For those traveling to Des Moines that need a place to stay overnight, downtown Des Moines has seven hotels for them to choose from. Those seven are:

• Downtown Marriott
• Embassy Suites
• Holiday Inn Downtown
• Hotel Fort Des Moines
• Quality Inn & Suites Event Center
• Renaissance Savery Hotel
• Suites of 800 Locust Street

Now I’m not in the hotel business but the number of hotels we have downtown seems a little limited. Not only in choices (i.e. no five star hotels) but also in the number of rooms for the size of the city (1,745 rooms by my count) and the events that we are currently drawing. There have long been talks of a new hotel near the Iowa Events Center as well as turing one of the older buildings downtown into a boutique-style hotel, but to-date nothing concrete has appeared. I think we could use a hotel in the Court Avenue neighborhood, and one towards the west-end of the Western Gateway Park as well as a another near the Iowa Events Center that is connected via the skywalk.

I did some research on a lot of different travel sites and complied together in one place some information on our six downtown hotels. Hopefully this will help you or your visitors decide where to stay based on their needs when visiting downtown Des Moines. I think first you should be aware of the “star rating” system that is being used:

These are hotels that offer only the highest level of accommodations and services. The properties offer a high degree of personal service. Although most five star hotels are large properties, sometimes the small independent (non-chain) property offers an elegant intimacy that can not be achieved in the larger setting. They are generally located in the heart of downtown or in resort locations. The hotel lobbies are sumptuous, the rooms complete with stylish furnishing and quality linens. The amenities often include: DVD players, CD stereos, garden tubs or Jacuzzis, in-room video library, heated pools and more. The hotels feature up to three restaurants all with exquisite menus. Room service is usually available 24 hours a day. Fitness Centers and valet and/or garage parking are typically available. A concierge is also available to assist you. Typical National Chains: Ritz Carlton, Four Seasons, W. Downtown Des Moines: None

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Posted under Living Downtown
Tags: Hotels | Maps | Neighborhoods | Property Spotlight | Wi-Fi

If you live, work, or just hang out downtown, you’ll probably be looking for free wi-fi at some time. Since AT&T has yet to bring 3G to Des Moines, us iPhone users, half to use the much slower Edge to connect to the internet unless we are in proximity to free wi-fi somewhere downtown.

Several cities across the country have tried to bring free wi-fi wireless, or Muncipal Wi-Fi to their downtown communities. Some have succeeded, others have failed due to the costs involved. Major U.S. cities planning to, or that are currently building out free WiFi hotzones include San Francisco, Chicago, Denver, Miami and Portland Oregon to name a few. A number of smaller and mid-sized cities are also looking into or have already rolled out city-wide WiFi. Here in Des Moines, even some downtown condo buildings offer their owners and tenants free wi-fi in their condo building, but most do not, with cost has the biggest hurdle. 

In comes an inventor, currently a professor in Brazil is helping to bring solar powered wireless internet to communities. The low-cost “access point in a box” he has created needs no internet connection, electricity, or assembly to function. It is being tested on lamp posts in a number of locations. For many of us, the internet has become as basic of a utility as electricity and running water. Innovations such as these are becoming more common around the world, and are leveling the economic playing field and creating countless benefits for people who could otherwise not pay for the internet. Now thanks to numerous innovations, wireless internet is becoming cheaper and more accessible for everyone.

It’s been four years since Des Moines was named one of the “Top 10 Digital Cities”. Des Moines achieved this in 2004, 2002 and 2001. Until the City of Des Moines provides free wi-fi to 50309, here’s a list of places downtown where you can get free wi-fi:

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Posted under Living Downtown
Tags: Wi-Fi