The East Peoria City Council approved a first reading on a deal to build a new Holiday Inn Express.
The final hotel will be located near Bass Pro Shops, have roughly 100 rooms and employ several dozen full-time staff. That's according to East Peoria Commissioner Tim Jeffers. He says it makes sense to locate the hotel next to Bass Pro Shops for the large customer draw outside the area:
“Many people that go to Bass pro from the region want a place to stay when they get here.”
Jeffers says the city is prepared to pay towards foundation improvements on the hotel site to help move the project along. He says that work will be paid back by hotel tax revenues in fewer than three years after opening. Jeffers says the Holiday Inn Express could open as early as spring of next year