Hilton makes headway in Branson

About 125 employees are undergoing training for both the hotel and restaurant, according to Bill Tirone, director of sales and marketing for the Branson Convention Center, the Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel and the Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing.

The five-story Hilton Promenade will have 242 guest rooms designed by Habitat Interiors LLC, an interior design firm from Colorado. Each room will have a Serta bed designed specifically for Hilton. In-room entertainment amenities include high-speed Internet access, a 32-inch LCD television and a clock-radio to which guests can connect a personal MP3 player, portable CD player, laptop and other electronic devices.

The Hilton Promenade also will offer 2,000 square feet of meeting space, an indoor pool, a full-service fitness center and valet parking.

Tirone said the hotel has begun taking reservations and has three Valentine’s Day packages to coincide with its opening. The hotel’s web site is www.promenadebransonlanding.hilton.com. Room rates start at $109 a night.

Signature restaurant

Liberty Tavern Restaurant is one of Hilton’s signature restaurants, with another location in Omaha, Neb. Charles Rodrigue, the new director of food and beverages for the Hilton hotels and convention center, will oversee the restaurant, and Colin Duggan will be the head chef.

The restaurant, located on the first floor of the Hilton Promenade, will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner in a casual dining atmosphere. Tirone said the dinner menu will include New York strip steaks, signature dishes such as crawfish lasagna and a choice of about 120 wines.

The restaurant’s dining room will seat 170 guests, with an additional banquet room that can seat 140. Valet parking will be available to restaurant guests.

Convention bookings

The 12-story Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel and Branson Convention Center are under construction just west of the Hilton Promenade, with a targeted opening date of Aug. 17.

Tirone said the 293-room Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel, with an interior decor by Duncan & Miller Design of Dallas, will have similar accommodations to its sister hotel at Branson Landing. It will connect via walkway to the convention center, which will be managed by Hilton Hotels Corp. but owned by the city of Branson. This is the first time Hilton will manage a free-standing convention center. The convention center has 220,000 square feet of space and can accommodate up to 4,500 attendees.

“We have 150 event days scheduled at the convention center,” Tirone said, noting a log cabin exposition in November. “It’s the first time they’ve been to our area.”

HCW Development Co. LLC of Branson is the owner and developer of the Hilton Promenade, Liberty Tavern Restaurant and Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel, and also the developer of the Branson Convention Center.[[In-content Ad]]