New Hilton Omaha Breaks Ground

OMAHA, NE— The Honorable Mike Fahey, Mayor of the City of Omaha, along with representatives from Hilton Hotels Corp. and Landmark Organization, participated in a groundbreaking ceremony April 30 for the city’s new downtown convention hotel. Scheduled to open in early 2004, the 450-room Hilton Omaha is situated adjacent to the new Omaha Convention Center, which is currently under construction and scheduled to open in Summer 2003. The hotel will be owned by City of Omaha Convention Hotel Corp. and developed by Austin, Texas-based Landmark Organization. Hilton Hotels Corp. will operate the new property under a 15-year management agreement. The Omaha City Council has been struggling for more than a year to determine the appropriate flag to fly alongside its new convention center. As previously reported by HOTEL BUSINESS®, Marriott International and Hilton were going head-to-head to win the management contract for the Omaha headquarter hotel. However, it was reported that the proposed $94.5 million, 28-story Marriott could place the city at a financial risk. At least seven different developers originally submitted proposals for the hotel back in March 2001. When completed the mid-rise, eight-story Hilton hotel will feature a total of 24,500 square feet of flexible meeting space, and an additional 6,800 square feet of pre-function space. The Hilton Omaha also will feature a restaurant and lounge, a business center, a fully equipped fitness room, and an indoor swimming pool. “This is an exciting day for Omaha. We have invested millions of dollars into our riverfront project and in just a few short years, Omaha will have a new front door on the banks of the Missouri,” said Mayor Mike Fahey. “The Hilton Omaha will play a large role in welcoming guests to our city and to our new convention center and arena.” -Diana M. Rodriguez