e-Traveler - Register for the Next Tourism Insider Meeting + More
October 16, 2024
LAST CALL: Register for the Next Iowa Tourism Office Update Webinar
Sign up for the next Iowa Tourism Office Update Webinar, which will be held this Thursday, October 17, at 2 p.m. Topics will include the 2023 Economic Impact Report and International Marketing training.
Registration Open for the November Tourism Insider Meeting
Join partners from around the state at the last Tourism Insider Meeting of the year in Iowa City on November 19-20, 2024.
Discussion topics will include the new Economic Impact Report and how to use it, film tourism plus a ‘news ready workshop’ and discussion about working with media. Optional activities include dinner at The Den at St. Burch Tavern and a fun Wednesday morning activity taking a Beginner’s Improv Class at Riverside Theatre. If weather allows, a mural walk around downtown Iowa City will be offered.
Rooms are available at the Hilton Garden Inn at the rate of $129 + tax ($146.52). Please call the hotel to book (319.248.6100) and mention you are attending the Iowa Tourism Office meeting or use this link.
Reach out to Stephanie Neppl (stephanie.neppl@iowaeda.com) with questions.
Mark Your Calendar for International Marketing Trainings
The Iowa Tourism Office is excited to invite our tourism partners to the International Inbound Travel Association’s Steps to SuccessTM Program! This program, presented by Alon Tourism Solutions, is the leading national training program to help tourism businesses thrive and secure long-term business with the international inbound travel market. This FREE program will guide you through how to enhance your ability to work effectively and efficiently with business-to-business (B2B) international inbound operators by:
All three training sessions will be virtual. You must join these sessions live – they will not be recorded.
As part of the training program, all Iowa tourism partners, lodging properties, attractions, restaurants and more are invited to 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.
WANTED: Holiday Happenings for Media Promotion
From the wacky (Ugly Christmas Sweater Party, perhaps?) to traditional (light displays), now is the time to submit your area’s holiday happenings to the traveliowa.com calendar of events. The Iowa Tourism Office will use event information in upcoming consumer newsletters, media segments, social media and emails to Wine, Beer and Spirits passport holders. Make your listing even more eye-catching by including photos and/or video.
Partner Shoutout: Visit Fort Dodge Releases Spanish Destination Guide
Visit Fort Dodge has released its first-ever Spanish destination guide. This project is the organization's first step in promoting the region to Spanish-speaking visitors and residents. A focus group of local Latinos played a valuable role in developing the content and graphics for the guide.
Virtual Media Events Showcased New & Noteworthy in 2025
On October 10, 2024, the Iowa Tourism Office held a virtual media event with eight media attendees from outlets like Better Homes & Gardens, USA Today, U.S. News & World Report, Good Housekeeping and more. Additionally, reporters from PopSugar, HuffPost, Midwest Living and other outlets were unable to attend but are interested in learning more about Iowa. The 30-minute session connected current travel trends like wellness and agritourism with Iowa attractions and highlighted what’s new in Iowa for 2025.
Helpful Tools to Organize Grant Opportunities
If you want to expand your potential grant income, sign up for and read partner, agency and organizational newsletters and grant pages, especially those that provide a summary of several grant opportunities within specific topical areas that are important to your community. Some may be from organizations you have never or may never work with, but whomever is writing those newsletters has a broad understanding of the grants that are available within their area of expertise. See below for a few newsletters and websites that provide helpful information about grants.
Featured Resources:
• State Historical Society of Iowa Publications
• Iowa Arts & Culture News
• Silos & Smokestacks Newsletter
• National Endowment for the Arts Newsletter
• Institute of Museum and Library Services Newsletter
• IOWA League State Funding Opportunities
• Iowa Council of Foundations Grants
• Iowa DNR Grants & Other Funding
• Iowa Grants
Here are the most important updates this week:
- Register for the next Tourism Insider Meeting in Iowa City on November 19-20.
Add your holiday events to traveliowa.com to be featured in upcoming media promotions.
Sign up for other organization's newsletters to learn about grant opportunities.
LAST CALL: Register for the Next Iowa Tourism Office Update Webinar
Sign up for the next Iowa Tourism Office Update Webinar, which will be held this Thursday, October 17, at 2 p.m. Topics will include the 2023 Economic Impact Report and International Marketing training.
Registration Open for the November Tourism Insider Meeting
Join partners from around the state at the last Tourism Insider Meeting of the year in Iowa City on November 19-20, 2024.
Discussion topics will include the new Economic Impact Report and how to use it, film tourism plus a ‘news ready workshop’ and discussion about working with media. Optional activities include dinner at The Den at St. Burch Tavern and a fun Wednesday morning activity taking a Beginner’s Improv Class at Riverside Theatre. If weather allows, a mural walk around downtown Iowa City will be offered.
Rooms are available at the Hilton Garden Inn at the rate of $129 + tax ($146.52). Please call the hotel to book (319.248.6100) and mention you are attending the Iowa Tourism Office meeting or use this link.
Reach out to Stephanie Neppl (stephanie.neppl@iowaeda.com) with questions.
Mark Your Calendar for International Marketing Trainings
The Iowa Tourism Office is excited to invite our tourism partners to the International Inbound Travel Association’s Steps to SuccessTM Program! This program, presented by Alon Tourism Solutions, is the leading national training program to help tourism businesses thrive and secure long-term business with the international inbound travel market. This FREE program will guide you through how to enhance your ability to work effectively and efficiently with business-to-business (B2B) international inbound operators by:
- Understanding the value of working with the international inbound market and how to harness them as a powerful partner to grow your business
- Learning how to prepare for this market, including developing your pitch, pricing, sellable products and operational resources that follow the protocols of working with the travel trade
- Discovering fundamental marketing strategies that you can use to promote your products and services via the varied distribution channels of the travel trade
All three training sessions will be virtual. You must join these sessions live – they will not be recorded.
- Thursday, October 24, 10:00 – 11:30 a.m. – REGISTER HERE
- Thursday, November 21, 10:00 – 11:30 a.m. (registration coming soon)
- Thursday, December 19, 10:00 – 11:30 a.m. (registration coming soon)
As part of the training program, all Iowa tourism partners, lodging properties, attractions, restaurants and more are invited to 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.
WANTED: Holiday Happenings for Media Promotion
From the wacky (Ugly Christmas Sweater Party, perhaps?) to traditional (light displays), now is the time to submit your area’s holiday happenings to the traveliowa.com calendar of events. The Iowa Tourism Office will use event information in upcoming consumer newsletters, media segments, social media and emails to Wine, Beer and Spirits passport holders. Make your listing even more eye-catching by including photos and/or video.
Partner Shoutout: Visit Fort Dodge Releases Spanish Destination GuideVisit Fort Dodge has released its first-ever Spanish destination guide. This project is the organization's first step in promoting the region to Spanish-speaking visitors and residents. A focus group of local Latinos played a valuable role in developing the content and graphics for the guide.
Virtual Media Events Showcased New & Noteworthy in 2025
On October 10, 2024, the Iowa Tourism Office held a virtual media event with eight media attendees from outlets like Better Homes & Gardens, USA Today, U.S. News & World Report, Good Housekeeping and more. Additionally, reporters from PopSugar, HuffPost, Midwest Living and other outlets were unable to attend but are interested in learning more about Iowa. The 30-minute session connected current travel trends like wellness and agritourism with Iowa attractions and highlighted what’s new in Iowa for 2025.
Helpful Tools to Organize Grant Opportunities
If you want to expand your potential grant income, sign up for and read partner, agency and organizational newsletters and grant pages, especially those that provide a summary of several grant opportunities within specific topical areas that are important to your community. Some may be from organizations you have never or may never work with, but whomever is writing those newsletters has a broad understanding of the grants that are available within their area of expertise. See below for a few newsletters and websites that provide helpful information about grants.
Featured Resources:
• State Historical Society of Iowa Publications
• Iowa Arts & Culture News
• Silos & Smokestacks Newsletter
• National Endowment for the Arts Newsletter
• Institute of Museum and Library Services Newsletter
• IOWA League State Funding Opportunities
• Iowa Council of Foundations Grants
• Iowa DNR Grants & Other Funding
• Iowa Grants
- October 17, 2024 - Iowa Tourism Office Update webinar, virtual
- October 24, 2024 - International Inbound Travel Association Steps to Success Training
- November 19-20, 2024 – Tourism Insider Meeting, Iowa City