e-Traveler - Mural Contests, Travel Guide Ads + More
September 4, 2024
Registration Now Open for Next Tourism Insider Meeting
Registration is now open for the next Tourism Insider Meeting, which will be held in Marquette and McGregor on September 24-25, 2024. The agenda includes downtown tours, how to package compelling stories and opportunities to enjoy local attractions.
Hotel rooms are available for both September 23 and 24 at the Cobblestone Marquette. The room rate for attendees is $95 + tax ($106.40). Please call the hotel to book (563.873.8900) and mention you are attending the Iowa Tourism Office meeting. Reach out to Stephanie Neppl (stephanie.neppl@iowaeda.com) with questions.
REGISTER HERE
Iowa Tourism Office Available to Speak at Industry Events
The Iowa Tourism Office team is available to speak at industry conferences, meetings and events. To request someone from our team to present at your event, please complete the form here. Once received, you will be contacted to discuss availability.
Apply for the Iowans Create Community Mural Contest
The Iowa Arts Council and Iowa Economic Development Authority are proud to announce the Iowans Create Community Mural Contest. Show us what makes your community a great place to live, work and play for the chance to win a one-of-a-kind mural designed and painted by an Iowa artist.
Cities, municipalities and economic development organizations are invited to submit a video showcasing their unique community spirit, creative and cultural identity and authentic sense of place. Video submissions are being accepted through October 4, 2024.
Iowa Travel Guide Ads Now Available
The Iowa Travel Guide is an inspirational, magazine-like destination guide that features attractions, events and itineraries that travelers desire when planning a trip to Iowa. Research has shown that editorial content, both long-form and short features, are more impactful and memorable than directory listings.
The next Iowa Travel Guide, with editorial content continued to be centered around the five travel areas, will be released in January 2025. There will be 125,000 copies printed for 2025, an increase over the 100,000 copies produced in 2024. Business Publications coordinates all advertising sales. View the 2025 media kit here. The ad space reservation deadline is October 14, 2024.
International Marketing Feedback Requested
On the heels of the Iowa presence at the IPW international travel tradeshow, the Iowa Tourism Office is ready to take the next steps toward marketing Iowa to international visitors.
The Iowa Tourism Office has contracted with the International Inbound Travel Association to provide training and certification to all Iowa tourism partners, lodging properties, attractions, restaurants and more interested in hosting international visitors. The training will be a series of three 90-minute classes, held October-December. More details about the training will be available soon.
To get us started, please complete a short survey to help our trainers better understand the current level of knowledge and engagement with the international inbound travel market and visitors.
By completing this survey, you will help guide our next steps as we look to provide future resources and support. Thank you for your time and valuable input!
Partner Shoutout: Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation
Shoutout to the Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation for sharing an article about the economic impact of tourism in their weekly newsletter. The article recognizes the industry as a key factor in their community's growth, shows how local attractions and events boost area businesses and discusses embracing the ripple effects of tourism spending. Read the full article here.
Helpful Tools to Organize Grant Opportunities
Although grants in general are an important part of fund distribution for both public and private entities, they are sometimes discontinued. Just as frequently, new grants emerge. Be in the know. Sign up for and read agency and organizational newsletters and announcements. Attend grant trainings and in-person meetings with funders whenever possible. Talk with legislators and decision makers at least annually to get an idea of what may be changing.
Featured Grants:
The Iowa Tourism Grant is open. It will close on September 30, 2024 and accepts projects that will occur between January 1, 2025 and December 31, 2025.
The Inspire Iowa Cultural Tourism Grant program grant through the Iowa Tourism Office is due October 9, 2024 for projects that will occur between July 1, 2024 and December 31, 2026. It will support a limited number of highly visible and high-impact arts, culture and heritage events, performances, productions or exhibitions. Projects will attract new visitors to Iowa communities and showcase our state as a cultural tourism destination.
The Iowa Arts Council has opened a fall round of Art Project Grants. Organizations and individual artists who have not previously been awarded funding for fiscal year 2025 are eligible to apply for projects taking place between November 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025.
Congratulations to the FY25 RSAD Recipients
The Regional Sports Authority District (RSAD) Program promotes tourism in Iowa by funding projects that relate to active promotion of nonprofessional sporting events in the state. Each year, 10 communities are awarded RSAD funds. Congratulations to the FY25 RSAD recipients:
Here are the most important updates this week:
- Mark your calendar for the next Tourism Insider Meeting on September 24-25.
- Apply for the Iowans Create Community Mural Contest.
- Iowa Travel Guide ads are now available to purchase.
- Share your thoughts in an International Marketing Survey.
Registration Now Open for Next Tourism Insider Meeting
Registration is now open for the next Tourism Insider Meeting, which will be held in Marquette and McGregor on September 24-25, 2024. The agenda includes downtown tours, how to package compelling stories and opportunities to enjoy local attractions.
Hotel rooms are available for both September 23 and 24 at the Cobblestone Marquette. The room rate for attendees is $95 + tax ($106.40). Please call the hotel to book (563.873.8900) and mention you are attending the Iowa Tourism Office meeting. Reach out to Stephanie Neppl (stephanie.neppl@iowaeda.com) with questions.
REGISTER HERE
Iowa Tourism Office Available to Speak at Industry Events
The Iowa Tourism Office team is available to speak at industry conferences, meetings and events. To request someone from our team to present at your event, please complete the form here. Once received, you will be contacted to discuss availability.
Apply for the Iowans Create Community Mural Contest
The Iowa Arts Council and Iowa Economic Development Authority are proud to announce the Iowans Create Community Mural Contest. Show us what makes your community a great place to live, work and play for the chance to win a one-of-a-kind mural designed and painted by an Iowa artist.
Cities, municipalities and economic development organizations are invited to submit a video showcasing their unique community spirit, creative and cultural identity and authentic sense of place. Video submissions are being accepted through October 4, 2024.
Iowa Travel Guide Ads Now Available
The Iowa Travel Guide is an inspirational, magazine-like destination guide that features attractions, events and itineraries that travelers desire when planning a trip to Iowa. Research has shown that editorial content, both long-form and short features, are more impactful and memorable than directory listings.
The next Iowa Travel Guide, with editorial content continued to be centered around the five travel areas, will be released in January 2025. There will be 125,000 copies printed for 2025, an increase over the 100,000 copies produced in 2024. Business Publications coordinates all advertising sales. View the 2025 media kit here. The ad space reservation deadline is October 14, 2024.
International Marketing Feedback Requested
On the heels of the Iowa presence at the IPW international travel tradeshow, the Iowa Tourism Office is ready to take the next steps toward marketing Iowa to international visitors.
The Iowa Tourism Office has contracted with the International Inbound Travel Association to provide training and certification to all Iowa tourism partners, lodging properties, attractions, restaurants and more interested in hosting international visitors. The training will be a series of three 90-minute classes, held October-December. More details about the training will be available soon.
To get us started, please complete a short survey to help our trainers better understand the current level of knowledge and engagement with the international inbound travel market and visitors.
By completing this survey, you will help guide our next steps as we look to provide future resources and support. Thank you for your time and valuable input!
Partner Shoutout: Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation
Shoutout to the Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation for sharing an article about the economic impact of tourism in their weekly newsletter. The article recognizes the industry as a key factor in their community's growth, shows how local attractions and events boost area businesses and discusses embracing the ripple effects of tourism spending. Read the full article here.
Helpful Tools to Organize Grant Opportunities
Although grants in general are an important part of fund distribution for both public and private entities, they are sometimes discontinued. Just as frequently, new grants emerge. Be in the know. Sign up for and read agency and organizational newsletters and announcements. Attend grant trainings and in-person meetings with funders whenever possible. Talk with legislators and decision makers at least annually to get an idea of what may be changing.
Featured Grants:
The Iowa Tourism Grant is open. It will close on September 30, 2024 and accepts projects that will occur between January 1, 2025 and December 31, 2025.
The Inspire Iowa Cultural Tourism Grant program grant through the Iowa Tourism Office is due October 9, 2024 for projects that will occur between July 1, 2024 and December 31, 2026. It will support a limited number of highly visible and high-impact arts, culture and heritage events, performances, productions or exhibitions. Projects will attract new visitors to Iowa communities and showcase our state as a cultural tourism destination.
The Iowa Arts Council has opened a fall round of Art Project Grants. Organizations and individual artists who have not previously been awarded funding for fiscal year 2025 are eligible to apply for projects taking place between November 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025.
Congratulations to the FY25 RSAD Recipients
The Regional Sports Authority District (RSAD) Program promotes tourism in Iowa by funding projects that relate to active promotion of nonprofessional sporting events in the state. Each year, 10 communities are awarded RSAD funds. Congratulations to the FY25 RSAD recipients:
- Catch Des Moines
- Cedar Rapids Tourism Office
- Cedar Valley Sports Commission
- Discover Ames
- Explore Siouxland
- Think Iowa City
- Travel Dubuque
- Unleash Council Bluffs
- Visit Fort Dodge
- Visit Quad Cities
- September 5, 2024 - Iowa Sports Market Analysis Webinar, virtual
- September 24-25, 2024 – Tourism Insider Meeting, McGregor/Marquette
- September 30, 2024 – Iowa Tourism Grant applications close