There are tons on providers near the airport.  Downtown SUCKs big time, because parking is a bitch.
Crown Plaza if your friend

... a downtown with great selection of fine hotels, restaurants, and clubs within walking distance, or suburbia with chain hotels (abeit some quite nice) and mostly chain restaurants.  Of course, the airport area offers the Mall of America... if you like that kind of thing.  I know most women do.  

Another thing to consider (see earlier threads, not too far down) is LE activity.  IMO downtown Minneapolis is safer in that regard than Bloomington.

Traffic in the airport area i.e. 494 West is pretty bad during rush hours but not so bad other times, although the MoA can generate a lot of car traffic on the Big Shopping Weekends.

Airport/Mall of America area is very popular. Lots of hotels around there and most are quite busy. Still, high volume is not a great idea as the hotels do sometimes notice. Anecdotally, they are more likely to tell a lady to move on than call LE, but I don't know that for a fact. If you're just staying one night it shouldn't be an issue. Though I'd avoid any hotel that has just been mentioned in a post on a public board.  

Traffic is what it is. Most of the day is fine. Afternoon rush hour can be a bear, though several freeways have recently been upgraded substantially and generally move okay. I doubt many are dissuaded from visiting by that location. There is also a light rail that takes you from the airport to MOA at one end and downtown Mpls at the other for $2. I've always thought it would be slick to take the train to MOA and a cab from there to a hotel. Never tried it.  

Downtown is central and street parking is cheap.

Stay DT, you will have a blast.  Everything is walking distance, that Minnesota Nice reputation is right on the money, the food is fab-two of my favs are Hell's kitchen and the Local-live music everywhere, outside patios with fire pits this time of year, The Ivy day spa is to die for...great shopping, I even love Augies (strip club-a bad one).

Question for the locals; where exactly is what you would call the Arts District?
Where artist lives and have warehouse space/
I'm not talking about Lakeside.  I know it's close to DT, tho haven't discovered it yet.

xoClair

There are some nice (3*+) hotels near St. Louis Park/Minnetonka and the West End. They are easy to get to, not too pricey and discreet. Other first ring suburbs are more active in working with LE on reporting extra activities (especially on those dumb enough to post pics showing the hotel room).

You can grab food and drinks at any number of places without a wait and get to the airport in 20-30 minutes