While in different states and on opposite sides of the Missouri River, the cities of Omaha, Neb., and Council Bluffs, Iowa, complement each other as meetings destinations. While Omaha is the pulsating hub of the region and Council Bluffs offers a more low-key ambience, both destinations are sporting new enhancements that strengthen their appeal to the group market.
“We’re like a new city—we’ve invested over $2 billion in rebuilding ourselves,” says Dana Markel, executive director of the Omaha CVB. “If you haven’t been here recently, you don’t understand what we’re all about.”
Omaha
Much of the investment in Omaha’s infrastructure includes a growing inventory of hotel rooms and meeting space. Construction is under way on a new 333-room Marriott convention hotel across from the downtown CenturyLink Center, the city’s 250,000-square-foot convention center. Part of a $225 million complex that will also include dining and entertainment venues, office space and residences, the hotel is scheduled to open in spring 2016.
“It will really strengthen our convention package, giving us another full-service hotel by the center, in addition to the select-service hotels that are also nearby,” Markel says.
The 159-room Hyatt Place Omaha/Downtown Old Market opened in late 2013 in the Old Market Entertainment District, a favorite visitor area with restored brick buildings housing unique shops and restaurants. Another recent addition is the 159-room Residence Inn Omaha Downtown, located in a federal building dating from the 1930s. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the hotel preserves the terrazzo marble tiles, brass fixtures and details of the original structure.
West Omaha, which offers a cluster of meetings-friendly hotels in the 72nd and Grover streets area, is also on the move. The largest property, the 365-room Ramada Plaza, which offers 75,000 square feet of convention space and a waterpark, recently completed a $30 million renovation.
“The Ramada is a popular meetings destination, especially for drive-to meetings, because of its easy access to the Interstate,” Markel says. “There are also plenty of smaller hotels nearby that can provide overflow space for large groups.”
Also in the area, the Doubletree Guest Suites was reflagged as the Aksarben Suites Omaha in February. The property is now under independent management and scheduled to undergo a $4 million renovation later this year. The former Executive Inn & Suites recently reopened as the Doubletree by Hilton Omaha Southwest, following a $20 million renovation.
Omaha’s Midtown Crossing is an up-and-coming area with new restaurants, shops, offices and condos drawing an increasing population of young professionals. The 132-room Omaha Element Midtown Crossing is the major hotel in the area.
“A lot of business travelers are drawn to Midtown Crossing because of all the dining options,” Markel says. “The Element does very well with small corporate groups.”
Just outside Omaha in La Vista, another important meetings option is the 257-room Embassy Suites Omaha-La Vista and the adjacent 60,000-square-foot La Vista Conference Center.
For off-site venues, Omaha offers a number of outstanding choices, including the Henry Doorly Zoo, where groups can mingle in the country’s largest indoor rainforest or dine under a transparent tunnel of swimming sharks in the Suzanne and Walter Scott Aquarium. Both masterpieces of Art Deco architecture, the Joslyn Art Museum and Durham Museum offer a wide array of event spaces.
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Council Bluffs
Far from being overshadowed by Omaha, Council Bluff benefits from its proximity to the larger city, according to Josee Beier, director of convention and sports sales for the Council Bluffs CVB.
“Being close to Omaha is a strong selling point for us,” she says. “We’re just 10 minutes from Omaha International Airport, we’re actually closer to it than most of Omaha. Almost all of the major airlines fly into the airport, so we have great accessibility. Plus it’s easy to get over there—many of our hotels have free shuttle service into Omaha.”
The city is also benefiting from a change of management for the Mid-America Center, the city’s convention center and arena, which is now operated by Caesars Entertainment. The facility offers 64,000 square feet of meeting space, including a 30,000-square-foot arena accommodating up to 9.000 people and a 24,000-square-foot exhibit hall.
“Caesars Entertainment’s involvement with the Mid-America Center is very exciting, given their reputation for food and high-quality service,” Beier says. “This summer the center will be entirely refurbished with new carpeting and wall coverings.”
The major meetings hotels in Council Bluffs include the Holiday Inn Hotel and Suites, Ameristar Casino Hotel, Hilton Garden Inn and Harrah’s Council Bluffs.
“The Holiday Inn recently did a property-wide renovation and offers some really unique meeting space,” Beier says. “Their Lewis and Clark ballroom overlooks the river and offers great views of the Omaha skyline.”
A major new addition to the city is Tom Hanafan River’s Edge Park, a green space with views of the Missouri River and Omaha skyline that includes areas for outdoor concerts, sports events and festivals.
“The park is a wonderful venue,” Beier says. “We can do a wide range of outdoor events there as well as bike rides and team-building.”
The city’s pioneer history and role in early railroad history are celebrated at several off-site venues and attractions. Among them is the Union Pacific Railroad Museum, which is located in the city’s historic Carnegie Library, and features exhibits on the building of the transcontinental railroad, including a depiction of a Union Pacific ticket office. Visitors can ride on a simulated train and even try their hand at helping build a train.
At the RailsWest Railroad Museum, which is available for receptions, visitors can tour the city’s 1899 rail depot and explore an outdoor collection of locomotives and vintage rail cars. Another popular venue is the Historic General Dodge House, the palatial Victorian-era home of a prosperous merchant who helped build the transcontinental railroad. The house offers an upstairs ballroom for banquets and receptions.
MARIA LENHART is a frequent contributor to Meetings Focus.
