e-Traveler - Register for the Next Tourism Insider Meeting + More
July 16, 2025
LAST CALL: Register for the Iowa Tourism Office Update Webinar
Registration is open for the next Iowa Tourism Office Update webinar on Thursday, July 24 at 2 p.m. Topics will include info about the next Iowa Tourism Grant cycle, a recap of IPW 2025 and a preview of the August Tourism Insider Meeting in Webster City. Pre-registration is required.
Register Now for the Next Tourism Insider Meeting
Join partners in Webster City for the next Tourism Insider Meeting on Thursday, August 28, 2025.
The day will include a building transformations panel that will share stories of the three renovation projects creating new attractions and spaces for Webster City, an art walk tour plus an exclusive tour of the community betterment nonprofit LIFT WC, a $3 million renovation of the Historic Elks Building.
Hotel rooms are available for attendees at a rate of $100 + tax at the newly remodeled AmericInn Webster City. To book a room, please call the hotel at 515.832.3999 and use code "Webster City Chamber."
Showcase Your Community’s Trails to Bicyclists on RAGBRAI
The Iowa Tourism Office is partnering with Bike Iowa to create a new mobile visitor information center intended to travel to a wide variety of Iowa bicycling events. The trailer will debut at RAGBRAI in July. Communities, trail groups and tourism partners have the opportunity to staff the “Travel Iowa” side of the trailer during RAGBRAI and be a featured destination in front of thousands of visiting bicyclists. There is NO CHARGE to be featured – just your volunteer time. Partners will be able to:
Iowa Tourism Office Visits Dubuque
Iowa Tourism Office Tourism Liaison Stephanie Neppl (L) was hosted by Julie Kronlage (C) and Becky Carkeek (R) of Travel Dubuque.
The trio took a tour of the American Serenade Riverboat and enjoyed lunch with former Davenport mayor Frank J. Klipsch who is the Director of City Partnerships and Special Projects on the Mississippi River for American Cruise Lines.
Registration Open for the 2025 CenStates TTRA Chapter Conference
Attend the 2025 TTRA CenStates Chapter Conference in Ann Arbor, Michigan, on October 22-24. The agenda is jam packed with sessions focused on tourism research plus networking opportunities with industry leaders and vendors for participants to share ideas and discuss challenges. Discover the potential for your tourism business and learn how to gain valuable insights and make informed decisions. Early bird registration rates end August 8.
Regional Sports Authority District Grants Applications Now Open
The Regional Sports Authority District (RSAD) applications are now open for the FY26 grant cycle. The purpose of the RSAD program is to promote tourism by funding projects related to the active promotion of nonprofessional sporting events in the state. Eligible applicants are CVBs. Up to 10 districts can be certified per grant cycle and receive $75,000 toward eligible expenses. The application and additional details are available here.
Applications are due July 31 by 4 p.m. Please contact Lisa Day (lisa.day@iowaeda.com) with questions.
Helpful Tools to Organize Grant Opportunities
You don’t have to do everything yourself. Understand what travelers are looking for and use that to inform partners, create partnerships and together implement visitor-ready projects that can improve your community appeal.
Historic partners can help by installing kiosks outside historic sites with limited hours or creating a self-guided historic architecture tour. Art partners can help increase visual and cultural appeal by installing outdoor art along a trail, incorporating art into bench designs or creating an art alleyway. Garden clubs or high school volunteers can plant trees, water downtown planters or tend flowers in a pocket park to beautify public spaces. These and other partners qualify for different grants that you might not be able to access. A few examples are listed below.
Featured Grant:
The Art Project Grant creates opportunities for Iowa artists and art organizations to engage with high quality arts and cultural projects. The Lots of Compassion Grant awards funds to local leaders looking to transform vacant lots into gardens. The Living to Serve Grant allows local FFA chapters to seek funding to support various types of service projects. The National Endowment for the Arts offers various grants for art projects, and the National Endowment for the Humanities is the largest federal funder of the humanities with many grant programs to support museums, historic sites, colleges, universities, K-12 teachers, libraries, nonprofits and others. Alliant Energy’s Community Tree Planting Program awards grants up to $5,000 for community-based tree planting projects in Iowa communities. And Black Hills Energy Power of Trees provides grants of up to $5,000 for community-based tree plantings in Iowa communities served by Black Hills Energy.
Here are the most important updates this week:
- Register for the next Iowa Tourism Office Update webinar on July 24.
- Sign up for the next Tourism Insider Meeting in Webster City on August 28.
LAST CALL: Register for the Iowa Tourism Office Update Webinar
Registration is open for the next Iowa Tourism Office Update webinar on Thursday, July 24 at 2 p.m. Topics will include info about the next Iowa Tourism Grant cycle, a recap of IPW 2025 and a preview of the August Tourism Insider Meeting in Webster City. Pre-registration is required.
Register Now for the Next Tourism Insider Meeting
Join partners in Webster City for the next Tourism Insider Meeting on Thursday, August 28, 2025.
The day will include a building transformations panel that will share stories of the three renovation projects creating new attractions and spaces for Webster City, an art walk tour plus an exclusive tour of the community betterment nonprofit LIFT WC, a $3 million renovation of the Historic Elks Building.
Hotel rooms are available for attendees at a rate of $100 + tax at the newly remodeled AmericInn Webster City. To book a room, please call the hotel at 515.832.3999 and use code "Webster City Chamber."
Showcase Your Community’s Trails to Bicyclists on RAGBRAI
The Iowa Tourism Office is partnering with Bike Iowa to create a new mobile visitor information center intended to travel to a wide variety of Iowa bicycling events. The trailer will debut at RAGBRAI in July. Communities, trail groups and tourism partners have the opportunity to staff the “Travel Iowa” side of the trailer during RAGBRAI and be a featured destination in front of thousands of visiting bicyclists. There is NO CHARGE to be featured – just your volunteer time. Partners will be able to:
- Provide your local trail information, maps and marketing materials
- Show a video of your trail amenities
- Sell your local trail and bike related merchandise
- Generate interest in your trails from thousands of cyclists!
Iowa Tourism Office Visits Dubuque
Iowa Tourism Office Tourism Liaison Stephanie Neppl (L) was hosted by Julie Kronlage (C) and Becky Carkeek (R) of Travel Dubuque.
The trio took a tour of the American Serenade Riverboat and enjoyed lunch with former Davenport mayor Frank J. Klipsch who is the Director of City Partnerships and Special Projects on the Mississippi River for American Cruise Lines.
Registration Open for the 2025 CenStates TTRA Chapter Conference
Attend the 2025 TTRA CenStates Chapter Conference in Ann Arbor, Michigan, on October 22-24. The agenda is jam packed with sessions focused on tourism research plus networking opportunities with industry leaders and vendors for participants to share ideas and discuss challenges. Discover the potential for your tourism business and learn how to gain valuable insights and make informed decisions. Early bird registration rates end August 8.
Regional Sports Authority District Grants Applications Now Open
The Regional Sports Authority District (RSAD) applications are now open for the FY26 grant cycle. The purpose of the RSAD program is to promote tourism by funding projects related to the active promotion of nonprofessional sporting events in the state. Eligible applicants are CVBs. Up to 10 districts can be certified per grant cycle and receive $75,000 toward eligible expenses. The application and additional details are available here.
Applications are due July 31 by 4 p.m. Please contact Lisa Day (lisa.day@iowaeda.com) with questions.
Helpful Tools to Organize Grant Opportunities
You don’t have to do everything yourself. Understand what travelers are looking for and use that to inform partners, create partnerships and together implement visitor-ready projects that can improve your community appeal.
Historic partners can help by installing kiosks outside historic sites with limited hours or creating a self-guided historic architecture tour. Art partners can help increase visual and cultural appeal by installing outdoor art along a trail, incorporating art into bench designs or creating an art alleyway. Garden clubs or high school volunteers can plant trees, water downtown planters or tend flowers in a pocket park to beautify public spaces. These and other partners qualify for different grants that you might not be able to access. A few examples are listed below.
Featured Grant:
The Art Project Grant creates opportunities for Iowa artists and art organizations to engage with high quality arts and cultural projects. The Lots of Compassion Grant awards funds to local leaders looking to transform vacant lots into gardens. The Living to Serve Grant allows local FFA chapters to seek funding to support various types of service projects. The National Endowment for the Arts offers various grants for art projects, and the National Endowment for the Humanities is the largest federal funder of the humanities with many grant programs to support museums, historic sites, colleges, universities, K-12 teachers, libraries, nonprofits and others. Alliant Energy’s Community Tree Planting Program awards grants up to $5,000 for community-based tree planting projects in Iowa communities. And Black Hills Energy Power of Trees provides grants of up to $5,000 for community-based tree plantings in Iowa communities served by Black Hills Energy.
- July 17, 2025 – Maximizing Iowa’s Meetings & Conventions Potential Webinar, virtual
- July 24, 2025 – Iowa Tourism Office Update Webinar, virtual
- August 28, 2025 – Tourism Insider Meeting, Webster City