t get anything when our guests stay in Hannibal, Canton or Palmyra.”
Kyle Moore, with the Great River Economic Development Foundation, said with more hotel space and Bet On Q, the program that helps fund big events, coordinators can bet on providing guests with a comfortable and convenient stay in the Gem City.
“The Oakley-Lindsay Center and the Convention and Visitors’ Bureau have really done a lot to market Quincy to conventions,” Moore said. “So, I think you’re really seeing the hotel industry take note.”
Troup said the Welcome Inn could also finally see some light of day.
“Their plans are still to demo everything there and to build… I believe… a four story, 80 to 90-room hotel,” Troup said..
Troup said the city has reviewed potential buyers’ track records to ensure what happened at the Welcome Inn won’t happen again.
“We need to see their specific plans,” Troup said. “And what their investments will be to make sure that they’re qualified.”
The former Illinois State Bank on 6th and Hampshire is still on track to become a 56-room boutique hotel.
Troup said the Atrium on Third is moving forward with a roughly $18 million revamp to be converted into a Double Tree Suite with more rooms.