The Des Moines Hotel Landscape
Des Moines hosts an unusual mix of visitors for a mid-sized city. Insurance and financial services corporate travel drives weekday demand, the State Capitol and government business add a steady flow, and events such as the Iowa State Fair, the Des Moines Arts Festival, and major college sports fill weekends. That diversity has produced a hotel market with real range, including restored historic properties, contemporary boutique hotels, reliable full-service brands, and extended-stay options for long assignments.
Location strategy matters. Downtown and the East Village put guests within walking distance of restaurants, the sculpture park, and the skywalk system. West Des Moines offers newer properties, easier parking, and proximity to shopping and suburban office parks. Airport-area hotels serve early departures and short layovers.
The Top 10 Hotels in Des Moines
1. Hotel Fort Des Moines
A century-old landmark restored to modern standards, Hotel Fort Des Moines blends historic character with contemporary rooms, a strong restaurant, and event space. Its downtown location and genuine sense of place make it the most distinctive full-service option in the city and a frequent choice for weddings and corporate functions.
2. Surety Hotel
Housed in a beautifully restored historic bank building, Surety Hotel is the boutique benchmark in Des Moines. Design-forward interiors, thoughtful service, and an acclaimed restaurant have made it the preferred stay for travelers who care about atmosphere. The location on Walnut Street is central to downtown business and dining.
3. Des Moines Marriott Downtown
The largest downtown hotel, connected to the skywalk system and located near the convention district, the Marriott is built for conferences and business travel. Reliable service standards, meeting facilities, and skywalk access to much of downtown make it practical year-round, and particularly valuable in winter.
4. Hilton Des Moines Downtown
Adjacent to the Iowa Events Center, the Hilton serves event attendees and business groups with modern rooms and substantial meeting space. Its position is ideal for concerts, conventions, and sporting events, where the ability to walk to the venue is a genuine advantage.
5. AC Hotel Des Moines East Village
Located in the East Village, this property pairs European-influenced modern design with one of the best neighborhood settings in the city. Guests can walk to independent restaurants, boutiques, and the Capitol grounds, making it a favorite for leisure travelers and weekend visitors.
6. Renaissance Des Moines Savery Hotel
Another historic downtown property, the Savery combines heritage architecture with updated accommodations. Its long-standing role in Des Moines civic and political life gives it a character that newer hotels cannot replicate, and its central location suits both business and leisure stays.
7. Sheraton West Des Moines Hotel
Positioned in the western suburbs near business parks and Jordan Creek Town Center, the Sheraton offers full-service amenities with easier access and parking than downtown. It is a common choice for regional meetings and for families combining shopping with a metro visit.
8. Hyatt Place Des Moines Downtown
Hyatt Place delivers dependable modern rooms, complimentary breakfast, and a location convenient to downtown offices and dining. It occupies the sweet spot between full-service pricing and limited-service simplicity, which appeals to practical business travelers.
9. Element West Des Moines
Designed for longer stays, Element provides in-room kitchens, a strong fitness offering, and a bright, contemporary aesthetic. Relocating employees, consultants on multi-week projects, and traveling medical professionals find the format well matched to extended assignments.
10. Holiday Inn Des Moines Airport Conference Center
Close to Des Moines International Airport, this property serves early departures, late arrivals, and regional meetings with shuttle service and on-site conference facilities. For travelers with a pre-dawn flight, proximity is worth more than any amenity list.
Choosing the Right Area
If your priority is walkability, dining, and downtown business, stay downtown or in the East Village. If you need parking, shopping, and access to western suburban offices, West Des Moines is the better fit. Airport hotels make sense purely for schedule reasons. During the Iowa State Fair in August, rates rise across the entire metro and availability tightens dramatically, so booking several months ahead is prudent.
What Local Hotels Do Well
Des Moines hotels generally deliver strong value relative to comparable properties in larger cities. Historic restoration has been a particular local strength, with several buildings converted thoughtfully rather than generically. Restaurant quality inside hotels has improved substantially, to the point where several hotel dining rooms are destinations for residents rather than conveniences for guests. Meeting and event infrastructure is also unusually good for the market size, supported by the convention district and Iowa Events Center.
Trends in Local Hospitality
Boutique and lifestyle brands have expanded fastest, reflecting traveler preference for distinctive properties over uniform ones. Extended-stay formats have grown alongside project-based corporate work. Hotels are investing in flexible lobby spaces that function as informal work areas, mirroring hybrid work behavior. Sustainability practices, from reduced housekeeping frequency to on-site water refill stations, have become standard rather than exceptional.
Booking Tips
Weekday rates downtown are driven by corporate demand, so weekends often present better value in the central business district while suburban properties follow the opposite pattern. Confirm parking costs in advance, since downtown valet and ramp fees add meaningfully to the nightly total. If you are attending an event at the Iowa Events Center or the convention district, prioritize skywalk-connected properties in winter. For stays longer than a week, ask directly about extended-stay pricing, which is frequently unpublished but available on request.
Final Thoughts
Whether you want a restored landmark, a design-led boutique, a conference-ready full-service hotel, or a practical suburban base, Des Moines has a credible option. Decide first whether walkability or convenience matters more for your trip, then book early for August and major event weekends. The city's hotel quality has risen substantially in recent years, and the value proposition remains one of its quiet advantages.