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Osage Beach, Mo. —
Although they didn’t say when, representatives of John Q. Hammons Hotels and Resorts, have reaffirmed their intent to build the Chateau at the Lake of the Ozarks.
Months of speculation without any word from the development group came to an end this week during a private meeting between the chief executive officer and general counsel of JQH and the mayor of Osage Beach.
The development group reassured Osage Beach Mayor Penny Lyons that they have very intention of building in Osage Beach. It’s a matter of timing and waiting for better economic conditions.
Lyons made the announcement on Thursday. Lyons has remained optimistic that despite changes in the company’s management and direction in recent months, and the failing health of John Q. Hammons, the project would still become a reality.
“On that day, which will come every one of us will know this project was absolutely worth the fight and worth the wait,” Lyons said.
Lyons met with Jacquie Dowdy, the new chief executive officer of John Q. Hammons Hotels and Resorts and Justin Harris, senior vice president and general counsel. They came to Osage Beach to discuss the future of the John Q. Hammons Hotel at the Grand Glaize Bridge in Osage Beach.
Dowdy informed Lyons that she and the Hammons Company remain committed to John Q. Hammons’ dream of building the hotel and convention center in Osage Beach.
Construction will begin when economic conditions improve enough to make such a significant project feasible, Dowdy told Lyons.
“The Hammons company still intends to build a Château at the Lake of the Ozarks which I know will be a great addition to our city and a major destination point for tourists and local citizens alike,” Lyons said. “I really appreciate Ms. Dowdy and Mr. Harris taking the time to visit us and updating us on this project. I am confident that when the John Q. Hammons Chateau at the Lake of the Ozarks opens, it will be the wonderful, state of the art facility Mr. Hammons had in mind when he first dreamed of a hotel overlooking the Grand Glaize Bridge.”
The project, with a construction cost in the neighborhood of $100 million, has been on hold for more than two years after the city’s approval of a $ 3.5 million Tax Increment Financing District sparked a draw out legal battle between two Four Seasons holdings and Osage Beach.
The court ruled in favor of the city and Hammons earlier this year. The appeal period ran out in May of 2010. At that time Hammons issued a statement saying “I anticipate construction will start in January or February 2011 at the latest, and it will take approximately 22 months for completion.”
The project has been under discussion for more than seven years. Hammons had planned to build the hotel in conjunction with the construction of the Osage Beach Expressway. He said the highway improvements were what convinced him it was the right time to make the move to the lake.
Although they didn’t say when, representatives of John Q. Hammons Hotels and Resorts, have reaffirmed their intent to build the Chateau at the Lake of the Ozarks.
Months of speculation without any word from the development group came to an end this week during a private meeting between the chief executive officer and general counsel of JQH and the mayor of Osage Beach.
The development group reassured Osage Beach Mayor Penny Lyons that they have very intention of building in Osage Beach. It’s a matter of timing and waiting for better economic conditions.
Lyons made the announcement on Thursday. Lyons has remained optimistic that despite changes in the company’s management and direction in recent months, and the failing health of John Q. Hammons, the project would still become a reality.
“On that day, which will come every one of us will know this project was absolutely worth the fight and worth the wait,” Lyons said.
Lyons met with Jacquie Dowdy, the new chief executive officer of John Q. Hammons Hotels and Resorts and Justin Harris, senior vice president and general counsel. They came to Osage Beach to discuss the future of the John Q. Hammons Hotel at the Grand Glaize Bridge in Osage Beach.
Dowdy informed Lyons that she and the Hammons Company remain committed to John Q. Hammons’ dream of building the hotel and convention center in Osage Beach.
Construction will begin when economic conditions improve enough to make such a significant project feasible, Dowdy told Lyons.
“The Hammons company still intends to build a Château at the Lake of the Ozarks which I know will be a great addition to our city and a major destination point for tourists and local citizens alike,” Lyons said. “I really appreciate Ms. Dowdy and Mr. Harris taking the time to visit us and updating us on this project. I am confident that when the John Q. Hammons Chateau at the Lake of the Ozarks opens, it will be the wonderful, state of the art facility Mr. Hammons had in mind when he first dreamed of a hotel overlooking the Grand Glaize Bridge.”
The project, with a construction cost in the neighborhood of $100 million, has been on hold for more than two years after the city’s approval of a $ 3.5 million Tax Increment Financing District sparked a draw out legal battle between two Four Seasons holdings and Osage Beach.
The court ruled in favor of the city and Hammons earlier this year. The appeal period ran out in May of 2010. At that time Hammons issued a statement saying “I anticipate construction will start in January or February 2011 at the latest, and it will take approximately 22 months for completion.”
The project has been under discussion for more than seven years. Hammons had planned to build the hotel in conjunction with the construction of the Osage Beach Expressway. He said the highway improvements were what convinced him it was the right time to make the move to the lake.
