THE MARVELOUS MIDDLE

BY RACHEL CRICK

FROM COLLEGE TOWNS TO THE CAPITAL, cities in Iowa’s middle teem with culture and distinct personalities. From smaller cities with lively downtowns and capable meeting venues to larger cities with some of the state’s largest venues, meetings in the heart of the state capitalize on Iowa’s diversity. The range of conference hotels is wide, from historic to brand new, and many local attractions double as meeting and event venues.

Des Moines

At the confluence of the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers, Iowa’s capital is its largest city (pop. 210,000) and the epicenter for business and manufacturing in the state.

“We have over 80 insurance and financial companies that are headquartered here in Des Moines,” said Trina Flack, vice president of sales at Catch Des Moines. “We have the infrastructure in place to make it a vibrant, fun city.”

The Iowa Events Center, the city’s main convention center, is the largest meeting venue in Iowa. The three-building complex has a 150,000-square-foot exhibit hall, 28,000 square feet of ballroom space

The Iowa Events Center is the largest meeting venue in Iowa.