Downtown Hilton (1001 Cass St)

ItsAllAboutMe · Post by **ItsAllAboutMe** » Mon Dec 13, 2010 6:40 pm

Construction is starting to take off. New columns are starting to rise from the garage.

DTO Luv · Post by **DTO Luv** » Tue Dec 14, 2010 4:46 am

They knocked the original columns down at the beginning of the month and over the last few weeks the heavy equipment has been moved into place.

I know it's beyond old news but I really wish they would have built the Marriott.

HskrFanMike · Post by **HskrFanMike** » Tue Dec 14, 2010 6:17 pm

DTO Luv wrote:They knocked the original columns down at the beginning of the month and over the last few weeks the heavy equipment has been moved into place.

I know it's beyond old news but I really wish they would have built the Marriott.

As I recall, the only thing the Marriott had going for it was height. If I remember the bids correctly, the expanded Hilton will still cost less in the end than the Marriott would have and have as many (or maybe more) rooms...and it allowed the city to hedge their bet on the hotel. Only negative is that the Hilton is going to be tore up for the next year and a half.

Greg S · Post by **Greg S** » Tue Dec 14, 2010 7:22 pm

Yep the big draw for the Marriott was height. The Hilton has performed great since opening. The funny thing I remember is that people were so bummed on the Hilton being shorter than the high rise Marriott, they started describing the Hilton as a mid-rise.

Greg

Big E · Post by **Big E** » Tue Dec 14, 2010 7:35 pm

HskrFanMike wrote:Only negative is that the Hilton is going to be tore up for the next year and a half.

If memory serves there was an issue that the convention area could hold conventions that the anchor hotel could not support (more attendees than rooms), which cost the Qwest some of said conventions. Not sure how it played in to the overall numbers, but I'm pretty sure it cost the Qwest some bookings.

nativeomahan · Post by **nativeomahan** » Wed Dec 15, 2010 2:29 am

Big E wrote:
HskrFanMike wrote:Only negative is that the Hilton is going to be tore up for the next year and a half.
If memory serves there was an issue that the convention area could hold conventions that the anchor hotel could not support (more attendees than rooms), which cost the Qwest some of said conventions. Not sure how it played in to the overall numbers, but I'm pretty sure it cost the Qwest some bookings.

The Hilton is as big as any other hotel proposed for that location, and now it will be 150 or so rooms larger. Not sure how you could have added 150 rooms to an existing high rise hotel.

Stargazer · Post by **Stargazer** » Wed Dec 15, 2010 4:43 am

The Marriott was to have over 500 rooms... it would have fulfilled the magical number required to satisfy the needs of larger conventions. No expansion would have been necessary.

StreetsOfOmaha · Post by **StreetsOfOmaha** » Wed Dec 15, 2010 9:40 pm

nativeomahan wrote:The Hilton is as big as any other hotel proposed for that location, and now it will be 150 or so rooms larger. Not sure how you could have added 150 rooms to an existing high rise hotel.

The same way they are adding on to the mid-rise hotel now. Probably easier - more room.

Jeff (stargazer) is right.

Uffda · Post by **Uffda** » Thu Dec 16, 2010 4:34 am

I know there has always been this talk about the 'magic' number of rooms but I have attended a few conferences in other cities where there wasn't a hotel attached to the convention center... it was more about the destination... denver, dallas, new orleans, washington dc and the things that were available to do beyond the conference.

nativeomahan · Post by **nativeomahan** » Fri Dec 17, 2010 1:55 am

I attend one or two big conventions a year, on average. Ones that have up to 2,000 attendees (although the conventioneer numbers are down substantially since the economy tanked in 2008). We ALWAYS end up with second and third hotels because the first one sells out of its block of rooms before everyone calls in their reservation. So long as (1) there is ample space in a hotel's conference facilities to house that number of people, with plenty of breakout rooms, a large banquet room and exhibit space, (2) there are enough hotel rooms within a 1 or 2 block walk, and (3) there is a good teeter-totter balance between room costs and city pizazz, the organizations will be happy to look at booking there. Oh, and there needs to be a good number of bars, restaurants and other touristy things to do within walking distance, and the area needs to be safe for late evening walking. I have been to cities as large as Chicago (twice) and DC (twice), Atlanta, San Diego (3 times), San Francisco, San Antonio (twice), KC, Pittsburgh, Portland, OR, Jacksonville, Phoenix (in August!), and places as small as Palm Springs (August again!) and Little Rock.

Stargazer · Post by **Stargazer** » Fri Dec 17, 2010 3:04 am

We've been told by Dixon and people who pre-dated him and OCVB that convention planners look for an anchor hotel with at least 500 rooms, although I don't think anyone suggested that an anchor hotel was to fully accommodate a conventions attendance. I assume they know what they're talking about... it's the motivation behind this Hilton expansion.

icejammer · Post by **icejammer** » Fri Dec 17, 2010 3:19 pm

Stargazer wrote:We've been told by Dixon and people who pre-dated him and OCVB that convention planners look for an anchor hotel with at least 500 rooms, although I don't think anyone suggested that an anchor hotel was to fully accommodate a conventions attendance. I assume they know what they're talking about... it's the motivation behind this Hilton expansion.

Obviously they know what they're talking about, why else would the convention business be doing so well here?

Stargazer · Post by **Stargazer** » Fri Dec 17, 2010 7:30 pm

Although some would argue the convention business is doing poorly everywhere... and spending a few extra tens of millions of dollars to add rooms we should have had in the first place... is merely going to add to our bond debt.

Post by **Brad** » Fri Jan 14, 2011 9:40 pm

Looks like they have the first floor above the garage poured and setting forums for the second floor.

Post by **Brad** » Sun Feb 13, 2011 4:37 pm

Update shot

omahahawk · Post by **omahahawk** » Mon Feb 14, 2011 12:18 am

Is that as tall as the add on is going to be or is it going to be the same as the original structure?

DTO Luv · Post by **DTO Luv** » Mon Feb 14, 2011 2:02 am

It will go as high as the original structure.

Post by **Brad** » Mon Feb 14, 2011 3:36 am

omahahawk wrote:Is that as tall as the add on is going to be or is it going to be the same as the original structure?

Post by **Brad** » Tue Mar 29, 2011 7:06 pm

Here are a few crappy Cell Phone Updates:

1. From About 2 weeks or so ago:

2. Also from about a week ago

3. From Today:

Post by **Brad** » Mon Apr 18, 2011 9:32 pm

Quick Cellphone Update!

DTO Luv · Post by **DTO Luv** » Tue Apr 19, 2011 12:32 pm

Post by **Brad** » Tue Apr 19, 2011 12:35 pm

Well that about how tall the one in the Outfield in Baltimore is...

Post by **nebugeater** » Tue Apr 19, 2011 1:01 pm

Man that "orange" truck sure jumps out of that photo!

thenewguy · Post by **thenewguy** » Tue Apr 19, 2011 4:31 pm

DTO Luv wrote:

holy |expletive| they were busy last night

S33 · Post by **S33** » Tue Apr 19, 2011 4:34 pm

I call fake! There is no way in heck they could do that kind of construction almost overnight.

almighty_tuna · Post by **almighty_tuna** » Tue Apr 19, 2011 5:54 pm

It's the new Minard Hotel. Trust me, it's the hottest thing evar. More in 60-90 days.

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Tue Apr 26, 2011 9:35 pm

Hilton Omaha renovation touted

By Maggie O'Brien World-Herald staff writer wrote:The expansion and renovation of the city-owned Hilton Omaha is halfway finished, with construction scheduled for completion by the end of the year.

Mayor Jim Suttle, along with Hilton representatives and other city officials, celebrated the halfway point Tuesday with a ceremony that included raising an evergreen tree at the top of the hotel.

Post by **Brad** » Thu May 12, 2011 3:22 am

Photo Update

S33 · Post by **S33** » Thu May 12, 2011 12:57 pm

Oh man, that reminds me of right when I got out of high school working for Midwest Scaffold at the Hilton. yay - moving right along, though, it looks like.

Post by **Brad** » Mon May 23, 2011 4:03 pm

Quick Cell Phone pic from Saturday:

Hawkeye · Post by **Hawkeye** » Mon May 23, 2011 8:07 pm

Brad wrote:Quick Cell Phone pic from Saturday:

If they keep going, eventually they'll run right into the Creighton campus. Maybe we shouldn't be lamenting the lack of a tall hotel. Instead, we should all get behind this effort to build the world's LONGEST hotel.

DTO Luv · Post by **DTO Luv** » Mon May 23, 2011 8:59 pm

That design is so shi++y. I used to work there in the garage and people would always complain about the Hilton especially in cold weather. It's supposedly the 'nicest' hotel in town but it it very user-unfriendly.

The garage is not enclosed so when the weather was bad people would complain about having to drag their luggage along that "world's longest" hotel parking garage. Why not just valet? Ha! After working there I'm convinced the problems that people claim to have parking DT are based on individual ignorance. Our rates there were $8 a day/per event and $18 to valet. I used to deal with so many people who thought $8 was highway robber, forget valet parking.

So not only do people have to deal with inclement weather while parking at Omaha's 'nicest' hotel, they also have to deal with their crippling illiteracy. There is an elevator as soon as you pull in the garage, and many people assume since that the elevator goes up 'into' the hotel, it just looks that way. It only serves the garage. Never mind there are multiple signs before you get on the elevator and after you get on the elevator telling you the elevators only serve the garage, not the hotel. Yet I would guess about 60% of the time people would haul their luggage up and down that elevator about two times before realizing that it does not go indoors to the hotel. Even then it's still quite a long walk in inclement weather from the garage to the front door.

So now you're upset that you dragged your shi+ all the way across the garage now you have to back track, sometimes the whole length of that hotel, to get to your room. When I worked there they told me the distance from the main entry to the furthest end of either wing was about 2 blocks. This was before the extension. So our premier hotel has people walking a block length to get out of the garage, then you're tricked into thinking you can enter the building with still another block to walk before you even enter the hotel. Assuming you then have a speedy check-in (because the world's perfect remember) you have to walk that same distance back to your room.

I know many of us are always telling people to get of their |expletive| and walk DT, however I think this is different. The poor design of the hotel reflects poorly on our city. It's sometimes the only impression people will get of our city and just based on that hotels design alone it's enough to make people not want to return. Yes, it is right next to the Qwest Center, but good design just isn't about location, and for hotels especially it should be about ease of use. I think the Hilton Omaha leaves a lot to be desired in this area.

StreetsOfOmaha · Post by **StreetsOfOmaha** » Tue May 24, 2011 2:18 am

Instead of a tower, we got a wall.

S33 · Post by **S33** » Tue May 24, 2011 1:24 pm

As I've mentioned before, it looks like Soviet-era housing blocks. Glad I'm not the only one who thinks it looks like |expletive|.

Bob from Omaha · Post by **Bob from Omaha** » Tue May 24, 2011 1:36 pm

________________________________________
Fact Sheet-Downtown Des Moines Marriott

Parking

Valet parking, fee: 19 USD daily
Off-site parking, fee: 1.5 USD hourly, 19 USD daily

Driving Directions
Property Details

33 floors , 411 rooms , 6 suites
8 meeting rooms, 25,000 sq ft of total meeting space
3 concierge levels
____________________________________________________

http://maps.google.com/maps/place?oe=ut ... YQnwIoADAA Columbus Ohio Marriott Downtown

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

It didnt have to be this way in Omaha. Had the city had a mayor with any vision and pride there would be a high rise Marriott across the street from the Qwest Center. Instead there is a suburban hotel. Moron.

Fromaha · Post by **Fromaha** » Tue May 24, 2011 4:36 pm

That design is so shi++y.

Is it possible that everyone finally agrees on something?

I, like many others, have thought that this design was horrible from the beginning. I always wondered how it makes sense to build more rooms even further from the lobby. Unless you add one of those moving walkways in the halls, it makes much more sense to build up.

Just more evidence, as if any was needed, that elections have consequences. Hopefully the same mistake will not be made when it comes time for another hotel to be built in that area. So infuriating.

Post by **Brad** » Tue May 24, 2011 4:45 pm

Fromaha wrote:
That design is so shi++y.
Is it possible that everyone finally agrees on something?

I don't think it the best design, but I don't think its as horrible as everyone says. I have been to hotels in other cities where the walk from the lobby to the room was even worse. Granted, I would have liked the high-rise, but this isn't the worst thing in the world.

I would also like to point out that if the high-rise Marriott was built and then Hilton came to town today and said starting June 1st, 2011 we are going to tear down the three story |expletive| box state building and build this exact same Hilton in on that lot, everyone would be going nuts on how awesome this building is going to be...

We can't change the past so its not worth still bitching about the past. Focus your attention on the Pinnacle lot so we don't end up with another building you all hate.

DTO Luv · Post by **DTO Luv** » Tue May 24, 2011 6:01 pm

Brad wrote:
Fromaha wrote:
That design is so shi++y.
Is it possible that everyone finally agrees on something?
I don't think it the best design, but I don't think its as horrible as everyone says. I have been to hotels in other cities where the walk from the lobby to the room was even worse. Granted, I would have liked the high-rise, but this isn't the worst thing in the world.

I would also like to point out that if the high-rise Marriott was built and then Hilton came to town today and said starting June 1st, 2011 we are going to tear down the three story |expletive| box state building and build this exact same Hilton in on that lot, everyone would be going nuts on how awesome this building is going to be...

We can't change the past so its not worth still bitching about the past. Focus your attention on the Pinnacle lot so we don't end up with another building you all hate.

I agree that this is a great example of what not to do Downtown, but I think the complaints about the Hilton take on a significant meaning: This is not a private hotel, this is a city owned property and as a city owned property it should be as efficient as an urban hotel as possible. Clearly it does meet some needs as a convention hotel but is seriously deficient in urbanity.

As it is now there are 2-3 likely DT hotel sites in the next few years: The old Pinnacle site, The Old Market (12th and Jackson), and possibly something in the old U.P. site (or The Townsend-Whole if you will). These sites all are important in their respective parts of DT. I think it should be a goal that they integrate and increase the urban fabric as much as possible so we don't end up with more suburban butchery of Downtown.

Don't you get it now Brad? The only way to stop all the bickering here is to turn this city into Chicago.

Post by **Brad** » Tue May 24, 2011 6:16 pm

DTO Luv wrote:Don't you get it now Brad? The only way to stop all the bickering here is to turn this city into Chicago.

I know...

However I am just trying to save you some time because you can complain about the Hilton 24 hours a day for the next 20 years and its not going to bring the Marriott back.

One more point. If they build a tall building on the Pinnacle lot, you will get to see more of it since the Hilton is only 9 floors. I kind of hope the once proposed Marriott is built on the Pinnacle lot. Great views of the ballpark form there and great views of the Marriott from the ballpark.