I would stay away from the MOA, & airport if I were you unless you screen with a vengeance. The outskirts of DT would probably be your best option in terms of convenience for your guests. Good luck & Velkommen til Mn!

Lots of businessmen work downtown, and it may be easier for them to meet with you there.
Some hotels downtown require a key to take the elevator to the room floor.  

Bloomington (Mall of America) has a reputation of not being friendly to providers.  But I have seen girls there without a problem.

The traffic issues don't start till after Thanksgiving, and they are not that problematic, IMHO.  Also, if you're in a hotel a bit off from Nicollet Mall, you won't have traffic issues.

I agree with Diva Lady about Bloomington's west side. When I lived in that area, I hobbied up and down that stretch with little problem. Granted, I was just an anonymous fellow, not a provider with other things to worry about, but there are several large hotels where one can be relatively anonymous. I would even say Eden Prairie would be a very accessible area. Traveling east though, stop short of Lyndale.

But if one wanted to be close to downtown, there is a large and recent cluster of development along Highway 394 in a suburb called St. Louis Park. There are several large hotels in the area, which is only ten minutes away from downtown on a major freeway. Traffic is a concern, but this area might be an alternative to downtown and the airport.

Still, I'm not a person who thinks location is as important in the hobby as it is in, say, real estate. If I want to see a lovely woman, I'll travel quite a ways. There are others who think differently, though.

-- Modified on 10/2/2012 12:15:22 AM

In terms of "stuff I can do when I'm not working", both downtown and Mall of America (MoA) area are good choices.

Both have shopping, though MoA has more and more varied types.

Both have dining, though downtown has more fine dining options and a peppier nightlife.

Downtown is friendlier to pedestrians, MoA to drivers.

Downtown has more arts options (the theater district east of downtown, the Walker and sculpture garden), though most will require walking outdoors (chilly but not unreasonable in November).

Best part is, if you're in one place and decide you want to get to the other, it's a half-hour light rail trip (and the airport is on the same line).

Enjoy your visit!