Norwalk Council approves joining Catch Des Moines to market hotels and events

The Norwalk City Council on Jan. 2 approved a resolution to join a 28E agreement with Catch Des Moines to include Norwalk hotels in the regional visitors bureau's marketing and national sales efforts.

Holly (staff member) told the council the move follows recent hotel openings in the city, including the Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott and a planned Tru by Hilton, and the City’s new sports campus. "We really needed to be a part of this...in order to help our hotels and our event venues, be able to secure some of these different conventions and events," Holly said, noting a local hotel provided reports showing dozens of RFPs secured through Catch Des Moines in recent years.

Trina Flack, a Catch Des Moines representative, told the council the bureau conducts national sales, local “catch champions,” marketing and website and social-media promotion to drive hotel bookings across the metro area. "We really just wanna support Norwalk," Flack said, offering to meet one-on-one with city staff or council members.

Council members asked for public comment; none was offered. Council moved and approved the resolution by roll call vote during the meeting's regular business portion.

Supporters said staff and the visitors bureau's track record suggested a positive return on investment by helping attract tournaments and other events that generate hotel room nights and spending at restaurants and retailers. The resolution will add Norwalk hotels to Catch Des Moines’ booking and marketing outreach for metro-area events.

The agreement is a regional 28E arrangement; the council approved the resolution by a recorded roll call of the members present.