In the center of a state that’s at the center of the country, Iowa’s capital of Des Moines has location going for it. As an up-and-coming meetings destination, the Des Moines area provides value and a wealth of built-in amenities designed to maximize face time and minimize the complications and delays that so often arise with group travel. A strong commitment to growth of all sorts radiates from downtown out through the suburbs and nearby communities, aimed squarely at attracting groups.
Des Moines
The capital of Iowa is rapidly coming into its own as a Midwestern destination, especially as a meetings and conventions hub.
As Vicki Comegys, director of sales and services for the Des Moines CVB puts it: “Des Moines is more than where you turn left to go to Minneapolis from Denver.”
With an exciting downtown growth spurt, a variety of venues scaled to fit meetings of all sizes and a four-mile skywalk system that makes getting around between hotels, convention venues, restaurants, and attractions simple, safe and comfortable, it’s easy to see why more planners are thinking of Des Moines as a first choice instead of a signpost on the road heading elsewhere.
“Des Moines is a vibrant, viable city, with continued growth and over $3 billion of new building taking place throughout the entire metro area,” Comegys says. “There is something going on all the time, with new restaurants, retailers and hotels opening on a regular basis.”
One of the city’s existing hotels with a focus on growth is the Des Moines Marriott Downtown, currently undergoing a renovation set to be completed at the end of this summer. The $13 million makeover is part of the Marriott’s ambitious plan to position itself as the premier venue for meetings in Des Moines. With 415 guest rooms and 25,000 square feet of meeting space, it’s also one of the larger meetings hotels in town.
Other top group-friendly hotels include the Hotel Fort Des Moines, with 32,000 square feet of meeting space; the Renaissance Savery Hotel, with 14,500 square feet of event space; the Holiday Inn Downtown, with 8,000 square feet of function space; and the Quality Inn and Suites, which has a 3,200-square-foot ballroom. Across the river, Embassy Suites Hotel Des Moines–On the River has 13,000 square feet of meeting space.
Hotel improvements are merely one aspect of a major trend of renewal pervading all of downtown. The Iowa Events Center, built in 2005, encompasses the 17,000-seat Wells Fargo Arena; Hy-Vee Hall, with 150,000 square feet of exposition space and 14,000 square feet of meeting space; Veterans Memorial Auditorium, with 100,000 square feet of floor space and 7,200 seats; and the 60,000-square-foot Polk County Convention Complex.
Additionally, Principal Riverwalk, a system of lighted, landscaped footpaths and bridges, will join the east and west sides of downtown Des Moines and connect several attractions when it is finished.
But of course, meetings need fuel as well as space, and new restaurants are being drawn to the revitalized downtown like hungry attendees to a break-time buffet. In April, Azalea opened in the historic former Kirkwood Hotel to offer contemporary American cuisine and will be followed this month by Zen Noodle and Sushi Bar. Also unveiled in early 2007 to give visitors to Des Moines a taste of the world were Argentine Restaurante, located downtown and offering a variety of Latin dishes; Appare Japanese Steakhouse, also situated downtown; and Aryana Afghan restaurant in the Beaverdale neighborhood.
The downtown attractions lineup is also expanding. The new Science Center of Iowa opened in 2005 with an IMAX Dome theater and facilities available for groups as large as 4,000. Another new venue is inPlay, an entertainment complex that sports 42,000 square feet of classic and virtual reality arcade games, a climbing wall, a sports bar, and the Forté Conference Center. Forté welcomes banquets and meetings as large as 450 and offers a private bowling alley for 50 and a private billiard room for 30.
Other options include Jester Park Lodge, a 7,000-square-foot facility in a forest setting with lake vistas, and Greater Des Moines Baseball Company, offering views of the minor-league Principal Park and facilities accommodating 100 for banquets.
The changing face of downtown Des Moines can also be seen in the new central branch of the Des Moines Public Library, which opened in April 2006, and the rebirth of many existing downtown buildings as condominiums and loft apartments, thus retaining the neighborhood’s character while meeting the need for urban housing.
There are many existing proposals for future growth currently on the city planning tables, including an 18-story Sheraton tower with 65,000 square feet of convention space north of the Iowa Events Center and a 16-story Hilton adjacent to Veterans Memorial Auditorium.
With the many new developments, Des Moines seems destined to achieve its goal of diversifying its meetings business.
“Des Moines’ business community and the growth in biotechnology is moving the city and state at a fast pace to be a leader in biotechnology, agriculture, the green initiative, and alternative fuels,” Comegys says. “This will make Des Moines a leading meetings destination in these markets. Des Moines will also continue to be a popular sports destination and SMERF meeting destination because of the location, cost, safety, and friendliness.”
Yet the more Des Moines transforms into a bigger, more-modern metropolis, the more it stays a friendly, comfortably sized city, according to Comegys.
“Des Moines is a city where you can be lost on the four miles of downtown skywalk system connecting downtown hotels, facilities, parking, restaurants, and shopping, and someone will notice the confused look on your face and get you to where you are going,” Comegys says. “It is a city that cares about its guests.”
Metro-Area Alternatives
The communities of the greater metro area are not only thriving satellites of the city, but viable and expanding meetings destinations in their own right.
This year marks the 75th anniversary of Des Moines International Airport, and Des Moines Mayor Frank Cownie declared 2007 the Year of the Airport.
Always convenient and often a great value, airport-area hotels are another ideal option for Des Moines meetings. Renovated in 2005, the Des Moines Airport Holiday Inn Hotel offers 216 guest rooms and meeting space for 1,300. The Radisson Hotel Des Moines Airport has 100 guest rooms and meeting space for groups as large as 60.
Rapidly growing West Des Moines is home to Jordan Creek Town Center, which opened in 2004 as the largest shopping center in Iowa. The pedestrian-friendly development also features the Lake District, walkways, bike trails, waterfront dining, an amphitheater, and a Marriott Residence Inn.
The Sheraton West Des Moines, with 23,000 square feet of meeting space, completed renovations to its atrium in August 2006, and the new Hilton Garden Inn West Des Moines features 3,000 square feet of function space. Meanwhile, the West Des Moines Marriott has 219 guest rooms and event space for groups of up to 500 people.
In Johnston, the Hilton Garden Inn Des Moines/Urbandale offers 148 guest rooms and meeting facilities for up to 600 people, and other group options include the Stoney Creek Inn and Conference Center and the Foxboro Conference Center.
Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino in Altoona is a major attraction in the area, featuring slot machines, table games, poker, live racing, and live bands and performances. It also features a new event center with 14,000 square feet of meeting space.
Big Creek State Park is another alternative group venue, with picnic shelters and a clear lake for swimming and boating.
Beyond the Metro Area
Less than an hour’s drive outside the city limits, the towns of Pella to the east and Ames to the north seem a world away from the charged-up energy of downtown Des Moines.
Although the idea of a day of wine tasting in Iowa’s modest wine country would be enough to lure many groups away from the city, enticing attractions, expanding hotel space and the presence of Iowa State University are also strong draws.
A trip to Pella is a vacation from the here and now. Not only does the small town treasure its roots in the Netherlands, it maintains classic Dutch architecture, a canal, a 135-foot windmill, and even an annual tulip festival. Old-fashioned Dutch hospitality is the rule. Pella can currently welcome groups as large as 400, and is hoping to increase that number in years to come.
“As Pella continues to build on our current historic-themed destination, we have committed to adding facilities and attractions to better host meetings, events and group travel of all ages and backgrounds,” says Jill Vandevoort, director of the Pella CVB. “For this reason, Pella will be able to bid on more events of larger size in the near future.”
The 45,000-square-foot Vermeer Global Pavilion offers an arena, a 108-seat auditorium and classrooms. Pella Opera House, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, can seat 225 in the Great Hall and 325 in the theater itself. Bos Landen Golf Resort and Conference Center accommodates groups of up to 225 people.
Meanwhile, the Royal Amsterdam Hotel is a popular meetings-ready property in town.
Ten miles southeast of Pella, Tassel Ridge Winery offers tours of its 49 acres of vineyards. Groups are welcome for tours and tastings on weekdays, and a small meeting space is available.
Nearby at Lake Red Rock, Iowa’s largest lake, a new interactive environmental learning center, Earthpark, is scheduled to open in 2010. Guests will be able to wander through three Amazonian rainforest ecosystems and a multilevel freshwater aquarium, and a science center will educate visitors about global and Iowa ecology through hands-on and virtual reality multimedia experiences.
Ames is a college town in all the best ways. Between Iowa State University and a host of new and upgraded hotels and off-site venues, planners have a variety of options to choose from, while the town’s welcoming hospitality makes it an inviting group destination.
“Ames is a very accommodating community that provides outstanding service and a diverse mix of dining and entertainment options,” says Julie Weeks, executive director of the Ames CVB. “People in the community are usually aware when groups are in town and are very friendly and welcoming to the visitors.”
The hotel options in Ames are expanding. Comfort Suites became Holiday Inn Ames Conference Center in April. The 75-room property has also added a boardroom, in-house banquet services, and a full-service restaurant and lounge, the Cardinal Cafe. Three meeting rooms total 4,500 square feet. A new 75-room Fairfield Inn by Marriott is scheduled for completion in June. The 120-room Quality Inn and Suites Starlite Village, with more than 9,000 square feet of meeting space, is currently undergoing a major renovation. In preparation to become Best Western University Park Inn and Suites, University Park Inn and Suites is also undertaking upgrades.
Iowa State University, which will celebrate its sesquicentennial in 2008, offers several venues for groups, including the Iowa State Memorial Union, which boasts 22 meeting rooms, and Iowa State Center, a four-building complex with 21 conference rooms, a 450-seat auditorium, more than 30,000 square feet of exhibit space, a 15,000-seat arena, and outdoor space.
Scheduled for completion in August 2008, Central Iowa Expo is a 110-acre outdoor exhibition destined to be the biennial home to the Farm Progress Show.
Other interesting venues in town include Ames City Auditorium, capable of seating 881; Octagon Center for the Arts, which can welcome as many as 175; and Reiman Gardens, part of the Iowa State Campus, offering rentals to groups as large as 450.
Groups might also enjoy getting a taste of the area at two local wineries. Prairie Moon Winery grows organic grapes in its 18-acre vineyard and accommodates small groups. Family-owned Snus Hill Winery welcomes groups to use its large banquet room with dance space.
For More Info
Ames CVB 515.232.4032
www.amescvb.com
Greater Des Moines CVB 515.286.4960
www.seedesmoines.com
Pella CVB 641.628.2626
www.pella.org
