Are we there yet? Choosing the perfect Iowa meeting and event destination and working with CVBs

Any planner who wants the inside info knows you have to get it straight from the horse’s mouth. So when it comes to choosing your ideal Iowa meeting or event destination that means working with CVBs. As the workhorse of the meeting and event planning industry you know you can count on them to give you the scoop on everything you need to know. From helping plan an entire event, to creating marketing materials, locating venues and vendors, and assisting in planning off-site activities, these CVBs and Chambers of Commerce will lead you in the right direction to ensure that your event goes off without a hitch.

Central

Home to Iowa’s largest ballroom plus a 150,000 sq ft expo hall and easy skywalk access to hotels and restaurants, Catch Des Moines if you want to capture the imagination of your guests. Find all this and more at The Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center & Hy-Vee Hall at the Iowa Events Center. Plus, indoor water parks, luxury accommodations, attractions and activities to create a big event your guests will never forget.

Not to be outdone, Pella CVB easily competes by delivering a charming heritage, ample business opportunities, recreational abundance and cultural experiences. Just 40 minutes outside of Des Moines, Pella offers affordable meetings with all the amenities and conveniences of the big city with the promise of small town attention to detail, whether you’re a group of 20 or 2500.

Located just 15 minutes south of Des Moines, the planning pros at Visit Indianola know they have much to offer groups like yours. From their nationally-recognized Des Moines Metro Opera to their high-flying National Balloon Classic, there's even more to see and do in Indianola, including state parks, wineries, historical museums and the Arboretum at Buxton Park.

When you Visit Mason City, you encounter a place rich with history. Hometown of Meredith Willson, composer of "The Music Man," as well as home to Prairie School Architecture with several buildings in the community designed by Frank Lloyd Wright himself, Mason City has small town charm with big city capabilities. It is the ideal place to host events of all types and sizes with over 41,000 square feet of exhibit space at The North Iowa Events Center.

Eastern

Meander back east and the Travel Dubuque pros will welcome you with helpful meeting planning services, an 86,000 square-foot convention center, an invigorated casino and gaming complex, a riverwalk, an expansive outdoor plaza, and a large amphitheater.

Nestled on the banks of the Mississippi River, Clinton Iowa Tourism offers visitors spectacular views, a host of activities including fishing, birding, kayaking, camping and boating, along with The Regency Inn & Conference Center featuring 100 rooms to comfortably accommodate all your guests.

At the same time, the good folks at Greater Burlington are certain your meeting will take on new meaning at the PZAZZ! Convention & Event Center, with its FunCity Banquet Room and VIP Private Lounge Club. However, a larger gathering of up to 500 may find the classic Burlington Memorial Auditorium more suitable for their needs.

Waterloo CVB offers a grant program with funding for meeting room rental fees, entertainment and honorariums, group transportation to off-site events, and more. A wide range of event venues are available including Ramada Hotel & Five Sullivan Brothers Convention Center, Isle Casino Hotel Waterloo, RiverLoop Amphitheatre, RiverLoop Expo Plaza and Young Arena.

Western

The pros at Visit Sioux City invite you to experience the wide variety of options available to you in their locale. The Sioux City Convention Center, the Tyson Events Center, Anderson Dance Pavillion, and the Argosy Casino offer ample room, amenities and activities in the heart of one of Iowa’s most vibrant cities.

Ask the good folks at Vacation Okoboji how many choices you have for planning your event and they’ll tell you—more than you can imagine. With over 45,000 square feet of meeting space and over 1,400 sleeping rooms, Okoboji can accommodate all your meeting needs.  Plus, they offer golf courses, miles of trails, fabulous shopping, water recreation, museums, and much more to make your guests stay memorable.

The same could be said of The Clay County Regional Event Center in Spencer with its 7600 sq ft grand ballroom and a 24,000 sq. ft. arena/exhibit hall. What’s more, the Clay County CVB will point you in the direction of the Clay County Fair, where each September, over 300,000 people flock to experience the entertainment, educational exhibits and agricultural background that is a valuable part of the history of this state.

But no matter where you travel throughout Iowa, you’ll find CVBs are there to help you take your meeting or event into the winner’s circle.

Visit Take Five to learn more about Catch Des Moines and Waterloo Iowa and about future featured Iowa meeting and event destinations!