Hot Hotel Trends — What’s Cool, Contemporary and Classic in IA

Long gone are the days of lumpy double beds, hideous artwork bolted to the wall, and air conditioning units that turned a hotel stay into an arctic expedition. In an increasingly competitive marketplace, hoteliers are recognizing that their guests are interested in more than just a bed for the night. They want to be comfortable, indulged and made to feel like their business matters. Fortunately, that’s what we’re seeing now in this year’s hotel trends.

Green is trending big time in hotels all across the country, but we’re not talking furniture or wall colors. More and more hotels are considering the carbon footprint they leave behind. For many frequent travelers, a hotel that practices sustainability and eco-friendly policies is a must.

And because busy business travelers are saying “no thanks” to the cold cereal/lukewarm coffee “continental breakfast” many hotel chains offered in the past (and even giving the cold shoulder to a hot breakfast at on-site restaurants,) hotels have had to come up with a new snack attack solution. As such, they’re giving guests the goods on the go with snack stations open and available 24/7.

Of course, most of us know business travel is for the birds. The same old/same old hotel rooms, restaurant fare and crabby front desk clerk in every city feel more than a bit unwelcoming. That’s why more and more often, hotels are striving to make their frequent flier guests feel like visiting royalty rather than a royal pain.

The folks at Hotel Julien Dubuque know a thing or two about pampering. Featuring 133 lavish guest rooms each with a pillowtop mattress, luxury linens, iPod docking station, work desk with ergonomic chair, walk-in shower, and luxurious bathrobes, it’s clear comfort and indulgence is the focus here. They even offer a “Capone Suite” tucked away in a private area of the hotel designed with a vintage theme and offering panoramic views of the glorious Mississippi River.

The staff at the new Harrah’s Council Bluffs Casino and Hotel take spoiling their guests rather personally. Recognizing that not every guest has the same taste or needs, they offer a wide range of room styles including Petstay Deluxe suites that allow guests to bring up to two canine companions to stay the night. The Gateway Hotel and Conference Center is unparalleled in charm and amenities, with a variety of rooms and suites including the Atanasoff Suite replete with a guest room, parlor, kitchenette and bathroom with whirlpool tub, oversized shower with five showerheads, and a mirror television setting. At the Des Lux Hotel, guests relax in rooms designed to feel like an escape to paradise, many of which welcome them with fireplaces and whirlpools, pillow top mattresses and goose down feather pillows.

Naturally, every good thing must come to an end, even business meetings. Recognizing that their business guests might be more than a bit stressed and exhausted, some hotels have taken to offering rejuvenating services like expansive spas or relaxing picturesque settings. The Hotel Blackhawk, Autograph Collection invites guests to a world of relaxation with a full menu of salon and spa services, including massages, body scrubs, foot baths, hair and scalp treatments, lip treatments, waxing, makeup application, manicures and pedicures.

Fewer and fewer business travelers are flying solo these days. As traveling for business increasingly becomes a family affair, hotels are offering packages that cater to the kin, welcoming the whole household with spacious suites that boast full kitchen facilities, sitting rooms, fireplaces and private entrances.

No matter where you book your bunch, the hottest trends in hotels this year are all focused on enhancing the guest experience. In our book, that’s a trend that should always stay in style. For a free complete list of hotels in Iowa, visit our meeting and event hotel guide. Not sure where you to host your next meeting, conference or event? Check out our free Iowa meeting and event destination guide.