Branson Landing reels in new tenants

Hilton Hotels is at the forefront, as Branson Landing developer HCW LLC’s recently signed letter of agreement with the international company gives Hilton convention center management and the rights to build two hotels.

Hilton’s plans include a 13-story high rise with 278 rooms that will be connected to the convention center.

The top floor contains seven residential penthouses with acces to hotel services. The second hotel, Hilton Waterfront, is a boutique hotel with 102 rooms, located above retail shops in Town Square.

Meanwhile, contractors now working on Branson Landing count Bellagio Hotel and Casino and Disney theme parks among their past clients.

Wet Design of Universal City, Calif., built the fountains at the Bellagio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. In the Ozarks, the company is creating the fountains and water features – including shooting jet fountains and fireballs choreographed to music – in Branson Landing’s Town Square.

The Disney connection stems from McBride Co. of Miami, an entertainment theming company hired to section Branson Landing into six themed areas – the neighborhood district, the wharf district, the country district, uptown, downtown and the station. McBride has worked with Disney theme parks, Universal Studios and Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville.

Of the 32 contractors and subcontractors currently involved in Branson Landing, 12 are from the Springfield/Branson area, 11 are from elsewhere in Missouri, eight are from out of state and one is from outside of the United States.

Richard Huffman, CEO of Branson-based HCW, said it’s been a challenge finding contractors for the highly technical jobs. The firm “had no choice” but to hire Wet Design to build the fountains and fireballs, he said.

“They’re the only company in the world that builds that kind of fountain,” Huffman said. “They’re the only ones that have the patented technology to build this magnitude of a fountain and fire show.”

Chicago-based Urban Retail Leasing and Management is another experienced firm hand-picked by HCW. As project leasing agent, Urban Retail recently signed Haagen-Dazs, Victoria’s Secret and Coldwater Creek. Already on board are anchors Bass Pro and Belk Department Store.

“About 48 percent of the leases have been signed. There’s another 20-some percent that are out for board approval,” Huffman said.

Urban Retail’s behind-the-scenes work is paying dividends, Huffman said.

“They manage 44 million square feet of space. … They manage malls and shopping centers all over the world,” Huffman said.

There are about 150 workers at Branson Landing constructing retaining walls. When in full swing, as many as 1,800 construction workers will be on site.