e-Traveler - Apply for the First Impressions Program + More
December 18, 2024
Registration Now Open for the 2025 Iowa Tourism Conference
Registration is open for the 2025 Iowa Tourism Conference, which will be held on March 12-13, 2025 at The Meadows Events Center in Altoona. This is your chance to join industry leaders, network with peers and gain valuable insights into the latest trends and strategies in tourism marketing. Don't miss out on this opportunity to enhance your knowledge and grow your connections.
A new one-day registration rate for Wednesday, March 12, is now available to all attendees. This is a great opportunity to invite your board members, elected officials and other stakeholders to learn about tourism’s role in economic development and become more familiar with the work you do as tourism professionals. Book your room: The 2025 Iowa Tourism Conference has a discounted room block reserved at Prairie Meadows, which is connected to the Meadows Event Center. Rooms are available for $134 per night plus taxes and fees. Attendees are encouraged to book their rooms early as the room block is expected to fill quickly.
REGISTER
Book your room: The 2025 Iowa Tourism Conference has a discounted room block reserved at Prairie Meadows, which is connected to their Meadows Event Center. Rooms are available for $134 per night plus taxes and fees. Attendees are encouraged to book their rooms early as the room block is expected to fill quickly.
LEARN MORE
The Iowa Tourism Office is Proud to Host the Annual Tourism Awards
The Iowa Tourism Awards recognize communities, attractions, tourism businesses and the marketing professionals that promote them for excellence in raising the profile of Iowa as a tourism destination. Winners will have demonstrated creativity, innovation, collaboration and strategy grounded in research and results in their projects. Award winners will be announced on Thursday, March 13, during the 2025 Iowa Tourism Conference.
The deadline to submit your nomination is Friday, January 31, 2025, at 4 p.m. LEARN MORE
Attend the Iowa State Association of Counties Spring Conference
As an added bonus, the Iowa State Association of Counties (ISAC) Spring Conference is scheduled to begin the next day in Des Moines and also offers a one day rate. This conference would also be a great way to help educate your county supervisors and others about tourism. If stakeholders are planning to attend that conference, they may be able to align travel plans.
International Marketing Trainings - Next Steps
Thank you to those who were able to join the first two sessions of the International Inbound Travel Association’s Steps to SuccessTM Program! This program, presented by Alon Tourism Solutions, is the leading national training program to help tourism businesses thrive and secure long-term business with the international inbound travel market.
Even if you missed the first two sessions, consider registering for Step 3 to hear valuable information about working with the international inbound market.
Last call to register for the third and final training session: This series of trainings is offered FREE for partners, and upon completion of all three sessions you will be eligible to receive the “IITA Stamp of Approval.” The Stamp of Approval will validate to inbound operators that you have completed the Steps to Success program and are be invited to be a part of Travel Iowa’s presence at the IPW tradeshow in Chicago in June 2025.
All training sessions are virtual and must be joined live – they will not be recorded.
Human Trafficking Recertification for Lodging Properties Now Due
Hotels that received the Department of Public Safety’s Human Trafficking Prevention Training certification in late 2021 must now complete the certification process again to stay in compliance. Lodging properties can update their certification with the Department of Public Safety at any time to reset the three-year certification. The process remains the same for certification and the steps are described here.
As a reminder to receive public funds for any state-funded event including state employee lodging, conferences, meetings, or banquets, properties must remain current. Certifications must be completed before December 31, 2024.
First Impressions Applications Now Being Accepted
The First Impressions program is a comprehensive community assessment conducted by a trained team of unannounced visitors. This program helps communities with a population of 10,000 or fewer identify their strengths and weaknesses through the lens of a first-time visitor and develop strategies to strengthen their tourism economy. Two communities were chosen in early 2024 to be the pilot communities for this new program: Corning and Maquoketa (click the links to read their community reports).
In 2025, five communities will be selected to participate. Click here for more details and click here to apply. The application deadline is January 31, 2025.
Sign Up for the Next Iowa Tourism Office Update Webinar
Sign up now for the next Iowa Tourism Office Update Webinar, held on Thursday, January 16 at 2 p.m. Topics will include 2025 marketing campaigns, Tourism Insider Meeting host application, a new social media tip guide and more!
Register Now for the Next Tourism Insider Meeting
Join partners in Marshalltown February 4-5, 2025, for the next Tourism Insider Meeting. Discussion topics will include how to collaborate with others in your community, and how Marshalltown prioritizes being a welcoming community. The meeting will be held at the Marshalltown Arts & Civic Center, and tours will include the Fisher Art Museum. Hotel info will be provided in January. Please reach out to Stephanie Neppl (stephanie.neppl@iowaeda.com) with questions.
REGISTER.
The State of the American Traveler Update
Recognized as one of the nation's leading travel studies of American leisure travelers, The State of the American Traveler features quarterly research of over 4,000 adult travelers. The most recent report included survey information that was collected November 15-26.
Helpful Tools to Organize Grant Opportunities
Yes, you can say too much. Sometimes grant applicants are rightfully proud of their organization or very confident and excited about their project. Unfortunately, their enthusiasm can leak into their grant writing in ways that turn off grant reviewers and diminish the likelihood of award. Avoid this by keeping your answers brief and on point. Reviewers don’t want to search for answers. Don’t repeat anything unless you must, or they will tune out and move on. Don’t talk about how great you are, just prove it by having a well thought out strategy, timeline and budget and other grant components.
Featured Grant:
Visitors love exploring our historic downtowns. Iowa’s Downtown Revitalization CDBG provides grants to communities for activities contributing to comprehensive revitalization in historic city centers or core downtown areas to eliminate slum and blight. The program is primarily focused on building façade improvements to privately owned buildings in downtowns. Work on roofs is also eligible. The maximum award is $650,000. Contact Sarah Plowman (515.348.6213) with questions on program requirements.
Here are the most important updates this week:
- Hotels that received the Human Trafficking Prevention Training certification in late 2021 must now complete the certification process before December 31, 2024.
- First Impressions applications are now being accepted through January 31, 2025.
- Register for the next Iowa Tourism Office webinar on January 16, 2025.
- Sign up for the next Tourism Insider Meeting in Marshalltown on February 4-5, 2025.
Registration Now Open for the 2025 Iowa Tourism Conference
Registration is open for the 2025 Iowa Tourism Conference, which will be held on March 12-13, 2025 at The Meadows Events Center in Altoona. This is your chance to join industry leaders, network with peers and gain valuable insights into the latest trends and strategies in tourism marketing. Don't miss out on this opportunity to enhance your knowledge and grow your connections.
A new one-day registration rate for Wednesday, March 12, is now available to all attendees. This is a great opportunity to invite your board members, elected officials and other stakeholders to learn about tourism’s role in economic development and become more familiar with the work you do as tourism professionals. Book your room: The 2025 Iowa Tourism Conference has a discounted room block reserved at Prairie Meadows, which is connected to the Meadows Event Center. Rooms are available for $134 per night plus taxes and fees. Attendees are encouraged to book their rooms early as the room block is expected to fill quickly.
REGISTER
Book your room: The 2025 Iowa Tourism Conference has a discounted room block reserved at Prairie Meadows, which is connected to their Meadows Event Center. Rooms are available for $134 per night plus taxes and fees. Attendees are encouraged to book their rooms early as the room block is expected to fill quickly.
LEARN MORE
The Iowa Tourism Office is Proud to Host the Annual Tourism Awards
The Iowa Tourism Awards recognize communities, attractions, tourism businesses and the marketing professionals that promote them for excellence in raising the profile of Iowa as a tourism destination. Winners will have demonstrated creativity, innovation, collaboration and strategy grounded in research and results in their projects. Award winners will be announced on Thursday, March 13, during the 2025 Iowa Tourism Conference.
The deadline to submit your nomination is Friday, January 31, 2025, at 4 p.m. LEARN MORE
Attend the Iowa State Association of Counties Spring Conference
As an added bonus, the Iowa State Association of Counties (ISAC) Spring Conference is scheduled to begin the next day in Des Moines and also offers a one day rate. This conference would also be a great way to help educate your county supervisors and others about tourism. If stakeholders are planning to attend that conference, they may be able to align travel plans.
International Marketing Trainings - Next Steps
Thank you to those who were able to join the first two sessions of the International Inbound Travel Association’s Steps to SuccessTM Program! This program, presented by Alon Tourism Solutions, is the leading national training program to help tourism businesses thrive and secure long-term business with the international inbound travel market.
Even if you missed the first two sessions, consider registering for Step 3 to hear valuable information about working with the international inbound market.
Last call to register for the third and final training session: This series of trainings is offered FREE for partners, and upon completion of all three sessions you will be eligible to receive the “IITA Stamp of Approval.” The Stamp of Approval will validate to inbound operators that you have completed the Steps to Success program and are be invited to be a part of Travel Iowa’s presence at the IPW tradeshow in Chicago in June 2025.
All training sessions are virtual and must be joined live – they will not be recorded.
Human Trafficking Recertification for Lodging Properties Now Due
Hotels that received the Department of Public Safety’s Human Trafficking Prevention Training certification in late 2021 must now complete the certification process again to stay in compliance. Lodging properties can update their certification with the Department of Public Safety at any time to reset the three-year certification. The process remains the same for certification and the steps are described here.
As a reminder to receive public funds for any state-funded event including state employee lodging, conferences, meetings, or banquets, properties must remain current. Certifications must be completed before December 31, 2024.
First Impressions Applications Now Being Accepted
The First Impressions program is a comprehensive community assessment conducted by a trained team of unannounced visitors. This program helps communities with a population of 10,000 or fewer identify their strengths and weaknesses through the lens of a first-time visitor and develop strategies to strengthen their tourism economy. Two communities were chosen in early 2024 to be the pilot communities for this new program: Corning and Maquoketa (click the links to read their community reports).
In 2025, five communities will be selected to participate. Click here for more details and click here to apply. The application deadline is January 31, 2025.
Sign Up for the Next Iowa Tourism Office Update Webinar
Sign up now for the next Iowa Tourism Office Update Webinar, held on Thursday, January 16 at 2 p.m. Topics will include 2025 marketing campaigns, Tourism Insider Meeting host application, a new social media tip guide and more!
Register Now for the Next Tourism Insider Meeting
Join partners in Marshalltown February 4-5, 2025, for the next Tourism Insider Meeting. Discussion topics will include how to collaborate with others in your community, and how Marshalltown prioritizes being a welcoming community. The meeting will be held at the Marshalltown Arts & Civic Center, and tours will include the Fisher Art Museum. Hotel info will be provided in January. Please reach out to Stephanie Neppl (stephanie.neppl@iowaeda.com) with questions.
REGISTER.
The State of the American Traveler Update
Recognized as one of the nation's leading travel studies of American leisure travelers, The State of the American Traveler features quarterly research of over 4,000 adult travelers. The most recent report included survey information that was collected November 15-26.
- Trendy Trip Types
- Slowcations: leisurely and immersive travel, deep connection with the destination; appealing/very appealing = 57% (most popular); active travelers with diverse interests, more like to participate in more activities while traveling
- Foodie trips: explore destinations known for their food and drink experiences; appealing/very appealing = 57%; 60% actively use social media to plan trips (2x other travelers)
- Experiential travel: immersive, hands-on experiences that connect with culture or environment ; appealing/very appealing = 56%; personal passions – food and cuisine, historical attractions, outdoor experiences
- Plan-free travel: embracing spontaneity by minimizing pre-planned itineraries; appealing/very appealing = 48%; parents of school-aged children, specifically under age 6, most attracted to plan-free travel
- Gig-tripping: Trips around major concerts & music festivals; appealing/very appealing = 42%; more than 55% of travelers are millennials or younger
- Traveler Sentiment
- Feelings about current finances regressed this month; 29% feel better off/much better off; 29% worse off/much worst off
- Remaining optimistic about personal financial outlooks: 50% better off/much better off a year from now; upward trend over the last couple of months
- Most intend to make leisure travel spending a priority; 58% somewhat/high/extremely high priority; higher than the last two Novembers
- The average number of trips is holding steady at 3.8
- Use of AI for Travel Planning
- 76% have heard of AI technology (ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Microsoft Copilot)
- 15% have used to plan/prepare for travel
- 36% interested/very interested in using technology in travel planning
Helpful Tools to Organize Grant Opportunities
Yes, you can say too much. Sometimes grant applicants are rightfully proud of their organization or very confident and excited about their project. Unfortunately, their enthusiasm can leak into their grant writing in ways that turn off grant reviewers and diminish the likelihood of award. Avoid this by keeping your answers brief and on point. Reviewers don’t want to search for answers. Don’t repeat anything unless you must, or they will tune out and move on. Don’t talk about how great you are, just prove it by having a well thought out strategy, timeline and budget and other grant components.
Featured Grant:
Visitors love exploring our historic downtowns. Iowa’s Downtown Revitalization CDBG provides grants to communities for activities contributing to comprehensive revitalization in historic city centers or core downtown areas to eliminate slum and blight. The program is primarily focused on building façade improvements to privately owned buildings in downtowns. Work on roofs is also eligible. The maximum award is $650,000. Contact Sarah Plowman (515.348.6213) with questions on program requirements.
- December 19, 2024 – International Inbound Travel Association Steps to Success Training – Step #3, virtual
- January 16, 2025 – Iowa Tourism Office Update, virtual
- February 4-5, 2025 – Tourism Insider Meeting, Marshalltown
- March 12-13, 2025 – Iowa Tourism Conference, Altoona