DemiCon: Outpost 37

Des Moines' 37th Annual Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Gaming Convention

Holiday Inn & Suites Des Moines–Northwest, Iowa

May 1–3, 2026

Convention Hotel & Travel Information

Convention Hotel

DemiCon is being held at the Holiday Inn & Suites Des Moines-Northwest. The newly renovated hotel features a conference center and a Bennigan’s restaurant. Rooms include internet, a microwave, a mini refrigerator, and a Keurig coffee maker. The hotel also has an indoor pool, fitness center, and business center.

The full address is 4800 Merle Hay Road, Urbandale, IA 50322.

Guest check-in is at 3:00 PM and guest check-out is by noon.

The hotel is 100 percent non-smoking, including guest rooms.

This is a pet friendly hotel, however please check with the hotel for the official hotel pet policy.

 

Map of Holiday Inn at 4800 Merle Hay Road, Urbandale, IA 50322

 

Hotel room block and booking your room

A group room block with special rates is available until April 8, 2026.

Group Name: DemiCon 37-2026

Group Code: CON

Reservations Deadline: April 8, 2026

Please make your reservation as soon as possible to ensure you get a room. Some high demand room types sell out quickly, and historically the entire hotel sells out. If you wait until the last minute there may be no rooms available or you might not get the room type you want. Once the room block closes, any remaining rooms in the hotel will be opened for non-convention attendees.

Room Type Convention Rate
Standard, 1 King Bed $112 + taxes and fees
Standard, 2 Queen Beds $112 + taxes and fees
Suite, Extended King $142 + taxes and fees
Suite, Junior King $142 + taxes and fees
Suite, Family King $172 + taxes and fees
Suite, Family Double Queen $182 + taxes and fees

Reminder that if you use your debit card the hotel will put a hold and pre-charge your rooms. This could cause money you think should be there to be unavailable throughout the weekend. Due to this common hotel practice, we suggest the use of a credit card if this would be an issue.

You have two options for making your hotel reservation.

Option 1

Make your reservation online using the room block code.

Option 2

Call the hotel directly at 515-278-4755 and ask to be placed in the room block.

Group Name: DemiCon 37-2026

We highly recommend against calling the corporate Holiday Inn 1-800 number. Corporate customer service has a history of telling attendees that there are no rooms available because they don't understand how the convention room block works and that we have blocked out the entire hotel for the convention. If the front desk at the hotel is busy, there is a chance your call might roll over to the 1-800 number. If this happens, kindly ask that they transfer you back to the hotel front desk.

Please let us know if you encounter any difficulties making your room reservation. You can contact our hotel liason or concom.

Travel to and from the hotel

By car

The Holiday Inn & Suites Des Moines-Northwest is conveniently located just south of the intersection of Interstate 80/Interstate 35 and Merle Hay Road. The parking lot can accommodate 350 vehicles.

From Chicago Take I-80 West for approx. 346 miles. Exit 131 South for Merle Hay Rd. 2 blocks, hotel is on the right.
From Omaha Take I-80 East for approx. 134 miles. Exit 131 South for Merle Hay Rd. 2 blocks, hotel is on the right.
From Kansas City Take I-35 North for approx. 193 miles. Exit 131 South for Merle Hay Rd. 2 blocks, hotel is on the right.
From Minneapolis Take I-35 South for approx. 244 miles. Exit 131 South for Merle Hay Rd. 2 blocks, hotel is on the right.

By air

The local airport is Des Moines International (DSM). It is 12 miles from the hotel, 22 miles if you take the IA-5 bypass to I-35 North.

The hotel provides complimentary shuttle service to and from the airport.