eTraveler: March 24, 2022

March 24, 2022

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Iowa Careers in Hospitality & Tourism - New Project & Employer Survey

The Iowa Department of Education, in support of the Future Ready Iowa Initiative, announced a new partnership with the Iowa Restaurant Association Education Foundation, Iowa Hotel and Lodging Association, Iowa Gaming Association, Iowa Travel Industry Partners, Iowa Wholesale Beer Distributors Association, Iowa Tourism Office and Iowa Association of Career and Technical Education to develop new promotional materials to highlight a wide range of exciting and fulfilling careers in hospitality and tourism fields in Iowa.

A short 5-minute survey has been created to gather direct input from the many different types of employers, service providers and others involved in the process for planning, managing and providing quality and safe lodging, food, beverages, recreation, entertainment, and tourism products, activities and support services in Iowa. This initial survey will remain open until the close of business Friday, March 25.

Your participation and support for this project is greatly appreciated. Similar statewide projects have been completed for other industries, most recently Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, that can be found at CareerPathways.EducateIowa.gov. Contact Joe.Collins@iowa.gov to learn more and to be part of this new project.

Take Survey

Pandemic Impact Survey Needs Your Input

The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) is again partnering with the University of Northern Iowa to undertake a survey to assess the current economic conditions and ongoing impacts of the coronavirus pandemic on Iowa’s businesses and nonprofit organizations.

Please share this link within your membership or communities and encourage them to complete the survey. IEDA will use the information collected to inform its public policy and programming. The deadline to complete this survey is April 8, 2022.

Your assistance promoting the three previous statewide surveys was critically important and provided Iowa with vital information and data. We hope you will once again assist us in this endeavor.

Take Survey

Tourism Office Bi-Monthly Webinar Recording

Thank you to those that were able to attend the Iowa Tourism Office update on March 17. If you were unable to attend you can find the recording here.

Topics included:

  • Arrivalist Co-op (indicate interest here)
  • 2022 Tourism Conference
  • Information on a new meeting and event incentive program
The dates for the remaining 2022 series (all at 2 p.m.) are:
  • Thursday, May 19
  • Thursday, July 21
  • Thursday, September 15
  • Thursday, November 17

Add The Series To Your Calendar [iCal]

One Week Left to Register

No fooling, the registration deadline for the 2022 Iowa Tourism Conference at the Des Moines Marriott Downtown is April 1. Don’t miss your opportunity to be a part of Iowa’s premier education and networking conference for tourism professionals.

Learn More About The Conference

Register

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.

TFI Scholarship Information

Applications are being accepted for the Abby Kisling Memorial Scholarship. Applications are due by noon on March 25 and the application form and information is available here.

Photo credit: Erik Hogstrom/Dubuque Telegraph Herald

Partner Highlight: Sensory Morning Creates a New Opportunity for Guests

The National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium's first Sensory Morning succeeded in providing individuals and families an opportunity to visit the Dubuque museum for the first time. "We received very positive feedback," said Curator of Education Jennifer Drayna. “One family specifically said they would not have been able to come to the museum during regular hours because it can be overwhelming for their child."

The two-hour event drew 25 individuals and served as both a Sensory Morning and a sounding board for gaining feedback from the families who attended. Noise and light levels were adjusted, and specific hours were set aside to ensure families had more time to spend at exhibits, explore at their own pace, and avoid crowds. Based on feedback from those in attendance, the River Museum will be hosting similar mornings in the months to come.

If you'd like to learn more about the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium’s first Sensory Morning you can reach out to Wendy Scardino, Director of Marketing and Communications, at wscardino@rivermuseum.com.

Upcoming Meetings

  • April 6, 2022 - Meet in Iowa Incentive Program (webinar)
  • April 19 - 20, 2022 - Iowa Tourism Conference
  • April 26, 2022 - CITR Guide Certification Workshop
  • May 11, 2022 - EITA Membership Meeting
  • May 12 - 13, 2022 - iLEAD Leadership Symposium
  • May 19, 2022 - Iowa Tourism Office Update (webinar)
  • May 25, 2022 - CITR 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.

  • Forbes - March 10: IndyCar, Penske Entertainment and Hy-Vee Will Bring a Street Racing Festival to Short Oval Racing in Iowa
  • AXIOS - March 14: 4 cool Airbnbs within driving distance of Des Moines
  • AFAR - March 16: 10 Frank Lloyd Wright Houses You Can Visit Across the U.S.

Longwoods Study: Gas Price Worries Accelerate Among Travelers

According to the latest Longwoods International tracking study of American travelers, 95% of travelers have a road trip planned for the next year. The percentage of travelers who report that rising gas prices will “greatly impact” their travel in the next six months jumped from 29% on March 2nd to 38% on March 16th. A third of travelers now say they will reduce the number of trips they will take, and a similar percentage say they are choosing destinations closer to home. In contrast, only 21% of travelers say COVID-19 will greatly impact their travel in the next six months, near the lowest level since the pandemic began two years ago.

Secret Worth Sharing Toolkit

As part of our This Is Iowa campaign, we are relaunching an energizing 30 second ad called “Secrets.” It’s visually stunning and sure to inspire people to think of Iowa as a place to visit, live and work. The spot will reach millions of Americans across the country via broadcast, streaming and social networks. You may recall we first debuted the ad last fall, and we’re eager to achieve the same success we saw then (155+ million views).

We’re counting on you to help spread the (no longer secret!) good news about Iowa. Here are some ready-to-use resources:

  • Sample social media posts and graphics to use in your channels
  • Links to IEDA and Travel Iowa's social posts for easy sharing
  • YouTube link and video embed code, with directions for use
  • Digital banners for use on your website

Download Toolkit

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