NORMAL -The view from the eighth floor was rainy, but that seemed to be the only drawback for the first guests of the Marriot Hotel and Conference Center in uptown Normal.

The $55 million hotel at 201 Broadway welcomed Jan Miller and Adam Maurer, volunteers from the Bloomington-based Midwest Food Bank, in a ceremony complete with a red-coated bellhop taking their bags to their rooms.

"It's beautiful," Miller said after checking in. "They have made it modern with a touch to it."

Maurer added: "They've made it with big city taste. I'm very impressed with the details."

Midwest Food Bank Administrator Mike Meece said Marriott contacted the food bank because it wanted to honor its employees. Meece used the opportunity to honor the food bank's four volunteers of the year.

Because of the scheduling, Miller and Maurer and their spouses were the only ones who could participate.

"I didn't hesitate," Miller said. "This is just so nice."

The Normal City Council approved a contract with Springfield, Mo.-based developer John Q. Hammons nearly 5½ years ago for the hotel and conference center and adjoining parking deck.

The town contributed $21.6 million toward the project, which is considered one of the anchor points to uptown Normal's redevelopment. Hammons spent about $60 million on the total project.

"I don't know how many times we heard people say it wasn't going to be built," said City Manager Mark Peterson. "It hasn't been the easiest project, but it's been worth it."

The town spent $3 million and roughly three years in acquiring the property and demolishing the existing buildings to provide a clean construction site for Hammons. The town paid $12.5 million for the conference center and $6.1 million for the parking deck and hotel.

Construction of the hotel foundation started in July 2007, and work on the project reached a major milestone in August 2008 when the iron frame of the building was completed.

All of that work and anticipation came down to Friday.

Before the hotel's official opening, hotel workers were wiping down the railing on the central staircase in the lobby and changing light bulbs in the hotel's bar.

Phil Halcomb, project manager for Core Construction, said they had only a few minor jobs to complete.

"The last six months have been crazy," Halcomb said.

Heather VanVoorhis, hotel director of sales and marketing, said the hotel had inquiries for rooms starting about 11 a.m. Friday. The Courtyard by Marriott in Normal was full for the night and was referring guests to the new uptown hotel, she explained.

VanVoorhis said they took those guests' reservations but they could not begin check-in until 3 p.m., the hotel's regular check in time.

During Miller and Maurer's stay, they will be treated to all the amenities the hotel has to offer, including the restaurant Jesse's Grill, the Bath and Body Works bathroom products and the Marriott signature Revive bed, VanVoorhis said.

"My goodness, I'm going to have to fight my way through all the pillows," Maurer said about the bed.