Des Moines, IA Event Planning

Key Highlights

Hotels	124
Total Sleeping Rooms	13,000
Committable Sleeping Rooms*	13,000
Committable Meeting Rooms*	37
Convention Center Space	286,300 Sq. Ft.
Largest Exhibit Space	150,000 Sq. Ft.
Largest Ballroom	28,800 Sq. Ft.
Average Hotel Room Rate	USD $107
Average Daily Meal Cost	USD $59
Average Weekly Car Rental	USD $167
*Maximum for a single hotel

Des Moines, IA Meeting Planning Overview

Iowa's capital city is known for going above and beyond when it comes to hosting meetings and events. With easy accessibility, first-class facilities, and big city amenities, the vibe in Des Moines is decidedly welcoming and authentic. Whether it’s a family of four or a convention of 4,000, Des Moines likes to play host and it shows.

Located in the middle of the heartland, Greater Des Moines is accessible both logistically and financially. It’s adventure without the risk, but all the rewards. It’s culture without the cost, but all the creativity. It’s planning without the hassle, but all the payoff. There’s a reason why Greater Des Moines is the fastest-growing metro in the Midwest.

For those who prefer a road trip, Des Moines is centrally located at the intersection of I-80 and I-35, a short distance from many of its Midwest neighbors. For the frequent fliers, Des Moines International Airport offers 160 flights a day, including 20+ direct flights to major U.S. cities. Upon arrival, visitors will appreciate the 10 minute commute to the walkable and clean downtown, home to the popular Court Avenue District and the 4.4 acre Pappajohn Sculpture Park. The downtown district is well connected with a four-mile skywalk system offering climate-controlled access to many venues and attractions. It sits a short walk across the river from the fashionable Historic East Village neighborhood, which has been dubbed “the closest thing to Brooklyn that Iowa has ever seen” and is home to the nation’s most beautiful Capitol building. While you’re here enjoy the first-class service and versatile size of the Iowa Events Center, Des Moines’ premier convention center featuring a 28,000 square-foot ballroom, 150,000 square feet of exhibit space, and 32 meeting rooms. Discover the perfect off-site venue and create memorable experiences at iconic landmarks like the World Food Prize, Living History Farms or the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden. With a wide variety of options for suit every taste, you’ll find the right-sized venue complimented by one of the city's nearly 150 hotels. 

The capital city is also booming with business. Year after year, Des Moines ranks as one of the three largest cities for financial, insurance, and ag-bio industries. Home to numerous corporate headquarters, including Principal Financial, Meredith Publishing Company and Allied Insurance, Des Moines has a growing reputation as one of the premiere “event cities” in the Midwest. From urban attractions and national sporting events to world-class festivals and acclaimed performing arts, Des Moines provides for an authentic, inclusive and surprising experience. The essence of Greater Des Moines can’t be boiled down to one thing or feature, but rather the benefit of the overall experience, that sense of discovery and finding fulfillment in the most unexpected of places: Des Moines.

Des Moines: The S’s are Silent. Our city is buzzing.

About Des Moines, IA / Additional Info

The capital and most populous city in Iowa, Des Moines is the political, economic, and cultural center of the state. The metro, home to 600,000+ residents, has built a reputation as an emerging city with rapid population growth and a high quality of life. In fact, Des Moines was recently ranked in the top 10 places to live in the United States by U.S. News & World Report and one of the top 10 Best Places for Business and Careers according to Forbes.

Part of a five-county metropolitan area expanding nearly 3,000 square miles, the Des Moines skyline boasts grand skyscrapers including the 33-story Marriott hotel and the 45-story Principal Financial Group tower. Despite its vertical growth in the 1970s and 1980s, Des Moines still retains its historic charm in communities such as Sherman Hill, Historic East Village and Historic Valley Junction.

Aside from historic districts, Greater Des Moines is growing in popularity for its long-list of attractions and first-class retail areas which includes four shopping malls, an outlet mall, and several shopping districts. Whether you are ice skating along the banks of the Des Moines River at Brenton Skating Plaza, exploring hundreds of plants and flowers at the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden, or watching the wildlife at Blank Park Zoo, visitors can find plenty of ways to enjoy the outdoors in the city. Sports fans can catch an Iowa Cubs game at Principal Park, one of the top rated minor league stadiums in the nation, or get in on the action at places such as Climb Iowa, MB2 Raceway, and more. There are more than 800 miles of trails to bike, walk and run throughout the metro, with restaurants and breweries along the way. Visitors can rent a bicycle downtown or soak up the outdoors and public art by following the 6-mile Art Route, which connects people to 87 pieces of art throughout downtown Des Moines via green dots along the sidewalk.

If you are looking for indoor activities, explore the Des Moines Art Center, which brings in world-renowned and unique exhibits and offers free admission. Alternatively, children and adults alike can explore the solar system or the inner workings of the human body at the Science Center of Iowa. History buffs should not miss a visit to the State Historical Museum or the Iowa State Capitol, which details the people, places and events that have shaped Iowa's past. Catch a Broadway show or performance by the popular Des Moines Symphony at the Des Moines Civic Center or a concert at Wooly's.

From world-class dining to vibrant bars and clubs, Greater Des Moines has something for every night on the town. Pull up a chair at Alba's chef's table, ranked one of the best in the country. Or settle in for dinner at downtown Des Moines' famed Zombie Burger where you can pick from crazy and unique burgers. Night and day, indoors and out, there is never a shortage of things to experience in Greater Des Moines.

Des Moines, IA Key Stats for Meeting Planners

Time Zone: Central Time (CT)
Convention Center(s):

Iowa Events Center

Hotel at Convention Center? Yes
Sleeping Rooms 1 Mile from Convention Center: 2,322

Airport(s):

Des Moines International Airport

Destination Type(s):

Golf Destination
Smoke-free Restaurants

Special Event Venues
150
Population
611,000
Restaurants
1,000
Country Code
1
Sales Tax
6.00%
Currency
U.S. Dollar
Standard Tipping Practice
10-20%
Electricity
120V / 60Hz
Official Languages
English

Credit Cards and Travelers Cheques widely accepted? Yes

All average costs based on U.S. Government Per Diem rates as published by the U.S. General Services Administration.

Cities Near Des Moines, IA

	Distance	Estimated Driving Time	Estimated Min. Flying Time	Estimated Flight Cost
Cedar Rapids, IA	128 mi	1 hr 56 min	3 hr 15 min	USD $709+
Omaha, NE	135 mi	N/A	N/A	N/A
Lincoln, NE	190 mi	3 hr	4 hr 28 min	USD $611+
Kansas City, MO	193 mi	2 hr 58 min	3 hr 50 min	USD $543+
Minneapolis, MN	244 mi	3 hr 40 min	1 hr 07 min	USD $438+
Chicago, IL	334 mi	N/A	N/A	N/A
St. Louis, MO	348 mi	5 hr 30 min	1 hr	USD $221+

Des Moines, IA Climate Information

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Avg. High (°F)	29	34	46	61	72	82	86	84	76	65	47	34
Avg. Low (°F)	11	16	27	40	51	61	66	64	54	43	29	17
Rec. High (°F)	65	70	91	93	98	103	105	108	99	95	76	69
Rec. Low (°F)	-24	-20	-22	9	28	42	47	40	28	14	-4	-22
Rainfall (in)	1.1	1.2	2.3	3.3	4.0	4.3	3.7	4.0	3.1	2.3	1.8	1.3

Similar to most Midwestern cities, Des Moines has a humid continental climate that sees a wide range of weather conditions and four very distinct seasons. The summer months see an average high temperature of 86°F, while temperatures in the winter drop to a chilly 32°F. Winters have moderate to heavy snowfall that transforms the city into a powdery white wonderland. Rainfall typically occurs during the months of May and June with precipitation averaging 33 inches annually.

Although there is a high variability in Des Moines' weather conditions, the city's extensive climate-controlled skywalk system allows visitors to enjoy the city in comfort year-round. However, the absolute best time to visit Des Moines is autumn, when the weather is sunny and dry.

Meeting Planning in Des Moines, IA

Iowa Events Center

The Iowa Events Center is a unique combination of three venues: Wells Fargo Arena, Hy-Vee Hall, and Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center. Following a $42-million renovation, the Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center now boasts 33,892 square feet of new meeting room space and a 28,730-square-foot ballroom. The entire Iowa Events Center now has 226,000 square feet of total space, including 150,000 square feet of exhibit space, 40 meeting rooms and a 17,500 seat arena. The renovation included unique upgrades including an infinite amount of LED lighting capabilities, eight large projectors that can display images that are 16’ tall by 30’ wide, technology to display both static marketing logos and dynamic videos interacting and cold water plumbed into each of the 21 meeting rooms.

Total space: 226,000 sq. ft.
Total meeting rooms: 37
Largest exhibit space: 150,000 sq. ft.
Max classroom: 4,545
Max banquet: 6,270
Max theater: 17,000
Max reception: 10,000
Max 10x10 booths: 803
New meeting space: 33,892 sq. ft.
Ballroom: 28,730 sq. ft.

View Profile Request Quote

Des Moines, IA Meeting Venue Spotlight

Des Moines Civic Center

221 Walnut Street
Des Moines, IA 50309

View Profile Request Quote

Iowa State Fairgrounds

East 30th Street
Des Moines, IA 50317
Total Meeting Space – 300,000 Sq. Ft.

View Profile Request Quote

Des Moines, IA Airport Information

Des Moines International Airport (DSM)

Located approximately six miles south of downtown Des Moines, the Des Moines International Airport is Iowa's largest airport, providing non-stop service to 19 destinations including Chicago, New York City, and Washington, DC. Des Moines International handles more than 2.5 million passengers per year. American Airlines, United, and Delta carry the most passengers in and out of the airport.

Passengers traveling to and from Des Moines International will find the airport loaded with amenities including a business center, meeting rooms, currency exchange, and short-term, long-term, and economy parking. Plus, they can also enjoy the ease of taxis, Uber, and Lyft services as well as complimentary hotel shuttles.

Airline carriers serving Des Moines International Airport

Delta
United

Allegiant
Frontier

Southwest
American

Des Moines, IA Public Transportation

Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority (DART)

The Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority (DART) operates a convenient and efficient public bus line that covers the Greater Des Moines area seven days a week. On average, DART provides 16,000 rides every weekday making stops at shopping malls, business districts, residential areas and schools. Regular route fare is $0.75 for children ages 6-10 and $1.75 for adults. Express route fare is $0.75 for children and $2.00 for adults.

Paratransit

DART Paratransit provides demand response transportation service to senior citizens and persons with disabilities. Some services are provided free of charge under contract to many agencies. Other services require the passengers to pay a fare and are subsidized by DART member cities.

Shuttles

DART has a free shuttle service that connects the Capitol Complex with the Western Gateway in downtown Des Moines. The shuttle, known as "D-Line", operates Monday through Friday about every 10 minutes from 6:30 AM to 6 PM, Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. through October 28, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. after October 28.

Rental Cars

Several familiar rental car companies, including Alamo, Avis, Enterprise Rent a Car, Hertz, National and Thrifty, operate out of the baggage claim area at Des Moines International Airport. Additional rental car companies are located throughout Greater Des Moines.

Taxis, Uber & Lyft

Greater Des Moines offers Taxis, Uber and Lyft at the airport and around the metro. Both Capitol and Yellow Cab companies provide 24-hour service from the airport and accept cash as well as major credit cards. The average fare from Des Moines International to the Iowa Events Center is approximately $20. When using the Uber app, enter code DSMUBER to receive $20 off your first ride.

Distance To...

	Distance	Estimated Driving Time	Estimated Min. Flying Time	Estimated Flight Cost
Cedar Rapids, IA	128 mi	1 hr 56 min	3 hr 15 min	USD $709+
Omaha, NE	135 mi	N/A	N/A	N/A
Lincoln, NE	190 mi	3 hr	4 hr 28 min	USD $611+
Kansas City, MO	193 mi	2 hr 58 min	3 hr 50 min	USD $543+
Minneapolis, MN	244 mi	3 hr 40 min	1 hr 07 min	USD $438+
Chicago, IL	334 mi	N/A	N/A	N/A
St. Louis, MO	348 mi	5 hr 30 min	1 hr	USD $221+