Des Moines Area
- DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Des Moines Airport opened near the Des Moines International Airport in September 2012. Previously a Radisson hotel, the property includes 100 hotel rooms, four banquet areas and the adjoining Johnny’s Italian Steakhouse.
- Hilton Garden Inn West Des Moines is in the process of adding a new event center and 45 additional guest rooms. At press time, completion was scheduled for this summer.
- Prairie Meadows Hotel was completed in March 2013. The adjoining casino is undergoing a $10 million, 15,000-square-foot expansion to include a total of 2,200 slot machines. The casino renovation is a two-year project that is scheduled for completion in 2014.
Ames
- The 9,000-square-foot James H. Andrew Railroad Museum and History Center opened in May 2012. It includes thousands of railroad artifacts, a library and a theater.
Cedar Rapids
- The city of Cedar Rapids is building a new convention complex to be called the U.S. Cellular Convention Center, which will include a new exhibit hall, ballrooms, meeting rooms and prefunction space, plus a renovated events arena and renovated hotel with an additional ballroom and meeting room space. The hotel, the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Cedar Rapids Convention Complex (www.cedarrapidsconventioncomplex.doubletree.com), will have 267 guest rooms. Overall, the complex will feature approximately 80,000 square feet of event space. At press time, the complex was scheduled for completion sometime this summer.
- In November 2012, the Paramount Theatre, which was nearly destroyed during the floods of 2008, reopened after being completely restored and updated with additional meeting space. The Paramount houses a recital hall, rehearsal studios, a lounge and visual art exhibit space, and is available for meetings, conferences, events and performances.
Iowa City/Coralville
- Hampton Inn Iowa City/University Area opened in November 2012 with 93 guest rooms and a meeting room.
- Homewood Suites by Hilton Coralville-Iowa River Landing opened in February with 94 guest suites.
- Residence Inn Coralville opened in September 2012 with 100 suites and a meeting room.
Dubuque
- The National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium expanded its facility and opened a third phase in 2012. The campus now includes the Mississippi River Center, the National Rivers Center and the Mississippi Plaza.
- The Grand River Center recently updated its meeting rooms. The center features 86,000 square feet of meeting space on the banks of the Mississippi River.
- At press time, the Grand Harbor Resort and Waterpark, attached to the Grand River Center, was scheduled to complete a renovation of all 193 guest rooms early this summer.
- The Holiday Inn Dubuque/Galena recently completed a renovation of all of its meeting rooms as well as its lobby level, and is continuing to make upgrades to its 193 guest rooms.