Meeting & Event Planning in Greater Des Moines
Greater Des Moines has become a top destination for meetings, conventions, reunions, social affairs, sporting events and motorcoach tours. Des Moines' central location is the definition of accessibility. Our downtown four-mile skywalk system is the largest, per capita, in the world. Located at the junction of Interstate 35 and Interstate 80, Des Moines is an easy drive from anywhere, in the heart of the Midwest.
Development
Since 2000, there has been more than $2.85 billion in new construction. The revitalization has included the Iowa Events Center, 300,000 square feet of convention space in Downtown Des Moines; a new Science Center of Iowa and Blank IMAX Dome Theater; and additions to the Principal Riverwalk, which includes Brenton Skating Plaza, the city's first permanent, open-air ice rink, and the Robert D. Ray Asian Gardens, a three-story pavilion and hand-carved marble bridge highlighting the diversity of Des Moines' community. Plans are in place for a pedestrian promenade and civic garden to be added in a later phase of the project.
Development has also stretched to West Des Moines, where Jordan Creek Town Center and West Glen Town Center have brought the visitor's shopping experience to another level. Designed for pedestrians, both town centers have a village feel. Jordan Creek is home to popular retail stores, several restaurants and a 20-screen movie theater. The Jordan Creek village includes pedestrian trails, restaurants, a hotel and an amphitheater. West Glen, designed with pampering in mind, is a collection of high-end locally-owned businesses and boutiques.
With several new hotels, Greater Des Moines now has over 10,000 sleeping rooms available for you to enjoy. New hotels continue to go up across the Metro. Renovations have been done on several existing hotels in the past year alone, including a $13 million renovation to the Des Moines Marriott Downtown.
World-Class Facilities
Located in the center of Downtown Des Moines, the Iowa Events Center, comprised of Hy-Vee Hall/Veteran's Memorial Auditorium, Wells Fargo Arena and Polk County Convention Complex, is more than 300,000 square feet of connected space.
The Iowa State Fairgrounds offers more than a dozen major building and exhibit facilities, located just 10 minutes from downtown. Des Moines has welcomed events including the American Quilter's Society Quilt Show, World Pork Expo and the Des Moines Home and Garden Show. Other groups that hosted meetings in Des Moines include the National Governors Association and Crime Stoppers International.
