New fertilizer plant is boosting revenue at Mt. Pleasant hotels and motels

By TRISHA PHELPS

Mt. Pleasant News

Mt. Pleasant?s hotels are noticing a boost in revenue thanks to the work on the new fertilizer plant in Weaver.

While each of the four hotels in town ? Super 8, Roadway Inn, Comfort Inn and Best Western ? have seen an increase in customers, the increase varies depending on the hotel.

Jeannine Eltrich, manager for Mt. Pleasant?s Super 8, reported that she has noticed the increase of overnight guests since May of 2013.

?There are so many more guests than just fertilizer plant workers,? said Eltrich. ?The work on the plant has displaced tourists, other workers, travelers, routine event attendees. All the hotels in the Burlington, Keokuk and Ft. Madison areas are full, so people are forced to look elsewhere for stays.?

Cindy Shumaker, Roadway manager, agrees.

?I?m sure they (construction workers looking for rooms to rent) started in Burlington, but everything is filling up,? said Shumaker. ?Because of that, they have to go further away, like to Mt. Pleasant. I?m sure by now there are some who are staying at locations even further away than Mt. Pleasant.?

Roadway reported that it has reached its occupancy limit.

?We are completely filled up,? said Shumaker.

Eltrich noted Super 8 is also quite full.

Jay Chaudhaly, Best Western manager, stated that he saw a 15-percent increase in guest since June, when he first noticed the difference. Shumaker also noted that her hotel saw the increase beginning within the last month.

?Monday through Friday we have more construction crew members,? said Chaudhaly. ?It is more than usual.?

While Best Western?s guests have been reserving rooms on a per day basis, Super 8 rooms have been renting at per day, per week and per month and Roadway reported that guests there are renting by the month.

?They are wanting rooms for a month at a time, so we are pretty consistently full,? said Shumaker. ?But they will be out for Old Threshers, they know that. Then they will be back after Old Threshers is over.?

Representatives form Comfort Inn and Suites were not available for comment.

Construction of the fertilizer plant in Wever began in 2013 and is projected to last well into 2015. Approximately 3,000 workers are currently at the plant and will stay on site until the project is completed.

The $1.8 billion project is estimated to bring 165 permanent jobs to the area and $100 million in state tax breaks.