AMES, IA (CelebrityAccess MediaWire) — The Davenport City Council voted to extend and expand its contract with VenuWorks to manage the RiverCenter in Davenport, IA. VenuWorks President Steve Peters announced that the contract extension is for a five-year term and will continue through August 2015.
The expansion of the contract calls for Venuworks to internally manage the food and beverage operations for the RiverCenter and Adler Theatre. The food and beverage contract between VenuWorks and the Radisson expires in August according to the press release.
Alan Guard, the city’s finance director, informed the City Council that the facilities generate between $15 million and $19 million in direct economic impact downtown annually according to the press release. Combined with overall satisfaction with the current team and longtime local manager Rick Palmer, the City staff and RCAT Advisory Board recommended extending the agreement through 2015.
“That is a 17-to-1 return on investment,” Guard told the Quad City Times. “It makes sense to keep this team together.”
The contract extension was also supported by Joe Taylor, the president and CEO of the convention and visitors bureau, and by Amy and Amrit Gill of Restoration St. Louis, who are in the midst of a multi-million renovation of the Blackhawk Hotel, which is connected to the RiverCenter.
The Blackhawk’s Gold Room will be added to the RiverCenter’s selection of meeting spaces and Amy Gill said she is comfortable with Palmer and appreciates VenuWork’s extensive experience according to the press release.
“Right now, the management of the RiverCenter and Adler is top notch,” Bobbi Rogalski, chair of the RiverCenter/Adler Advisory Committee told the Quad City Times. “Rick (Palmer) is out there building relationships, and you can’t ask for more right now.”
“We are happy to continue our partnership with the City of Davenport and its excellent facilities,” Peters said according to the press release. “We look forward to continuing and expanding our service to Davenport and Eastern Iowa.” –by CelebrityAccess Staff Writers
