e-Traveler - Co-op Remnant Space Available + Travel Guide Needs
May 23, 2024
WANTED: New or Milestone Anniversaries in 2025
If you have a museum exhibit, attraction, event or hotel opening or celebrating a milestone anniversary (ending in 0 or 5) in 2025, please send the information to Jessica O'Riley (jessica.oriley@iowaeda.com).
Information will be used to determine the Class of '25 for our virtual media event in November and other media pitches. We'll be wrapping up selections for the media event by August 31 in order to include information in the 2025 Iowa Travel Guide (available in January 2025) . Even if all you have is basic info now, please send to Jessica for consideration. There is no charge to participate in the virtual media event, but space is limited.
Remnant Space Available in Co-op Program
Space reservations for the FY25 Co-op Program have closed, but there are some remnant opportunities still available. Email Jessica O'Riley (jessica.oriley@iowaeda.com) if you are interested in reserving any of the following. These will remain available until sold or month passes, whichever comes first. There are no restrictions on the number of opportunities you may purchase, even if you’ve already reserved space in one of the options below:
Memorial Day Road Trips to Set Record, AAA Predicts
About 38.4 million people will make road trips in the U.S. over Memorial Day weekend, the most the American Automobile Association (AAA) has tracked in two decades of posting those numbers. About 43.8 million Americans will embark on trips of all forms, a rebound that marks full recovery from the pandemic.
"We were so restricted in where we were able to go and what we were able to do, now people are willing to spend their money on experiences rather than just things," said AAA spokeswoman Aixa Diaz. Read the full release.
Thank You, Tourism Insider Attendees
Thank you to those who were able to join us for the Tourism Insider Meeting in Sioux City this week. We hope you returned home with plenty of ideas on how to improve your area's accessibility, work with local wineries, breweries and distilleries, promote your hidden gems and more. A huge thank you to our hosts, Explore Siouxland, for showing us around your community.
Please save the date for the next Tourism Insider Meeting, which will be held July 30-31, 2024, at the Corning Opera House.
Iowa Tourism Advisory Group Convenes
This week, the Iowa Tourism Office convened the first meeting of the Iowa Tourism Advisory Group, a diverse group of non-governing stakeholders that represent Iowa's tourism industry. The group's role is to provide input and feedback on statewide tourism initiatives, bring new perspectives to inform future programming and help foster collaboration among the tourism industry. Forming an advisory group was an action step initiated out of the Iowa Tourism Industry Strategic Plan.
Thank you to the inaugural group members: Katie Davidson, Hot Air Brewing; Delaney Evers, Promoting Appanoose and Centerville Together (PACT); Dave Herrell, Visit Quad Cities; Kiana Johnson, O'Brien County Economic Development; Matt Johnson, Barley's Bar & Grill; Jeremy Parsons, Iowa State Fair; Pritesh Patel, Hotel Pommier; Wendy Scardino, National River Museum & Aquarium; Adam Shirley, Iowa's County Conservation System; and Teddi Yaeger, Madison County Chamber & Tourism. Not pictured is Tova Brandt, Museum of Danish America.
Helpful Tools to Organize Grant Opportunities
Answer the question! Some people think what they want to say is more important than answering the grant questions. Then they are confused when they end up with a low score and no funding. Before you even develop your project, study the instructions and review the application content, including the questions. You will plan a better project and have answers that clearly explain what the funder wants to know. If you think a question is a repeat, never refer a grantor to a previous answer. Think hard about how the question might be different or what else you can tell them. After you have written your entire application, go back and read it specifically to see if you really did answer the questions. You might surprise yourself.
Featured Grant: The Our Town Grant is typically due in July or August when tourism partners are busy, so start planning now. This is a creative placemaking grants program from the National Endowment for the Arts that supports activities that integrate arts, culture, and design into local efforts to strengthen community. Partnership is required. Grants range from $25,000 to $150,000 and require 1:1 match. As with many federal grants, plan to implement at least a year out from when you apply.
Here are the most important updates this week:
- Share new attractions or milestone anniversaries to be included in 2025 Travel Guide.
- FY25 Co-op remnant space is available.
- AAA predicts Memorial Day weekend trips will set new record.
WANTED: New or Milestone Anniversaries in 2025
If you have a museum exhibit, attraction, event or hotel opening or celebrating a milestone anniversary (ending in 0 or 5) in 2025, please send the information to Jessica O'Riley (jessica.oriley@iowaeda.com).
Information will be used to determine the Class of '25 for our virtual media event in November and other media pitches. We'll be wrapping up selections for the media event by August 31 in order to include information in the 2025 Iowa Travel Guide (available in January 2025) . Even if all you have is basic info now, please send to Jessica for consideration. There is no charge to participate in the virtual media event, but space is limited.
Remnant Space Available in Co-op Program
Space reservations for the FY25 Co-op Program have closed, but there are some remnant opportunities still available. Email Jessica O'Riley (jessica.oriley@iowaeda.com) if you are interested in reserving any of the following. These will remain available until sold or month passes, whichever comes first. There are no restrictions on the number of opportunities you may purchase, even if you’ve already reserved space in one of the options below:
- Leads (1)
- Dedicated Email (Feb. 2025)
- Sponsored Content (July, Nov. and Dec. 2024)
- Social media: July 2024 (1); Nov. 2024 (1); Dec. 2024 (2); Jan. 2025 (3); Feb. 2025 (2); March 2025 (2); June 2025 (1)
Memorial Day Road Trips to Set Record, AAA Predicts
About 38.4 million people will make road trips in the U.S. over Memorial Day weekend, the most the American Automobile Association (AAA) has tracked in two decades of posting those numbers. About 43.8 million Americans will embark on trips of all forms, a rebound that marks full recovery from the pandemic.
"We were so restricted in where we were able to go and what we were able to do, now people are willing to spend their money on experiences rather than just things," said AAA spokeswoman Aixa Diaz. Read the full release.
Thank You, Tourism Insider Attendees
Thank you to those who were able to join us for the Tourism Insider Meeting in Sioux City this week. We hope you returned home with plenty of ideas on how to improve your area's accessibility, work with local wineries, breweries and distilleries, promote your hidden gems and more. A huge thank you to our hosts, Explore Siouxland, for showing us around your community.
Please save the date for the next Tourism Insider Meeting, which will be held July 30-31, 2024, at the Corning Opera House.
Iowa Tourism Advisory Group Convenes
This week, the Iowa Tourism Office convened the first meeting of the Iowa Tourism Advisory Group, a diverse group of non-governing stakeholders that represent Iowa's tourism industry. The group's role is to provide input and feedback on statewide tourism initiatives, bring new perspectives to inform future programming and help foster collaboration among the tourism industry. Forming an advisory group was an action step initiated out of the Iowa Tourism Industry Strategic Plan.
Thank you to the inaugural group members: Katie Davidson, Hot Air Brewing; Delaney Evers, Promoting Appanoose and Centerville Together (PACT); Dave Herrell, Visit Quad Cities; Kiana Johnson, O'Brien County Economic Development; Matt Johnson, Barley's Bar & Grill; Jeremy Parsons, Iowa State Fair; Pritesh Patel, Hotel Pommier; Wendy Scardino, National River Museum & Aquarium; Adam Shirley, Iowa's County Conservation System; and Teddi Yaeger, Madison County Chamber & Tourism. Not pictured is Tova Brandt, Museum of Danish America.
Helpful Tools to Organize Grant Opportunities
Answer the question! Some people think what they want to say is more important than answering the grant questions. Then they are confused when they end up with a low score and no funding. Before you even develop your project, study the instructions and review the application content, including the questions. You will plan a better project and have answers that clearly explain what the funder wants to know. If you think a question is a repeat, never refer a grantor to a previous answer. Think hard about how the question might be different or what else you can tell them. After you have written your entire application, go back and read it specifically to see if you really did answer the questions. You might surprise yourself.
Featured Grant: The Our Town Grant is typically due in July or August when tourism partners are busy, so start planning now. This is a creative placemaking grants program from the National Endowment for the Arts that supports activities that integrate arts, culture, and design into local efforts to strengthen community. Partnership is required. Grants range from $25,000 to $150,000 and require 1:1 match. As with many federal grants, plan to implement at least a year out from when you apply.
- June 20, 2024 – Iowa Tourism Office webinar, virtual
- July 30-31, 2024 – Tourism Insider Meeting, Corning