e-Traveler - Celebrate National Travel & Tourism Week + More
April 16, 2025
Planning Ahead: Celebrate National Travel & Tourism Week
Please join our office in celebrating National Travel and Tourism Week on May 4-10!
This annual celebration spotlights travel's essential role in driving the nation's economy while cultivating vibrant communities and forging connections.
So, help us show off Iowa to potential visitors by using the below themes for your promotional efforts on social media. Tag @TravelIowa in your social posts and use the hashtags #NTTW25 and #TravelIowa so we can engage with them.
Bonus: Participation could earn you a FREE IOWA TRAVEL GUIDE ADVERTISEMENT!
One partner who follows the daily theme and posts using the hashtags (#NTTW25 and #TravelIowa) will be randomly selected to receive a free 1/6th page ad in the 2026 Iowa Travel Guide. Post daily for up to five chances to win!
Travel Iowa Holding Traveler's Photo/Video Contest
Our team will also be encouraging travelers to join the NTTW celebration by holding a photo/video contest. Participants will be asked to submit photos and videos that showcase their favorite places related to the aforementioned prompts. Entries must be uploaded through the shared CrowdRiff Collectors link. One participant who follows the rules and regulations will win an Instant Polaroid Camera.
FY26 Co-op Includes New Video Options, Consumer Email Ads
The FY26 tourism co-operative marketing program offers two video options, new options for the consumer newsletter as well as traditional favorites.
Two new video options will be available: Package A includes a two-minute-long video and three sizzle reels (short-form social media-ready highlights), while Package B includes a five-minute-long video and five sizzle reels. The consumer newsletter will have a sponsored content option as well as featured event and lodging ad slots. The marketing bundle option will be available in spring only. Traditional favorites are also available: traveliowa.com leads, dedicated email, sponsored content, social media and influencers.
Reservations are taken on a first come, first served basis, and will open May 1 at 10 a.m. and close at 4 p.m. on May 15. Contact Jessica O’Riley (jessica.oriley@iowaeda.com) with questions. More information will also be shared during tomorrow's Iowa Tourism Office Update webinar.
Volunteer & Promote Your Destination at the Travel Iowa Booth at the Iowa State Fair
The Travel Iowa booth will again be present in the Varied Industries Building at the Iowa State Fair. We are looking for destinations and attractions to work shifts at the booth and highlight your destination, hand out your travel materials and chat with Fairgoers about traveling Iowa.
Shifts are 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. each day of the Fair. Volunteers receive two free tickets (one for the volunteer and one for a guest) and free parking for the whole day. More information will be shared during tomorrow's Iowa Tourism Office Update webinar.
Catch Up: Presentations from the 2025 Iowa Tourism Conference
All 2025 Iowa Tourism Conference attendees should have received a link to presentations following the conference. If you were unable to join us this year, we're excited to offer you access to a few of the conference presentations. You can access the PDFs here.
LAST CALL: Iowa Tourism Office Update Webinar
Registration is open for the next Iowa Tourism Office Update webinar on Thursday, April 17. Topics will include the 2026 Co-op Marketing Program, plans for National Travel and Tourism Week and the Tourism Insider Meeting schedule for 2025. Pre-registration is required.
Register Now for the Next Tourism Insider Meeting
Join the Iowa Tourism Office and partners in Spencer for the next Tourism Insider Meeting on Thursday, May 8, 2025.
The day will include a disaster recovery panel sharing insights and lessons learned from the devastating floods of 2024, alongside a tour of downtown Spencer businesses and a discussion/workshop on regional partnerships to help encourage longer stays. Registration closes at 4 p.m. on Friday, May 2.
Although the agenda is just one full day, overnight stays are encouraged if your schedule allows. Hotel rooms are available at the Holiday Inn Express and Suites for $129.99/night + tax. Book your room directly here, or by calling 712.580.2200. If you call, mention you are attending the Tourism Insider Meeting and booking at the Chamber rate.
Helpful Tools to Organize Grant Opportunities
Keep it fresh! Limit your use of “copy and paste” when writing grant applications. Just because an argument helped you get funding once, doesn’t mean you should copy and paste what you wrote into the next grant. You should also not be copying and pasting from one answer to the next in the same grant. You wouldn’t want to read the same paragraph over and over, why do you think a grant reviewer would?
Featured Grant:
Help your community recycle or upcycle other things too. The Iowa Recycling Association provides information about grants and resources that can help you ‘refresh’ your community buildings, minimize waste, promote diversion of waste, compost and implement other programs and practices that help your community be more visitor ready.
Here are the most important updates this week:
- TOMORROW: Join us and sign up for the Iowa Tourism Office Update webinar tomorrow at 2 p.m.
- Celebrate National Travel & Tourism Week on May 4-10 and learn how you can win a FREE Iowa Travel Guide ad.
- See select presentations from the 2025 Iowa Tourism Conference.
Planning Ahead: Celebrate National Travel & Tourism Week
Please join our office in celebrating National Travel and Tourism Week on May 4-10!
This annual celebration spotlights travel's essential role in driving the nation's economy while cultivating vibrant communities and forging connections.
So, help us show off Iowa to potential visitors by using the below themes for your promotional efforts on social media. Tag @TravelIowa in your social posts and use the hashtags #NTTW25 and #TravelIowa so we can engage with them.
Bonus: Participation could earn you a FREE IOWA TRAVEL GUIDE ADVERTISEMENT!
One partner who follows the daily theme and posts using the hashtags (#NTTW25 and #TravelIowa) will be randomly selected to receive a free 1/6th page ad in the 2026 Iowa Travel Guide. Post daily for up to five chances to win!
- Monday (May 5) - "Where I go to explore hidden gems."
- Tuesday (May 6) - "Where I go to connect with nature."
- Wednesday (May 7) - "Where I go to feel like a kid again."
- Thursday (May 8) - "Where I go to shop local."
- Friday (May 9) - "Where I go to find farm fresh."
Travel Iowa Holding Traveler's Photo/Video Contest
Our team will also be encouraging travelers to join the NTTW celebration by holding a photo/video contest. Participants will be asked to submit photos and videos that showcase their favorite places related to the aforementioned prompts. Entries must be uploaded through the shared CrowdRiff Collectors link. One participant who follows the rules and regulations will win an Instant Polaroid Camera.
FY26 Co-op Includes New Video Options, Consumer Email Ads
The FY26 tourism co-operative marketing program offers two video options, new options for the consumer newsletter as well as traditional favorites.
Two new video options will be available: Package A includes a two-minute-long video and three sizzle reels (short-form social media-ready highlights), while Package B includes a five-minute-long video and five sizzle reels. The consumer newsletter will have a sponsored content option as well as featured event and lodging ad slots. The marketing bundle option will be available in spring only. Traditional favorites are also available: traveliowa.com leads, dedicated email, sponsored content, social media and influencers.
Reservations are taken on a first come, first served basis, and will open May 1 at 10 a.m. and close at 4 p.m. on May 15. Contact Jessica O’Riley (jessica.oriley@iowaeda.com) with questions. More information will also be shared during tomorrow's Iowa Tourism Office Update webinar.
Volunteer & Promote Your Destination at the Travel Iowa Booth at the Iowa State Fair
The Travel Iowa booth will again be present in the Varied Industries Building at the Iowa State Fair. We are looking for destinations and attractions to work shifts at the booth and highlight your destination, hand out your travel materials and chat with Fairgoers about traveling Iowa.
Shifts are 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. each day of the Fair. Volunteers receive two free tickets (one for the volunteer and one for a guest) and free parking for the whole day. More information will be shared during tomorrow's Iowa Tourism Office Update webinar.
Catch Up: Presentations from the 2025 Iowa Tourism Conference
All 2025 Iowa Tourism Conference attendees should have received a link to presentations following the conference. If you were unable to join us this year, we're excited to offer you access to a few of the conference presentations. You can access the PDFs here.
LAST CALL: Iowa Tourism Office Update Webinar
Registration is open for the next Iowa Tourism Office Update webinar on Thursday, April 17. Topics will include the 2026 Co-op Marketing Program, plans for National Travel and Tourism Week and the Tourism Insider Meeting schedule for 2025. Pre-registration is required.
Register Now for the Next Tourism Insider Meeting
Join the Iowa Tourism Office and partners in Spencer for the next Tourism Insider Meeting on Thursday, May 8, 2025.
The day will include a disaster recovery panel sharing insights and lessons learned from the devastating floods of 2024, alongside a tour of downtown Spencer businesses and a discussion/workshop on regional partnerships to help encourage longer stays. Registration closes at 4 p.m. on Friday, May 2.
Although the agenda is just one full day, overnight stays are encouraged if your schedule allows. Hotel rooms are available at the Holiday Inn Express and Suites for $129.99/night + tax. Book your room directly here, or by calling 712.580.2200. If you call, mention you are attending the Tourism Insider Meeting and booking at the Chamber rate.
Helpful Tools to Organize Grant Opportunities
Keep it fresh! Limit your use of “copy and paste” when writing grant applications. Just because an argument helped you get funding once, doesn’t mean you should copy and paste what you wrote into the next grant. You should also not be copying and pasting from one answer to the next in the same grant. You wouldn’t want to read the same paragraph over and over, why do you think a grant reviewer would?
Featured Grant:
Help your community recycle or upcycle other things too. The Iowa Recycling Association provides information about grants and resources that can help you ‘refresh’ your community buildings, minimize waste, promote diversion of waste, compost and implement other programs and practices that help your community be more visitor ready.
- April 17, 2025 – Iowa Tourism Office Update Webinar, virtual
- May 8, 2025 – Tourism Insider Meeting, Spencer
- May 9, 2025 – Iowa Creative Places Exchange, Burlington