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Farm town Des Moines emerging as meeting destination
Two new hotels are opening this summer in Des Moines and plans are under way for a new arena at the Iowa State Fairgrounds that will have a retractable floor for concerts and large meetings.
“Des Moines is a hidden jewel, and it’s our job to uncover it,†said Vicki Comegys, director of sales and services for the Greater Des Moines CVB. “With all the attractions, shopping, dining, and skywalk system, we’re a great destination for meetings.â€
The two hotels are a Drury Inn and a Courtyard by Marriott.
Attractions include a 1900s-ers farm dinner or a circa 1875-town at Living History Farms, which is a 550-acre outdoor museum dedicated to the city’s agriculture heritage and rural life.
â€The city also offers a full range of cultural activities, including ballet, opera, symphony, and a host of stage entertainment, from comedies and Broadway hits to independent productions,†says Meetings MidAmerica.
Meeting facilities in Des Moines include the Iowa Events Center, which connects via skywalk to nearby hotels. Other options include Embassy Suites Hotel Des Moines–On the River, Hotel Fort Des Moines and Des Moines Marriot Downtown.
Outside the metro area in nearby Newton, facilities include the Sodexho DMACC Newton Conference Center as well as the Meadows Event and Conference Center in Altoona.
Just minutes away is Ames, home to Iowa State University (ISU), art galleries and a thriving downtown cultural district.
Two new venues will open this year. The 33,000-square-foot ISU Alumni Center will open this month with several meeting rooms and outdoor event space on the East Terrace. Opening in August, the Central Iowa Expo is a new outdoor event site specifically designed to host the massive Farm Progress Show.
The 110-room Hilton Garden Inn Ames is slated to open by the end of the year with 7,500 square feet of conference space.
Report by David Wilkening
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