eTraveler: February 23, 2022

February 23, 2022

The E-Traveler is our bi-weekly industry communication email. Sign up to receive them.

NEWS FROM THE IOWA TOURISM OFFICE February 23, 2022

Iowa Road Trips Surpass 2019 Levels

As the tourism industry continues to recover from the pandemic, we have good news to share! For the first time since March 2020, road trips to and within Iowa are at a higher level than the same time period in 2019. Using data from Arrivalist’s Daily Travel Index, road trips in Iowa are 14.8% higher comparing 2022 to 2019, during a four week period from January 19-February 16. Iowa also had the second-highest road trip recovery rate in the country during this time period.

Additionally, hotel/motel tax revenue checks in Iowa for the period of July-December 2021 were over pre-pandemic 2019 levels ($19.38 million in 2021 vs $19.07 million in 2019). All of this points to a strong recovery for the Iowa tourism industry in 2022.

Travel Planning Boom Continues

According to the latest Longwoods International tracking study of American travelers, trip intentions remain strong, with nine in ten planning to travel during the next six months. Thirty-nine percent of travelers have their next trip planned in the next 60 days, setting up for a strong Spring Break travel season. Equally encouraging, seven in ten travelers now feel safe traveling outside their community, with this result now reaching pre-Omicron levels.

Travelers continue to voice strong support for small, local-owner restauranteurs and retailers, many of whom have suffered significant business declines throughout the two-year pandemic. The majority of travelers chose to shop local on vacation to support small, locally owned business and enjoy the unique experiences those businesses offer. Travelers seek out local experiences when they visit a community, with the top information sources being online searches, followed by advice from friends, family and/or other visitors, and tips from locals to help them find the best of local offerings.

No Fooling, Registration Deadline is April 1

If you haven't signed up for the Iowa Tourism Conference, there is a little over a month left before registration closes. This year’s event, scheduled for April 19-20 at the Des Moines Marriott Downtown, features a variety of nationally known speakers addressing small business successes, accessibility, branding and utilizing user-generated content. Registration is $250 and the deadline to register is April 1.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CONFERENCE

All 2021 conference attendees will receive a non-transferable $25 off their registration for this year's conference. Please make sure to register using the same email as last year to take advantage of the promotion.

BOOK YOUR ROOM

Secure your room at the Des Moines Marriott Downtown for $109/night. The cutoff date to obtain this discount is Monday, April 4, 2022.

2022 Tourism Award Nominations Deadline is March 4 ??

There is about one week left to submit your nominations for the 2022 Tourism Awards. These awards represent the highest honor given for tourism in Iowa. Award winners will be announced on Wednesday, April 20, during the 2022 Iowa Tourism Conference.

The deadline to submit a tourism award nomination is Friday, March 4, at 5 p.m.

NOMINATE

Wanted: Astrotourism Locations/Events

As we explore opportunities to highlight Iowa in a unique way, we wanted to call attention to a new travel trend that may be of high demand throughout this year – astrotourism. What is astrotourism? Well, it’s any kind of tourism that involves the night sky or visiting facilities related to astronomy (like observatories or planetariums) and combining that with a broader sense of ecotourism where interaction with nature is what the visitor experience is about. In short, astrotourism is all about looking up at the sky and appreciating the natural world around you. There’s plenty of ways to explore and you don’t even need to be outside to do it. With this in mind, we’re looking for places or upcoming events to highlight as top destinations for travelers to embark on a unique astrotourism experience in Iowa.

To spark inspiration, below are a few examples of how astrotourism comes to life:

When and When to See Christmas Comet Leonard
5 Resorts Offering the Most Awesome Astrotourism in the Galaxy
Family Astronomy Night at the Driftless Area Wetlands Centre, Feb. 18, 2022

Please send your astrotourism-related ideas to jessica.oriley@iowaeda.com.

2023 Iowa Downtown Conference Host Location
Request for Proposal Deadline Extended

For 36 years, the Iowa Downtown Conference has been the premier statewide annual conference for professionals and volunteers involved in preservation-based downtown revitalization. The format provides attendees with educational and networking opportunities to acquire information about the latest strategies in commercial district revitalization. Plenary and concurrent breakout sessions are presented by a lineup of engaging speakers sharing practical ideas and solutions. The anticipated attendance for the 2½ day conference is 250, tentatively scheduled August 1-3. The deadline to accept host proposals has been extended to Friday, March 4, 2022. The 2023 RFP and Sample form can be accessed here.

Upcoming Meetings

March 9, 2022 - CITR Membership Meeting
March 17, 2022 - Iowa Tourism Office Update (webinar)
March 23, 2022 - WITR Membership Meeting
April 19 - 20, 2022 - Iowa Tourism Conference
April 26, 2022 - CITR Guide Certification Workshop
May 11, 2022 - EITA Membership Meeting

Check out the calendar of events for more details and upcoming industry meetings.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Iowa in the News

Here are some exciting media highlights featuring Iowa.

As part of the co-op program, Lil Miss Foodie visited Iowa City to promote trip ideas for food lovers.
Trip.com shared two lists: 10 Best Things To Do in Linn County, Iowa and 10 Best Things to do in Scott County, Iowa
Getaway Mavens listed three places in Iowa for their Romantic Weekend Getaways
Wilton Candy Shop made MSN's list of America's most surprising Historic Places
Midwest Living recently released their 2022 Best of the Midwest Winners, and Iowa was well represented taking home four major awards. Iowa received awards for the best brewery, mid-sized town, new hotel and cidery making it one of the top vacation destinations in the Midwest.

New Grant and Designation Opportunities from Department of Cultural Affairs

The Iowa Arts Council has opened its next round of fiscal year 2023 grants and designations.

LEARN MORE

Visit www.traveliowa.com/industry

for more information.

Iowa Tourism Office
1963 Bell Avenue, Ste 200 | Des Moines, IA 50315 US

Return To All E-Travelers