DemiCon: 38-bit

Des Moines' 38th Annual Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Gaming Convention

    

Holiday Inn & Suites Des Moines–Northwest, Iowa

April 30-May 2, 2027

Convention Hotel & Travel Information


Convention Hotel

DemiCon is being held at the Holiday Inn & Suites Des Moines-Northwest. The 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 7, 2027.

Group Name: DemiCon 38-2027

Group Code: DC38

Reservations Deadline: April 7, 2027

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.

In addition, there is another group that is not related to our convention that is also in the hotel this weekend so we have fewer rooms available overall.

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 $115 + taxes and fees
Standard, 2 Queen Beds $115 + taxes and fees
Suite, Extended King $145 + taxes and fees
Suite, Junior King $145 + taxes and fees
Suite, Family King $175 + taxes and fees
Suite, Family Double Queen $185 + 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 38-2027

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.

Important Note About Accessible Rooms:

The hotel offers accessible rooms; however, Holiday Inn’s reservation system does not allow accessible accommodations to be booked online. This limitation is controlled by Holiday Inn and is not related to our event or registration process.

If you require an accessible room, please contact the hotel directly by phone to make your reservation. We apologize for any inconvenience this hotel booking policy may cause.

Note About Early Arrival and Late Departure:

Are you planning to arrive early to the hotel? Or maybe stay a few extra days?

You can add additional nights to your hotel stay, both before and after the convention, outside of what Holiday Inn's website will allow for our room block. If the nights you are looking for aren't available on the website you just need to call the hotel directly to book those nights.


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.