All of the best things that makes for a great Midwestern meetings locale, including a friendly atmosphere, a reasonable price tag, group-friendly facilities and heaps of interesting attractions, can be found in Western Iowa.
Major metropolitan locales including Council Bluffs and Sioux City, picturesque Okoboji, otherwise known as the Great Lakes area, and Spencer and Storm Lake, where groups will find a popular county fair and a fun water park, respectively, all help planners facilitate group gatherings that mix business with pleasure.
Council Bluffs
Gaming via three award-winning casinos, a multipurpose convention center and easy access from Omaha Airport, situated only 10 minutes away, are among the top selling points for planners considering convening in Council Bluffs, says Josee Beier, director of convention and sports sales at the Council Bluffs CVB.
The main meetings properties here include the Mid-America Center, Holiday Inn Council Bluffs, Ameristar Casino Hotel Council Bluffs, Hilton Garden Inn Omaha East/Council Bluffs and Harrah’s Council Bluffs Hotel and Casino, while consistently booked off-site venues include the General Dodge House and Bayliss Park Hall.
According to Diane Hestness, group travel director at the Council Bluffs CVB, several activities are popular with groups after the meeting, including a culinary challenge that will leave attendees amazed with their creations and a visit to Honey Creek Creamery, where visitors can sample artisan cheese and milk a goat.
At Hitchcock Nature Center, groups can “get fitted with snowshoes and take a nature hike in the beautiful Loess Hills,” Hestness says.
A unique attraction in town is the historic Squirrel Cage Jail, a three-story Victorian Gothic-styled brick structure that groups can tour.
“It was built with the idea that one jailer and his wife could handle all inmates, as the cells are on a Lazy Susan-type cylinder,” Hestness says. “Paranormals swear up and down that it is haunted.”PageBreak
Okoboji
The Iowa Great Lakes Area, collectively known as Okoboji, is a unique meeting destination where attendees enjoy work and play, according to Stacy Rosemore, director of tourism at Okoboji Tourism.
“We find that we have many repeat groups that come back year after year because their attendees have so much fun,” she says. “Not only do they accomplish their goals, but with the additional recreation it gives attendees the opportunity to network and bond outside of a conference/work environment.”
In addition to partaking in waterborne pursuits, golf and disc golf, attendees get a kick out of visits to the Iowa Rock ’n’ Roll Music Association Hall of Fame, Okoboji Classic Car Museum and Arnolds Park Amusement Park, which sports a pavilion and a roof garden for off-site events.
The Queen II Excursion Boat, which Rosemore says is an Okoboji favorite, has a capacity for 200 people reception-style and 100 banquet-style.
“This can be great for a dinner cruise or even a meeting break session,” she says. “All while you get to cruise West Lake Okoboji.”
Among the area’s group-friendly properties are Arrowwood Resort and Conference Center, Bridges Bay Resort, Inn at Okoboji and Village West Resort.
Sioux City
The anchor of Sioux City’s meetings portfolio is the Sioux City Convention Center, which according to Jonalee Jackes, convention sales manager at the Sioux City Convention Center and Sioux City CVB, is a comfortable, conveniently located and affordable facility.
“Sioux City has a unique opportunity with its location in the tri-state area,” she adds.
Main meetings-friendly venues in town include Stoney Creek Inn & Conference Center and the Hilton Garden Inn Sioux City Riverfront, and standby off-sites include the Orpheum Theatre, Sioux City Public Museum and the Sioux City Art Center.
Jackes says the convention center can assemble an entertainment package for visiting groups including museum tours, golf, historic tours, outdoor recreational walks or runs, shopping and spa opportunities.
“We can also organize a fun scavenger hunt,” she says.
Another enjoyable option for groups is an outing to Palmer’s Old Tyme Candy Shoppe, home of the famous Bing candy bar, a Midwest regional favorite
Located to the south of Sioux City in Sloan, Iowa, is the new gaming property, WinnaVegas Casino Resort, which is garnering the attention of planners all over the Midwest.PageBreak
Clay County
Home to the “World’s Greatest County Fair” is Clay County, where the main group-friendly player is Spencer. According to Jill Toft, tourism director at the Clay County CVB, planners enjoy discovering all the area has to offer.
The main meetings facilities here include the Clay County Regional Events Center, Clay County Fairgrounds, Legends Events and Social Center, all in Spencer, and the Everly-based Hap Ketelsen Community Center.
Among the area’s most popular off-site venues are Cabin Fever Farm, a spot well-suited for an informal gathering complete with a Tiki bar and karaoke system, and the recently renovated Spencer Community Theatre, which accommodates small meetings and receptions in its multipurpose conference room.
Planners might think about booking the event at the time of the Clay County Fair, which is held annually in September and regularly draws over 300,000 people to the Fairgrounds.
During any month, popular group outings include visits to Historic Peterson, the first settlement in Clay County; Bogenrief Studios, a glassblowing studio in downtown Spencer where demonstrations and classes are available; and golf outings to either Spencer Golf & Country Club or Spencer Municipal Golf Course.
Spencer is also home to several shopping opportunities, Toft adds, including the Southpark Mall for shopping and dining in a climate-controlled setting, and the historic downtown district where attendees will find eateries and specialty shops.
Storm Lake
Situated along the shores of Storm Lake’s 3,200-acre natural lake is King’s Pointe Resort & Waterpark, the destination’s go-to place for meetings and events.
“We always encourage companies to host their company outings at King’s Pointe Resort,” says Whitney Dickinson, sales coordinator at King’s Pointe Resort & Waterpark. “They can enjoy a nice meal in our banquet space and unwind and relax at the outdoor water park or enjoy the other amenities we have on-site.”
Among those on-site options are the Sunrise Pointe Golf Course and Pirate’s Pointe, a miniature golf course for those in the group who aren’t ready to hit the actual links.
Near King’s Pointe is Watercraft Rentals at King’s Pointe Lighthouse, where groups can rent kayaks, pontoons, aqua bikes and more.
“There are also plenty of fun downtown shops in Storm Lake,” Dickinson says.
And at Buena Vista University planners will find meeting facilities for groups of five to 800 people. Among them are audiovisual-equipped meeting rooms and a grand ballroom.
Carolyn Blackburn is a frequent contributor to Meetings Focus.
