City, riverboat company negotiate expansion deal

Thursday, March 11, 2004 | 9:53 a.m.

BETTENDORF, Iowa -- City officials and the Isle of Capri casino are negotiating a deal that could double the size of the casino's hotel and bring a conference center to the riverfront.

Negotiations have been ongoing for more than three years and both sides say now is the right time to move forward.

The hotel has been running at an occupancy rate of more than 90 percent each of the past three years and expanding the 256-room hotel could attract another 1 million visitors to the area, casino officials said.

City officials said low interest rates and plans to build two commercial office buildings in the downtown area gives them a reason to move forward too.

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