The Mississippi River is at the heart of the land and community of the Quad Cities’ towns.
Composed of Davenport and Bettendorf in Iowa, and Moline/East Moline and Rock Island next door in Illinois, the Quad Cities has the Mississippi River at its core.
“We like to say it’s four cities and communities within one destination, with the river as a great backdrop,” said Jessica Waytenick, marketing and public relations manager at the Quad Cities Convention and Visitors Bureau. “We encourage people to see both sides of the river.”
There you’ll encounter riverboats, riverfront dining and river festivals. Floatzilla is the annual paddle sports celebration, when the river is bursting with kayaks and canoes. During the Quad Cities Irish Festival, you can revel aboard the Celebration Belle riverboat, which can accommodate 800 people and be rented for events year-round.
The Quad Cities have a wealth of museums and history, among them the Figge Art Museum; the Putnam Museum, with hands-on science exhibits; the John Deere Historic Site; the Center for Belgian Culture; and the River Music Experience, to name a few.
Many attractions, such as museums, historic homes and theaters, are available for use as meeting venues, and Waytenick encourages visitors to inquire about using those locations. New hotels and shopping are also arriving soon, and the area already offers a variety of dining experiences, including American, Italian, Mexican, Thai and Vietnamese, many within walking distance of meeting facilities.
Spotlight on Quad Cities
Primary meeting facilities:
RiverCenter Theatre
Other meeting properties:
Clarion Hotel and Conference Center, Quad Cities Waterfront Convention Center, Hillcrest Event Center
Largest meeting space:
RiverCenter Theatre at 100,000 square feetet
Total hotel rooms:
5,600
CVB website:
