Dear Members of the Iowa Annual Conference,
We are pleased to share that the 2027 Iowa Annual Conference session will be held at The Hyatt Regency Event Center in Coralville, Iowa.
This change reflects our ongoing commitment to creating a welcoming, accessible, and effective gathering space for worship, holy conferencing, learning, fellowship, and the important business of the Annual Conference.
While we are grateful for the hospitality and flexibility the RecPlex has provided, moving from an ice arena setting to a dedicated event and conference center offers several advantages for our shared time together.
“We believe this move will help us gather with greater ease, focus, and hospitality as we continue our work together as the Iowa Annual Conference,” said Rev. Dr. Edgar Solís.
2027 Annual Conference FAQs for the New Location
When is the 2027 Annual Conference again? Annual Conference is scheduled for Thursday, June 17 through Saturday, June 19.
Where will it be located? The Hyatt Regency Coralville Hotel & Conference Center. The address is 300 E. 9th St., Coralville, IA 52241.
Why will the Annual Conference Session be held at a new location? The RecPlex has served the Iowa Annual Conference Session well for several years, but the facility didn’t have everything needed to maximize the Annual Conference experience.
Is there enough space at the Hyatt compared to the RecPlex? What makes this better? This new facility offers the Annual Conference Session more space at virtually the same cost as the RecPlex, with many added advantages. For example, Annual Conference participants will have room to connect, relax, meet, have multiple meals and meetings, and possibly even return to having breakout sessions for learning.
With several hundred attendees, including lay and clergy voting members, retired clergy, staff, exhibitors and guests, the event can swell to over 1,000 participants. From your evaluations of the RecPlex, we knew more space on the floor was a must, and the Hyatt offers more space in our main sessions. It will also be more accessible for those with different abilities.
The facility, with over 70,000 square feet of meeting space, will be dedicated to the Iowa Annual Conference, and the conference won’t have to share the facility with other groups. There is also still an abundance of restrooms accessible. The majority of the space that will be used will be on one level, and there are elevators to the hotel rooms and the few spaces that aren’t on the main level.
What are the options for hotels/lodging at this new place? This convention center has a hotel attached, and by staying at the official conference hotel, breakfast and parking will be included in the room rate.
While participants are encouraged to stay at the official conference hotel because parking and breakfast will be included in the hotel rate, as always, attendees are welcome to stay anywhere they like. There are other hotels fairly close to this location, and camping options are also nearby.
I’m worried about parking. What are the parking and transportation options? Ample parking is available at the hotel and the convention center, and the two are connected, so inclement weather will not be an issue. Parking will be $10 a day for those not staying at the hotel, and Iowa City has several public transportation options available also.
Are there food options around the convention center and hotel? There is a Starbucks and a restaurant at the hotel, and there are several restaurants within walking distance of the convention center and hotel. Learn more about that at https://iowariverlanding.com/.
I have more questions. How can I get answers? What else do I need to know? The sessions committee will continue to meet regularly, evaluate survey results and work on making Annual Conference better every year. Through this process, the group will look at the agenda with a Thursday through Saturday schedule and how the new facility might best be utilized to maximize its potential for Annual Conference participants.
Be sure to sign up to receive the Weekly 360 e-newsletter, and send questions/comments to [email protected]. More information will be coming as the year progresses, so stay tuned and get excited about the new possibilities!