Meetings traveling to Eastern Iowa can avail themselves of some great group properties that are ready to meet and exceed the expectations of planners and attendees alike.
To get in the know about accommodations options in the Hawkeye State, we’ve produced a roundup of some of the most popular properties that may appeal to your next meeting or event.
Cedar Rapids
DoubleTree By Hilton Cedar Rapids Convention Complex
Located in the heart of downtown Cedar Rapids, the DoubleTree by Hilton Cedar Rapids Convention Complex is one of the cornerstone hotel and convention properties in what’s known as The Corridor.
Opening its doors in 2013, the hotel towers above most buildings in the downtown area, sitting at an impressive 16 stories. With 267 guest rooms and over 68,000 square feet of event space spread across 20 meeting rooms, the DoubleTree certainly does not lack meeting and event venues.
The hotel is within walking distance of some of Cedar Rapids’ most iconic downtown experiences, including the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, City Center, Grant Wood Studio & Visitor Center and the Historic Paramount Theater. And with the addition of the Big Grove Brewery and Pickle Palace (pickleball) developments downtown, the offerings within walking distance of the DoubleTree only continue to grow.
The hotel’s 9,384-square-foot Grand Ballroom is divisible into multiple smaller spaces, measuring between 2,800 and 6,624 square feet each, depending on configuration. Another highlight of the property is the Parlor Ballroom, a private dining and event space located on the top floor of the DoubleTree and connected to the 350 First restaurant and lounge with expansive views of downtown Cedar Rapids and the Cedar River. The property is also connected to the Alliant Energy PowerHouse, a massive convention center that has over 80,000 square feet of meeting and exhibition space and is able to accommodate up to 10,000 attendees.
Radisson Hotel Cedar Rapids
Located just off I-380 and 13 miles from Eastern Iowa Airport sits the Radisson Hotel Cedar Rapids. The hotel was formerly owned by Marriott until July 2023 when the Radisson hotel group bought the property for over $8 million. The 220-room, seven-story Radisson Hotel is located just 10 minutes away from downtown Cedar Rapids.
Radisson Hotel Cedar Rapids is also four miles away from Brucemore, a historic mansion and estate built in the 19th century and which is a tourist hub of cultural, philanthropic and educational activities, including concerts, tours, garden programs, children and family activities, outdoor theater and more.
[Related: Historic Venues in Iowa for Hosting Showstopping Events]
The Radisson itself has nearly 26,000 square feet of meeting and event space spread across 18 venues ranging from boardrooms to ballrooms, with the Grand Ballroom able to accommodate over 1,200 attendees. Other meeting rooms include the Aspen Meeting Room, with a capacity of up to 144 guests reception-style; the Cedar Rapids Meeting Room, which can host 226 standing or 169 banquet-style; and the Hickory room, with space for more than 300 guests for a reception. The property also includes a restaurant, the Cedar Grille, a fitness center, AV equipment and catering options.
The Hotel at Kirkwood Center
The middle of a cornfield is not where most people think a AAA Four-Diamond luxury hotel should be located, but that’s exactly where one of the most luxurious properties in The Corridor, The Hotel at Kirkwood Center, resides.
Located just off of Interstate 380 and near Eastern Iowa Airport, The Hotel at Kirkwood Center is the only AAA Four-Diamond hotel in the Cedar Rapids area, and it holds this distinction while being the only teaching hotel of its kind in the nation.
The Hotel at Kirkwood Center hosts over 350 hospitality and culinary students from the nearby Kirkwood Community College’s Hospitality Arts program and provides hands-on industry experience for students, teaching them how to deliver high-quality hospitality to guests.
[Related: Experiencing The Hotel at Kirkwood Center’s Hospitality Arts Program]
Students at the hotel can be identified by their signature gray jackets, but oftentimes cannot even be told apart from the hotel’s professional staff members and student mentors.
With over 19,000 square feet of meeting and event space and multiple types of venues to choose from, The Hotel at Kirkwood Center also provides many options for meeting and event planners coming to Cedar Rapids.
From the 7,454-square-foot ballroom able to seat up to 700 attendees and an event room and amphitheater able to seat up to 90 or 104 attendees, respectively, to multiple prefunction and breakout rooms each with hybrid meetings technology, The Hotel at Kirkwood Center provides multiple spaces to choose from, all with that Four-Diamond luxury touch.
Dubuque
Grand Harbor Resort and Waterpark
Situated along the Mississippi River and adjacent to gaming and entertainment venues in historic downtown Dubuque is the Grand Harbor Resort and Waterpark. The 193-room resort is located next to the Grand River Event Center and is within walking distance of some of the best attractions Dubuque has to offer, including the National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium, Diamond Jo Casino, Lacoma Golf Club, Sundown Mountain and the Port of Dubuque Marina. And for the young-at-heart, the resort also features a 25,000-square-foot indoor waterpark that offers a variety of rides and attractions.
The Grand Harbor Resort and Waterpark features over 86,000 square feet of meeting and event space, including a Grand Ballroom able to accommodate up to 1,000 attendees, the all-glass “River Room,” an exhibit hall and smaller meeting spaces able to accommodate up to 50.
Hilton Garden Inn Dubuque Downtown and Q Casino
Hilton Garden Inn Dubuque Downtown is located on historic Schmitt Island next to Iowa Greyhound Park. With all the attractions of downtown Dubuque just two miles away, the Hilton Garden Inn features over 1,500 square feet of meeting and event space spread across two meeting rooms, the largest of which is able to accommodate up to 100 attendees.
The hotel is also next to Q Casino, owned and operated by the city of Dubuque and the local non-profit Dubuque Racing Association. The Dubuque Racing Association claims to have made an economic impact of over $1 billion on the local community, and all profits from Q Casino go to the city and other area charitable organizations.
Iowa City
Hyatt Place Iowa City Downtown
Hyatt Place Iowa City Downtown, a six-story, three-star hotel built in 2018 in downtown Iowa City, is located minutes from one of the largest college campuses in the state of Iowa. With the Writing University and Kinnick Stadium within walking distance, the property’s location couldn’t be more ideal for groups wanting to explore everything downtown Iowa City has to offer.
The property also has nearly 1,700 square feet of meeting and event space across two venues. Meeting Place 1 is 1,104 square feet and can host up to 100 attendees while Meeting Place 2 is 575 square feet, can accommodate up to 40 guests and is equipped with LCD projectors, screens and whiteboards.
Hyatt Regency Coralville Hotel & Conference Center
Located a bit further from downtown at Iowa River Landing, Hyatt Regency Coralville Hotel & Conference Center can accommodate much larger groups and provides easy access to the rapidly growing Iowa River Landing area.
With 288 guest rooms and nearly 60,000 square feet of event space, including two ballrooms and a large exhibit hall, the Hyatt Regency can accommodate thousands of attendees for larger meetings, events or conventions. And while it may be further from University of Iowa’s main campus, the Hyatt Regency Coralville Hotel & Conference Center is still in close proximity of Xtream Arena and is just a few miles away from Kinnick Stadium, Carver-Hawkeye Arena and Finkbine Golf Course.
With Iowa River Landing right around the corner offering a variety of restaurants, boutiques, museums and entertainment opportunities, the Hyatt Regency Coralville & Conference Center provides the plethora of off-session fun and networking options attendees desire.
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