Celebrate, Converge, Congregate – Picking the Best Venue For Your Iowa Event

Perhaps it seems like “Iowa Meeting and Event Planning 101” to go over venue types and what they offer, but it’s helpful to review the basics from time to time. It ensures that as planners, we’re putting together the most effective and economical event possible. To that end, leasing a space that’s incompatible with your event’s goals can make the end result not only unpleasant, but potentially disastrous. Knowing what you hope to achieve and adjusting your expectations according to what each venue offers is the first step when considering these spaces. Once you’ve asked yourself some very basic questions, acquiring the perfect place for your event should be as easy as 1-2-3.

Convention Centers

1. Size. Because of their spaciousness and large exhibit halls, convention centers like the Mid-America Center, can accommodate hundreds, sometimes even thousands of visitors. This makes them ideal for political conventions, trade shows, expos and other events where many people will be gathering.

A convention center will usually offer a large number of meeting or breakout rooms, typically consisting of one-third to one-half the size of the center's exhibition space. Entry lobbies can accommodate attendee registration and serve as pre-function areas for guests to assemble.

2. Location. Like Doubletree by Hilton Hotel Cedar Rapids Convention Complex, many convention centers are located in the heart of urban areas, so they are typically adjacent to a variety of hotels, restaurants, attractions and shopping areas. Some, like Sioux City Convention Center are close to airports or public transportation, and usually offer an abundance of parking on site.

3. Amenities. Iowa Events Center is a convention center that staff event coordinators in house. These pros are there to help you with logistics and securing arrangements for everything you need, from A/V equipment to dance floors to forklifts and spotlights.

And of course, most convention centers offer complete on site catering options!

Conference Centers

1. Size. Typically larger and more sprawling than a convention center, conference centers like Gateway Hotel + Conference Center located in Ames and Isle Casino Hotel Bettendorf + Waterfront Convention Center located in Bettendorf offer guests sleeping accommodations next to or near the actual conference and meeting center. This makes conference centers ideal for corporate retreats, professional, association or trade meetings, seminars and of course, conferences. Often featuring large auditoriums with seating to accommodate thousands, conference centers are also a good place for large scale presentations with popular keynote speakers. An abundance of breakout rooms offer attendees the ability to confer in smaller groups.

2. Location. Some conference centers like The RiverCenter | Adler Theatre and Grand River Center are located in major metropolitan areas convenient to transportation, fine dining, airports and entertainment. Others, such as Lake Panorama National Resort + Conference Center are expansive properties located outside city limits and in close proximity to lush surroundings and an abundance of outdoor activities.

3. Amenities. For conferences and retreats, Best Western PLUS Longbranch Hotel + Convention Center provides comfortable accommodations, spacious meeting places, and lovely surroundings with plenty to do after business hours. Featuring banquet facilities, on-site restaurants or event catering, Holiday Inn Ames Conference Center at ISU makes the ideal venue for large groups. Finally, conference centers boast the latest technology and AV equipment to maximize the effectiveness of your conference.

Community Centers

1. Size. If you’re searching for a Iowa event facility to meet the needs of a smaller group, a community center may be exactly what you need. Offering meeting space for groups as small as 10 to as many as 300, community centers provide a professional venue that is competitively priced to suit a smaller budget.

2. Location. Many community centers are located in the suburbs outside of urban areas. With more pastoral surroundings, a meeting at the North Liberty Community Center means less traffic congestion and more abundant (and free) parking.
 
3. Amenities. Typically, community centers like the Windsor Heights Community + Events Center have kitchen facilities on-site and will provide you with a list of preferred outside catering vendors. AV equipment is usually available, along with the technology to efficiently operate equipment at a level that you’ve come to expect from larger venues.

Country Club

1. Size. Ideal for more upscale corporate events, Tournament Club of Iowa is a private club that can accommodate more intimate gatherings of 10-20 or larger gatherings of several hundred attendees for events such as corporate golf tournaments.

2. Location. As the name implies, many country clubs like Indianola Country Club are located outside city limits in order to accommodate expansive grounds. However, there are some, such as Glen Oaks Country Club and Urbandale Golf + Country Club that are situated closer to town, but with just as much acreage. Either option provides idyllic surroundings with abundant, free parking. 

3. Amenities. The Des Moines Golf Country Club is a country club that offer tournament-level golf courses. While country clubs like Brown Deer Golf Club offer an on-site restaurant and catering for banquets is also available.