e-Traveler - Celebrate National Travel & Tourism Week + More
April 30, 2025
FY26 Co-op Marketing Program Reservations Open at 10 a.m. Tomorrow
In alignment with Iowa's branding and awareness campaign for the out-of-state visitor, the Iowa Tourism Office's FY26 Co-op Program provides exciting opportunities in both traditional and new marketing tactics. This is a great way to feature your attraction or destination in the story we will tell the traveler through advertising. Reservations open at 10 a.m. tomorrow (May 1) here and will close at 4 p.m. on May 15. Reservations are first-come, first-served and space is limited. Review the full program – including new video and consumer newsletter options – here.
Contact Jessica O’Riley (jessica.oriley@iowaeda.com) with questions. Space confirmations will be sent by June 6.
Coming Up: 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.
LAST CHANCE: Register 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.
Catch Up: Watch the Iowa Tourism Office Update Webinar
Thank you to all who were able to join us for the Iowa Tourism Update webinar on April 17. The webinar included details on the FY26 Tourism Co-op Marketing Program, National Travel and Tourism Week, upcoming outreach opportunities, international success stories and a Give it Time marketing campaign update. If you were unable to join live, you can watch the webinar recording here.
Iowa Tourism Office at the Iowa Museum Association Conference
Lora Friest and Amy Zeigler from the Iowa Tourism Office attended and exhibited at this week’s Iowa Museum Association conference in Cedar Rapids. Museums from across the state attended to network and learn how to create user-focused exhibits and experiences.
Thank you to the Iowa Museum Association for hosting a great event!
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 March 17-26. Watch the 3-minute recap video to learn the latest insights.
Helpful Tools to Organize Grant Opportunities
Celebrate and reflect with your team! Writing and receiving a grant is just the first step in the process. Successful implementation of projects can be time consuming, mentally exhausting and physically draining. Bring your team or partners together and celebrate the end of your project, discuss what went right and what could have gone better. The insights you gather may help you with your final grant report and to come up with your next project.
Featured Grant:
We know travelers want to find parks and natural areas and be active outside. One overlooked activity that is fun for the whole family is bird watching. Iowa Audubon has a small grant that can be used to help implement educational projects, including projects that will help visitors enjoy your parks and natural areas by installing interpretive displays, bird viewing blinds or similar infrastructure for enhancing avian education.
Here are the most important updates this week:
- TOMORROW: Co-op Marketing Program reservations open at 10 a.m.
- Watch the recording of the most recent Iowa Tourism Update webinar.
- Watch this recap to see the the latest State of the American Traveler survey insights.
FY26 Co-op Marketing Program Reservations Open at 10 a.m. Tomorrow
In alignment with Iowa's branding and awareness campaign for the out-of-state visitor, the Iowa Tourism Office's FY26 Co-op Program provides exciting opportunities in both traditional and new marketing tactics. This is a great way to feature your attraction or destination in the story we will tell the traveler through advertising. Reservations open at 10 a.m. tomorrow (May 1) here and will close at 4 p.m. on May 15. Reservations are first-come, first-served and space is limited. Review the full program – including new video and consumer newsletter options – here.
Contact Jessica O’Riley (jessica.oriley@iowaeda.com) with questions. Space confirmations will be sent by June 6.
Coming Up: 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.
LAST CHANCE: Register 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.
Catch Up: Watch the Iowa Tourism Office Update Webinar
Thank you to all who were able to join us for the Iowa Tourism Update webinar on April 17. The webinar included details on the FY26 Tourism Co-op Marketing Program, National Travel and Tourism Week, upcoming outreach opportunities, international success stories and a Give it Time marketing campaign update. If you were unable to join live, you can watch the webinar recording here.
Iowa Tourism Office at the Iowa Museum Association Conference
Lora Friest and Amy Zeigler from the Iowa Tourism Office attended and exhibited at this week’s Iowa Museum Association conference in Cedar Rapids. Museums from across the state attended to network and learn how to create user-focused exhibits and experiences.
Thank you to the Iowa Museum Association for hosting a great event!
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 March 17-26. Watch the 3-minute recap video to learn the latest insights.
Helpful Tools to Organize Grant Opportunities
Celebrate and reflect with your team! Writing and receiving a grant is just the first step in the process. Successful implementation of projects can be time consuming, mentally exhausting and physically draining. Bring your team or partners together and celebrate the end of your project, discuss what went right and what could have gone better. The insights you gather may help you with your final grant report and to come up with your next project.
Featured Grant:
We know travelers want to find parks and natural areas and be active outside. One overlooked activity that is fun for the whole family is bird watching. Iowa Audubon has a small grant that can be used to help implement educational projects, including projects that will help visitors enjoy your parks and natural areas by installing interpretive displays, bird viewing blinds or similar infrastructure for enhancing avian education.
- May 8, 2025 – Tourism Insider Meeting, Spencer
- May 9, 2025 – Iowa Creative Places Exchange, Burlington