With attractions ranging from art museums and riverboat cruises to the Victorian charm of Dubuque, the German roots of the Amana Colonies and the Eastern European flavor of Czech Village in Cedar Rapids, eastern Iowa brims with culturally rich event options.
Dubuque
Marked by hills and high bluffs along the Mississippi River, Dubuque is unique in both geography and history. From horse-drawn carriage rides through a Victorian downtown to a riverboat cruise or an afternoon of casino gaming, Dubuque has an irresistible mix of attractions.
Once known as a center of commerce for logging, boatbuilding and even button-making, Dubuque has five historic districts, and makes the most of each one.
“We’ve taken a lot of historic buildings and converted them into restaurants, bars and shops,” says Sue Czeshinski, director of the Dubuque Area CVB.
While several sites are preserved on the National Register of Historic Places, many other historic buildings are receiving new life with renovation and development, including the historic Julien Inn, which recently closed to undergo a $6 million restoration and expects to reopen by late 2008.
“We’ve seen $250 [million] to $500 million in additional development in the last few years,” Czeshinski says.
Dubuque is in phase two of building the America’s River project, a multiyear development that has created numerous attractions, including the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium; the Mississippi Riverwalk; Alliant Energy Amphitheater; an indoor waterpark; and the Grand River conference center. Other components will include an expansion of the museum (slated for completion by fall 2009), the RiverMax theater, research labs, and more.
Another upcoming development is the new Diamond Jo Casino, which will move from its riverboat location to become a land-based entertainment complex with a 36-lane bowling alley, a 2,000-seat theater, a restaurant, and a casino.
While state associations provide the bulk of Dubuque’s meetings business, the city is also expanding into the regional association, corporate and sports markets, including hockey tournaments at the Five Flags Center, Czeshinski says.
The city’s main facility for large gatherings is the Grand River Center, while the Grand Harbor Resort and Waterpark and the Holiday Inn Dubuque/Galena are among the main meetings-ready hotels.
Quad Cities
The Quad Cities region, which actually spans five cities, two counties and two states, sits along the only east to west section of the Mississippi River. The major communities of the Quad Cities are the Iowa cities of Davenport and Bettendorf, and the Illinois cities of Rock Island, Moline and East Moline.
The area is rich with history and art, featuring attractions such as Davenport’s River Music Experience, a museum and live music project dedicated to preserving the melodies of Mississippi River culture, and Davenport’s Figge Art Museum, home to the defining collection of Midwest artists. Nearby on the Illinois side of the Quad Cities is the Rock Island Arsenal, complete with an historic fort, military museum and both national and Confederate cemeteries; and the popular John Deere Historic Site, where the modern history of American farming was born. These attractions are also popular for off-site events.
While the destination’s current average group size of 250 to 300 is ideal, that number will jump with the opening of the new Bettendorf Events Center this spring, according to Lynn Hunt, vice president of tourism sales with the Quad Cities CVB.
“We’re very excited about the center,” she says. “It will be next door to the Isle of Capri Hotel and Casino, and once it comes online, we’re looking at groups of 1,000 or more.”
The 50,000-square-foot center is just one of the new projects making an impact on the destination. The Isle of Capri recently added the Palm Tower to its lodging inventory of 256 rooms in May, and two other properties, the 28-room Hampton Inn and Suites Davenport and the 72-room Comfort Inn and Suites Davenport, opened within the last year, giving a boost to the Quad Cities’ inventory of 5,500 rooms.
Other meetings-ready properties include Stony Creek Inn and Conference Center; the newly renovated Clarion Hotel Conference Center; The Abbey Hotel; and The Lodge Hotel and Conference Center.
The RiverCenter in Davenport is another top option for events.
Cedar Rapids
Just northwest of the Quad Cities is Cedar Rapids, home to historic and cultural sites like Brucemore, an 1880s-era mansion open for tours and events; the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, renowned for its collection of paintings by Grant Wood; and the National Czech and Slovak Museum in Czech Village, a business district filled with ethnic food, shopping and other fun diversions.
While heritage is a main draw in Cedar Rapids, progress is another highlight of the destination, which has revitalized its downtown business district in recent years and is welcoming additional properties and unveiling renovations at existing hotels.
A new 103-unit Hampton Inn and Suites is slated to open in October, and construction will begin this fall on an adjacent 88-room Homewood Suites. The Cedar Rapids Marriott recently finished a multimillion-dollar, property-wide renovation, including the facility’s 20,000 square feet of meeting space; the Crowne Plaza Hotel Cedar Rapids–Five Seasons, located adjacent to the U.S. Cellular Center (the city’s largest convention venue), will also undergo a complete renovation this year, and the Clarion Hotel and Convention Center moved toward becoming a completely green facility, with hybrid shuttle cars, bamboo flooring, renovations utilizing green building materials, and hypoallergenic rooms.
The city is celebrating the Year of the River in 2008, noting the importance of the Cedar River to the area with festivals and special events, according to Tim Boyle, executive director of the Cedar Rapids Area CVB.
“The riverfront forms the heart and soul of where we have been and, more importantly, where we will go in the 21st century,” he says.
The city also features the Veterans Memorial Coliseum for large events, the Cedar Rapids Education and Conference Center and the Best Western Longbranch Hotel and Convention Center.
Just a few miles southwest of Cedar Rapids are the Amana Colonies, a collection of seven villages that take attendees back in time with museums, artisan bakeries, breweries, and wineries, not to mention one-of-a-kind shopping for handcrafted items.
The destination accommodates groups at the Holiday Inn Amana Colonies, the Amana Colonies Outdoor Convention Facility and RV Park, and the Amana Colonies Golf Club, which offers condos and meeting space.
Iowa City/Coralville
After a flurry of development and renovation in the last few years, Iowa City and Coralville are reaping the rewards.
The area’s largest meeting facility, the Coralville Marriott Hotel and Conference Center, opened in August 2006, bringing 60,000 square feet of meeting space to the area and giving the two cities a chance to lure larger groups, according to Jillian Beukema, vice president of the Iowa City/Coralville CVB.
“The Marriott has been huge for meetings business,” she says. “Before, we were limited on exhibit space, now we have 30,000 square feet of exhibit space for trade shows. It’s opened so many opportunities for us.”
Although strong in association business, Beukema says, the area is branching out to pursue larger associations as well, and can handle groups of from 100 to 3,000 people.
Home to the University of Iowa, the area offers many cultural diversions, such as the Old Capitol Museum, a popular off-site venue for group events. An entertainment district surrounds the museum with galleries, shops and restaurants, perfect for delegate downtime. Another top pick is the fun and offbeat Antique Car Museum of Iowa, a gearhead’s dream of automotive history.
The recently renovated Iowa Memorial Union is another top meeting venue, and group-friendly hotels include the Sheraton Iowa City, the new hotelVetro in Iowa City; Holiday Inn Coralville; and the nearby Riverside Casino and Golf Resort, featuring a 973-seat events center, gaming, entertainment, golfing, and a spa.
Waterloo/Cedar Falls
Up the river from Cedar Rapids are the cities of Waterloo and Cedar Falls, two destinations filled with unusual, don’t-miss activities.
Planners might consider adding an extra day to the itinerary just to check out attractions like the Silos and Smokestacks National Heritage Area, a network of farms that allow attendees to experience rural life firsthand. Participants can bottle-feed a calf, climb into a grain harvester, eat a cowboy breakfast, and much more. Tours are also available of John Deere Operations in Waterloo, and the company has 195 acres of manufacturing floor space to leave visitors in awe.
The area also has an impressive variety of museums, from the historic Little Red Schoolhouse to the new Dan Gable International Wrestling Institute and Museum, which opened last year in Waterloo. The 16,000-square-foot museum is the latest spot for off-site events, according to Kelly Kimmich, convention sales manager for the Waterloo CVB, and is just one of many new developments in the works.
“Waterloo is booming with developments,” she says. “We’re working on River Renaissance, a two-block area that will include a riverwalk and amphitheater, and will be perfect for outdoor expo space.”
Also new in Waterloo is the Isle Casino and Hotel at Waterloo, which opened last June with 195 guest rooms, five dining options and 5,000 square feet of meeting space.
This spring, the Waterloo Center for the Arts will debut the Phelps Youth Pavilion, and the Grout Museum will unveil a veterans museum in the fall.
State and regional associations, along with agricultural and religious meetings, form the foundation of convention business for the area, according to Kimmich. The ideal group size to keep attendees within walking distance of venues and properties is 250 to 500 rooms, and people often book extra time because of the many attractions.
Popular offsite venues include the authentic Irish atmosphere of Jameson’s Pub and the colorful Galleria de Paco, which boasts a rendition of Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel masterpiece on the ceiling, painted by local artist and restaurant owner Paco Rosic.
Meeting facilities include the Five Sullivan Brothers Convention Center and Young Arena.
Cedar Falls has earned a number of awards through the years for attractions and events, including an appearance on the American Bus Association’s “Top 100 Events” list for its Sturgis Falls Celebration, a mid-summer event featuring a street fair, lots of live entertainment, a parade, and even a marathon run.
In addition to the festival, Cedar alls also has several historic sites and museums, including the Victorian Home and Carriage House Museum, and the Ice House Museum. Part of the city’s appeal is the downtown area, a charming district filled with shops, galleries and entertainment, all of which is popular with attendees, according to Kim Berger, manager of the Cedar Falls Visitor and Tourism Bureau.
“We’re large enough to have amenities that people are accustomed to, but small enough to make people feel special,” she says.
Park Place Event Centre is a primary gathering venue in town, and hotels with meeting space include Holiday Inn University Plaza and Comfort Inn and Suites Cedar Falls, which opened in summer 2006.
Burlington
Situated in the southeastern corner of Iowa on the banks of the Mississippi River, Burlington mixes history with modern-day facilities and amenities.
The inviting city features a collection of well-preserved historic buildings and several historic sights in the surrounding area, numerous parks, a lively riverfront area, and waterborne recreational activities such as boating, jet skiing and riverboat cruising.
One of the city’s biggest attractions for both leisure travelers and groups is Fun City, a complex featuring indoor and outdoor waterparks, a golf course and other entertainment offerings that are all complemented by the newly renovated Best Western Pzazz Fun City, the new Pzazz Convention and Event Center and the new Catfish Bend Casino and Catfish Bend Inn & Spa.
For More Info
Amana Colonies CVB 319.622.7622
www.amanacolonies.com
Cedar Falls Visitors and Tourism Bureau 319.268.4266
www.cedarfallstourism.org
Cedar Rapids Area CVB 319.398.5009
www.cedar-rapids.com
Dubuque Area CVB 563.557.9200
www.traveldubuque.com
Greater Burlington CVB 319.752.6365
www.visit.burlington.ia.us
Iowa City/Coralville CVB 319.337.6592
www.iowacitycoralville.org
Quad Cities CVB 563.322.3911
www.visitquadcities.com
Waterloo CVB 319.233.8350
www.waterloocvb.org
