At Surety Hotel, enjoy a yoga session, tiki drinks in the courtyard or live music in the lobby — no room key required. (Photos courtesy of Surety Hotel) By Karla Walsh Hotels are definitely leveling up these days. They’re scaling up culinary programs, expanding spa services and even offering more sleep-supporting amenities. (Perhaps you’ve made a selection from a pillow menu?) And take note: They’re also weaving themselves into the fabric of their surrounding cities. Entire brands, like the Graduate Hotels in college towns and gathering-focused Public Hotels, are catering to locals as well as out-of-town travelers. Now that Kris Norvet has been appointed the director of lifestyle at Surety Hotel in downtown Des Moines, she’s on a mission to help the four-star hotel offer local residents a five-star experience, with lots of reasons to visit throughout the year. “My goal is to pair what’s unique about Surety with what’s cool in Des Moines,” she said. “If the hotel were a person, where would they go? What would they seek out in town? Who would they want to meet? Answering those questions provides the foundation I need to keep building out the lifestyle program at Surety.” Once home to insurance companies, Surety Hotel has been hosting travelers for weddings, sporting events, conferences and more since it opened in November 2020. From the get-go, the hotel team has tried to reflect the community with a locally sourced mini bar, artwork curated by Liz Lidgett and weekend morning yoga sessions. Now, with Norvet on board, it’s clear they’re investing in new ways to bring in the neighbors. “Des Moines is heavily invested in the arts without being pretentious,” Norvet said. “It’s welcoming to newcomers while never forgetting homegrown talent. It’s open to trying new things without losing sight of the community that’s been the bedrock of the city for so long. We admire all of those qualities, and Surety draws more inspiration from the city of Des Moines than it does from other boutique hotels.” Norvet has experience producing concerts, festivals and entertainment partnerships for lifestyle brands such as Red Bull, SiriusXM and Marriott. Now, she said, she’s channeling her “relentless creativity” to give locals a reason to visit (or revisit) the hotel. Here are five she recommends: Tiki Grove. Surety Hotels newest “activation” is a collab with Big Grove Brewery, a pop-up party on Fridays and Saturdays out on the patio. Stop by after the farmers market or before dinner to make your own lei, enjoy music from a DJ or live band and sip a refreshing tiki drink or Big Grove Double Blackberry Sour. Creative Commons. From 10 to 11 a.m. every Saturday, pull up a chair at the banker’s table in the lobby and pretend you’re back in art class. Themes for the free community meet-ups change weekly and focus on crafts, drawing, writing, sewing and more. (A “Stitch and B*tch” session sounds cathartic.) 6th and Mulberry. Instead of simply offering caffeine for those checking in or out of the guest rooms, Norvet hopes the Surety’s coffee shop, 6th and Mulberry, can double as a living room for locals. “Make yourself at home on one of our comfy couches,” she suggested. Take calls, work remotely or simply enjoy one of the Scenic Route pastries. Wednesday jazz. From 5 to 7 p.m. every other Wednesday, pop into the lobby lounge for some live music. The NOLA Jazz and Zane Gedler and Co. alternate as the starring act at these free 21-plus shows. Savor a staycation. Although there’s plenty to draw you to the first floor, the 137 guest rooms and suites are pretty sweet — as is the location, especially if you’re attending an event downtown or simply want to walk to the farmers market or some terrific restaurants. Standard rooms start around $135 per night. And if you’re feeling fancy, treat yourself to a night at the 951-square-foot Marchande Suite. Warning: You might be tempted to move in. Follow @SuretyHotel on Instagram to find out when to stop by for music and special events. Contributing writer Karla Walsh has written health, travel, food and dining stories for dozens of local and national publications including Better Homes Gardens, Food Wine, Allrecipes and more. You can find her on Substack, What’s Good. ...read more read less