JDC gives Q-C economy a boost

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By Jennifer DeWitt | Friday, July 14, 2006 6:48 AM CDT | () comments

Even Lori Merrill, who helps coordinate housing for the John Deere Classic pros, cannot find an open Quad-City hotel room as the tournament gets into full swing today.

From the scores of golfers and their families to the caddies, tournament staff, national media and spectators, area hotels are bursting at the seams with guests in what many say is one of the busiest weeks of the summer for the hospitality businesses.

“As of Monday, we couldn’t even find a room — only if somebody cancels at this point,” said Merrill, whose job is to help the golfers find hotel rooms and entertainment during their Quad-City stay. “We block seven to nine hotels … and they’re completely full.”

The influx of Classic visitors on top of the traditional summer travelers, youth sports teams and other out-of-towners translates into slim choices this week for those seeking last-minute rooms. According to a poll by the Quad-City Convention & Visitors Bureau, 15 of 46 hotels it checked with were sold out as of Tuesday. Others had anywhere from 12 to 35 rooms still available.

“It tends to be a strong week for the hotels, but not as strong as the Bix or Blues Fest weekends,” said Charlotte Morrison, the bureau’s vice president of marketing and communications. “But it continues to grow as far as taking up hotel rooms.”

The bureau has estimated the total economic impact of the tournament at between $15 million and $20 million.

Sean Shannon, the managing director of the Radisson at John Deere Commons, has no complaints about this week’s guest list. “There’s no room at the inn,’’ he said, adding that the downtown Moline hotel not only is playing host to 50 golfers, but also to the VIPs that Deere & Co. brings in from around the globe for the annual tournament. “We end up losing a few — golfers that miss the cut — but our waiting list is so long we don’t have any problem filling them.”

Occupancy during last year’s Classic ran about 99.2 percent at the 162-room hotel, he said. “This is our peak week for summer. But it displaces a lot of my regular guests, which is hard on them. But we help them find other accommodations and they understand.”

The situation is the same at the Isle of Capri Hotel in Bettendorf, where the hotel is at full capacity the entire week with players and broadcast crews. Tom Malloy, the senior director of marketing, said the event has more impact on Isle’s Bettendorf hotel and casino than for its Davenport-based Rhythm City property. “It’s a great business for us and there’s definitely a revenue stream that comes with them that affects the casino floor too,” he said.

One of the hotels still hoping to put out the “No Vacancy” sign is a new Ramada, located almost in the shadows of the TPC at Deere Run in Silvis, Ill. “Last year, we were brand new when the tournament went on,” said Kathie Zude, the general manager. “We’re still working on getting our name out there and letting people know we are here. That’s our goal — to be all the way full.”

Near the Quad-City International Airport, it was “full, full, full” at the Moline Holiday Inn, said Mardy Morrow, the catering director. A full house in the middle of the week is especially appreciated, she said.

With golfers, caddies, news crews and caterers as guests, she said they make the perfect guests. “They come in late and leave early every morning — we don’t see them all day long. They might have a drink in our bar,” but the hotel’s restaurant sees little trade from their presence, she said.

That might be because they’re visiting a cross-section of other area restaurants and other attractions, particularly Quad-City originals.

“We love the John Deere Classic,” said Carmen Darland, the vice president of marketing for Heart of America Restaurants & Inns, Moline, which owns several restaurants in the area, including Johnny’s Italian Steakhouse on John Deere Commons.

Darland said the officials and players have “come to love Johnny’s.”

“We sell a lot of high-end wine and food and it tends to be later (in the day) because they stay at the course late,” she said.

The company’s Machine Shed restaurant in northwest Davenport also has become a “must-see or pilgrimage” for the Classic crowd, she said. The farmer-themed restaurant is a big hit among golfers’ families, especially the kids who are treated to tractor and hay rack rides and even have enjoyed cooking classes there in past.

Other attractions at John Deere Commons also bustling as Classic visitors flock to the John Deere Pavilion to learn more about the tournament sponsor and its namesake as well as to the shops located there.

“It builds with us as the week goes along,” said Dave Anderson, manager of the John Deere Store. He said golfers, wives, their families and spectators will shop for Deere brand merchandise. “It’s not just golf stuff,” he said, adding that caps, shirts, toys, videos and gifts for pets are hot sellers this week.

“We’re really stocked at our best this time of year. It’s one of the top weeks of the year for us.”

Jennifer DeWitt can be contacted at (563) 383-2318 or jdewitt@qctimes.com.