When you combine two states, four cities and Old Man River himself, the results can be intriguing.
That’s the situation with the Quad Cities, made up of Davenport and Bettendorf in Iowa and Moline and Rock Island in Illinois. Located along the Mississippi River in the heart of the Midwest, the area provides a wealth of meeting opportunities.
“Our unique riverfront setting makes an excellent place for meetings and conventions in a centralized location,” said Lynn Hunt, vice president, sales, at the Quad Cities Convention and Visitors Bureau.
She said first-time visitors are often surprised at what this destination has to offer.
“Twenty years ago, this was more of an industrial area,” Hunt said. “But it has evolved into a vibrant destination. A real sense of place has been created as folks have embraced the riverfront. There are plenty of amenities and attractions.”
A strength, she said, is that the area is now marketed as a region rather than as individual cities. The beauty of the river is a major selling point, and visitors can take advantage of the assets of four cities rather than just one.
Flexible Meeting Spaces
When it comes to meeting space, the Quad Cities have much to offer. The most expansive option is the Quad Cities Event Center, made up of four entities connected by a skywalk. Located in downtown Davenport just a block from the Mississippi River, it has 117,000 square feet of flexible meeting space. Anchoring the facility is the RiverCenter, with 100,000 square feet of convention, exhibit and breakout space. Also included is the Hotel Blackhawk, a nostalgic property with 130 rooms and suites, highlighted by the impressively restored Gold Room; the Radisson Quad City Plaza, with 221 rooms and suites; and the Adler Theatre, a 2,400-seat theater. Built in the 1930s with an art deco theme, it was restored in the 1980s and now serves as home to the Quad City Symphony; it also hosts rock and country music concerts, ballet, stand-up comedy and more.
All told, the flexibility provided by this combo means that groups as small as 15 or as large as 3,000 can be accommodated. And the location in the historic district of downtown Davenport offers an attractive setting as well as a highly affordable destination.
