Hotel Fort Des Moines, Curio Collection by Hilton

What Hotel Fort Des Moines, Curio Collection by Hilton does

Hotel Fort Des Moines is a 290-room historic luxury hotel located in downtown Des Moines, Iowa. The property was originally founded in 1919, was listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1982, and has hosted more than 13 U.S. presidents. Following a $50 million renovation, it reopened in 2021 as Hotel Fort Des Moines, Curio Collection by Hilton, and is owned by Hawkeye Hotels and managed by First Hospitality Group. The asset is operated under Hilton's Curio Collection soft-brand distribution platform.

The property's core offerings extend beyond lodging rooms to include three food and beverage outlets, 13,362 square feet of meeting and event space accommodating up to 800 guests, dedicated wedding and social event services, and $36/night valet parking. It is physically connected to the Des Moines skywalk system, integrating the hotel into the downtown commercial and civic cluster. Recognitions include AAA 4 Diamond (2022), Catch Des Moines Hotel of the Year (2022 and 2023), WeddingWire Couples' Choice Award (2023), and U.S. News rankings of #1 in Des Moines and #6 in Iowa.

The business model generates revenue from four primary streams: guest room revenue across 290 keys, food and beverage through the three outlets plus banqueting, event and wedding bookings utilizing the meeting space, and ancillary services including valet parking and destination fees. Customer segments span transient leisure, corporate and government business travel tied to the downtown Des Moines demand base, and group/social events. Pricing is positioned at upper-upscale levels consistent with AAA 4 Diamond status, with distribution leveraged through Hilton's central reservations, Hilton Honors loyalty program, and the Curio Collection brand standard.

Name

Hotel Fort Des Moines, Curio Collection by Hilton

Legal name

Hotel Fort Des Moines

Website

https://hotelfortdesmoines.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1919

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Historic 290-room luxury hotel in downtown Des Moines, Iowa, operating under Hilton's Curio Collection soft brand. Serves leisure, corporate, and wedding/event guests with lodging, three F&B outlets, and 13,362 sq ft of event space.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Upscale Hotel and Hospitality Services

NAICS

Hotels (except Casino Hotels) and Motels (72111), Hotels (except Casino Hotels) and Motels (721110)

SIC

Hotels & Motels (7011), Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

City/Urban Convention Hotels (THAGALAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Convention Center–Adjacent/Connected Hotels (THAGALAD), Historic/Heritage Conference Hotels (THAGALAL)

Keywords

• Historic luxury hotel
• Upscale accommodations
• Wedding and event venues
• Fine dining restaurant
• Meeting and conference spaces

Headquarters

HQ city

Des Moines

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Lodging/Accommodations: Primary revenue stream from guestroom rentals including various room types (King, Queen, suites) with nightly rates. Room categories include standard rooms, corner rooms, accessible rooms, and the Presidential Suite.
2. Food and Beverage: On-site dining venues including Proudfoot & Bird (fine dining), Hobnob Coffee and Wine Bar (breakfast and evening service), and In Confidence speakeasy bar. Revenue from meals, beverages, and catering services.
3. Meeting and Event Spaces: Revenue from hosting corporate meetings, conferences, weddings, and events in 13,362 sq. ft. of event space including the 4,200 sq. ft. Grand Ballroom, Walnut Boardroom, and other venues. Includes catering and event services.
4. Valet Parking: Secured, covered valet parking service at $36 per night with in/out privileges. Also access to third-party parking garage.
5. Wedding Services: Comprehensive wedding packages including venue rental, catering, event planning services, and custom menus for ceremonies and receptions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Hotel Fort Des Moines operates a 290-room historic luxury hotel in downtown Des Moines, Iowa, providing upscale overnight accommodations (guest rooms, suites, and accessible rooms), three on-site food and beverage outlets (Proudfoot & Bird fine-dining restaurant, Hobnob Coffee and Wine Bar, and In Confidence speakeasy), and 13,362 sq. ft. of event space including a 4,200 sq. ft. Grand Ballroom for weddings, corporate meetings, and social events. The property is franchised under Hilton's Curio Collection and benefits from Hilton's reservation infrastructure, Hilton Honors loyalty integration, and standardized amenities (digital key, CleanStay, smart TVs, fitness center, valet parking).

Product overview

Hotel Fort Des Moines, Curio Collection by Hilton is a historic 290-room luxury hotel in downtown Des Moines, Iowa, founded in 1919. The hotel offers a comprehensive hospitality experience including accommodations (guest rooms, suites, and accessible rooms), on-site dining (Proudfoot & Bird fine-dining restaurant, Hobnob Coffee and Wine Bar, and In Confidence speakeasy bar), and extensive event facilities (meeting spaces, Grand Ballroom, and wedding venues). The property spans 13,362 sq. ft. of event space with capacity for up to 800 guests. Amenities include digital key access, fitness center with TechnoGym and Peloton equipment, valet parking, and complimentary WiFi. As part of Hilton's Curio Collection, guests benefit from Hilton Honors loyalty program integration. The hotel is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and underwent a $50 million renovation completed in 2021.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Proudfoot & Bird: Fine dining restaurant named after the original hotel architects, serving handmade pasta, seafood, poultry, and prime-cut beef with an award-winning wine selection.
• Hobnob Coffee and Wine Bar
• In Confidence

Products and services

• Hotel Guest Rooms and Suites 290 upscale guestrooms including King, Queen, corner, Writer's Nook, studio suites, and the one-bedroom Presidential Suite (with original 1918 artifacts), plus 26 accessible rooms. Designed for leisure and business travelers seeking historic-luxury accommodations in downtown Des Moines.
• Proudfoot & Bird Restaurant Fine-dining restaurant named after the hotel's original architects, serving handmade pasta, seafood, poultry, prime-cut beef, and a curated wine list. Open daily 7:00 AM – 2:00 PM and 4:00 PM – 11:00 PM to hotel guests and the public.
• Hobnob Coffee and Wine Bar Coffee and wine bar offering locally roasted coffee, fine wines, and sharable cuisine in a European countryside-style ambiance. Open 6:00 – 11:00 AM daily and 4:00 – 10:00 PM Wednesday – Saturday.
• In Confidence Speakeasy Bar Prohibition-era themed speakeasy bar with curated wine collection and crafted cocktails, featuring live music Thursday nights. Open Thursday – Saturday, 5:00 PM – 1:00 AM.
• Meeting and Event Spaces 13,362 sq. ft. of meeting and event space comprising 9 meeting rooms including the Walnut Boardroom and The Study (capacity up to 20 with individual connectivity), plus large pre-function space for vendor tables. Available for corporate meetings, conferences, and social events.
• Grand Ballroom and Wedding Venues Iconic 4,200 sq. ft. Grand Ballroom with windows, an elegant staircase balcony, and capacity for up to 800 guests, offered alongside other wedding venues for ceremonies and receptions.
• Wedding Packages Customized wedding packages including venue rental, catering menus, event planning, and tiered options such as the Cher, Elizabeth Taylor, Marilyn Monroe, and Late Night packages with various hors d'oeuvres, entrées, and dining selections.
• Valet Parking Secured, covered valet parking at $36 per night with in/out privileges; third-party parking garage also available directly behind the hotel.
• Fitness Center State-of-the-art fitness center featuring TechnoGym equipment and Peloton bikes connected to popular fitness applications, available to hotel guests.

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Hilton (Curio Collection)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2021Hotel Fort Des Moines operates as part of Hilton's Curio Collection, a collection of upscale hotels that retain their unique character while benefiting from Hilton's global distribution, loyalty program (Hilton Honors), marketing support, and operational infrastructure. The hotel reopened in 2021 as Curio Collection by Hilton following its $50 million renovation.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• The Pfister Hotel: Historic AAA 4 Diamond full-service hotel in Milwaukee with similar heritage character, meeting space, and curated dining. Comparable positioning as a landmark luxury property in a Midwest secondary market.
• Renaissance Des Moines Savery Hotel: Direct competitor in downtown Des Moines offering similar upscale full-service accommodations and meeting space. Comparable product positioning, customer base, and Curio/Marriott brand affiliation structure.
• The Brown Palace Hotel: Historic luxury hotel in Denver with comparable National Register heritage, full-service amenities, event space, and speakeasy/dining concepts. Similar model of legacy property repositioned with modern brand affiliation.
• Hilton Des Moines Downtown: Hilton-affiliated full-service hotel in downtown Des Moines that competes for the same group, convention, and business-traveler demand, and shares the Hilton Honors distribution platform.
• Embassy Suites by Hilton Des Moines Downtown: Downtown Des Moines all-suite hotel targeting similar business and convention travelers. Competitor within the Hilton family that overlaps on group bookings and event attendees.

Broad incumbents

• Marriott Hotels: Largest global hotel brand; competes indirectly through its Des Moines-area Renaissance property and through Marriott Bonvoy distribution, which mirrors Hilton's role for the subject property.
• Hyatt Regency Des Moines: Larger Hyatt-affiliated full-service hotel in downtown Des Moines offering overlapping meeting, event, and group capabilities as part of a broader national brand portfolio.

Others

• Hotel & Lodging Association of Iowa: Industry association for Iowa lodging operators; comparable touchpoint for understanding local competitive dynamics, regulatory environment, and statewide travel demand trends that affect Hotel Fort Des Moines.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/TheHotelFortDesMoines
• Instagraminstagram.com/hotelfortdesmoines
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hotel-fort-des-moines1

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hotel Fort Des Moines, Curio Collection by Hilton