It looks like 2016 is going to be a busy year for Central Iowa. Not only will national media be flocking to the area for coverage of the 2016 Iowa caucuses, which kick off the big election year, Des Moines will also play host to the first- and second-round games of the NCAA “March Madness” tournament at Wells Fargo Arena.
Next year will also likely continue to see a rise in the number of meetings and events held in Central Iowa, where Des Moines and Ames have both reportedly booked solid numbers in 2015. And as these big-ticket events are making their way to the cities, each continues to expand its group offerings.
Here’s a closer look at what Des Moines and Ames can offer groups in the area for a meeting or event.
Des Moines: Cultural Evolution
One of Des Moines’ major meetings strengths is that it doesn’t rely too heavily on business from any one type of group. Whether it’s a sporting event or a large corporate get-together, the city can cater to it.
“It seems like the balance of corporate and leisure and sports and group travel is still strong, in our metro area and many metros throughout the country,” says Vicki Comegys, vice president of convention sales, sports and services with Catch Des Moines (the Greater Des Moines CVB).
New hotels continue to open across the Des Moines metro and its surrounding suburbs, with construction scheduled to begin in early 2016 on a new convention center hotel attached to the Iowa Events Center. In Ankeny, a new Homewood Suites recently opened next to the existing Courtyard by Marriott, and additional hotel projects are in the works for West Des Moines and beyond.
The Des Moines Performing Arts facilities provide a number of venue opportunities in the city center, which include the Civic Center, Stoner Theater, Temple Theater and Cowles Commons. All of these spaces are available for rental, with the Civic Center offering theater-style seating for 2,700.
“This summer people were using Cowles Commons all the time,” Comegys says. “The outdoor space was used during Winefest and the Downtown Farmers’ Market plans to utilize it as well. That’s really exciting for groups that are downtown, and it’s right next to indoor event space available at Capital Square.”
The Capital Square building’s atrium was recently remodeled with events in mind, including the addition of LED lighting and upgraded speakers, alongside a newly carpeted event space. Big City Burgers and Greens—a popular sustainable dining spot—is also located inside Capital Square, with space for 250.
The Des Moines Social Club, which opened in 2014, has grown into an active meetings hub where planners can schedule a full agenda across all of the facilities available within the space.
“The Social Club is being used a lot,” Comegys says. “It has a variation of spaces that can be used there, either from the programming that’s already existing—such as regular culinary classes that are available—to a customized program using the different theaters for reception space.”
The venue was designed to celebrate all things arts and culture and is located in a renovated, historic Art Deco firehouse in the downtown area. The Des Moines Social Club’s facilities are spread across two buildings, multiple floors and an outdoor courtyard.
Also nearby is the West End Architectural Salvage, another trendy spot for meetings and receptions, made famous after becoming the star of its own reality TV show on HGTV. The shop salvages and refurbishes various pieces of furniture and sells them as custom pieces that are on display for attendees to peruse when taking a break from business.
Last year, the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden celebrated the launch of its renovated facilities, including a range of meeting and event space and Trellis, a farm-to-table restaurant. The DuPont Room is its largest formal indoor event space, offering sweeping views of the gardens and space for up to 220.
Meanwhile, the culinary scene in Des Moines is booming, with the continued success of innovative restaurants, such as Zombie Burger + Drink Lab, a zombie-themed restaurant serving burgers and alcohol-infused milkshakes; MALO, a modern Latin restaurant set inside the Des Moines Social Club; and RoCA, which offers small plates and craft cocktails in a stylish, brick-walled space.
Ames: On the Rise
Ames is a perfect fit for groups looking to pick up on the national excitement of the 2016 Iowa caucuses and other major events, while still seeking out affordable spaces and undivided attention.
“The trend we’re really focused on is continuing to work with planners to personalize their event,” says Julie Kieffer, group sales and services manager with Visit Ames. “That means working with planners to develop the look and feel of a meeting or event that is unique to their group and its goals.”
Many of the city’s larger meetings facilities are located near or are directly associated with Iowa State University, which is known for its agricultural and educational programs and, of course, the Iowa State Cyclones athletic teams. The 55,000-seat Jack Trice Stadium is where the Cyclones play football and the Sukup End Zone Club offers a newly opened, two-level enclosed lounge event space within the stadium.
“The space is absolutely stunning,” Kieffer says. “Even though it only opened about a month ago, I’ve already booked four events in there. It’s a very cool, hip space that would be fabulous for a really unique experience. The exact numbers are still being determined, but it can easily support 700-plus people.”
Jack Trice Stadium is part of the Iowa State Center lineup of facilities, which includes Hilton Coliseum, Stephens Auditorium and the Scheman Building, combining to form Ames’ largest total event space. Another major on-campus sporting facility is the Cyclone Sports Complex, an outdoor space built in 2012 for Iowa State track and field, soccer and softball that has since become popular for events.
Beyond the Iowa State campus facilities, a 67-room Sleep Inn & Suites recently opened in Ames, and Towneplace Suites by Marriott and Hampton Inn by Hilton hotels are on the way in early 2016.
More upward momentum is also being felt across the arts, music and dining scenes in the college town, leaving attendees with plenty to do in their off-time, in addition to the aforementioned Big 12 sports.
“Ames has a great dining scene and a great music scene,” Kieffer says. “We have tons of opportunities for music and shows, whether at C.Y. Stephens Auditorium, or just elsewhere around town. You can find pretty much any cuisine you’re looking for here and a lot of our restaurants are locally owned.”
Some trendier spots on the dining scene include +39 Restaurant, Market & Cantina—an authentic Italian restaurant with an attached market selling cheese, Italian wines and more, and a full-service cantina where wine tasting events are held—and Bar La Tosca, a fine-dining restaurant with an Italian and Mediterranean-inspired menu and a small-plate vibe. Groups can also arrange for the 11 or so food trucks patrolling the city to show up at various venues across town for a tasting session.
Craft breweries are also on the rise in Ames, with Alluvial Brewing Company and Torrent Brewing Company quickly becoming popular stops for groups looking to sample some local flavors.
Rounding out Ames’ cultural scene is a collection of university museums that includes the Brunnier Art Museum, which can support up to 200 attendees, the Christian Petersen Art Museum for groups of 75 to 150, and the Farm House Museum, with intimate event space for smaller groups.
