e-Traveler - Register for the Next Tourism Insider Meeting + More
October 30, 2024
Registration Now Open for the 2025 Iowa Tourism Conference
The annual Iowa Tourism Conference will be held on March 12-13, 2025 at The Meadows Events Center in Altoona! This can’t-miss conference is dedicated to promoting Iowa's tourism destinations and attractions through marketing initiatives.
Join destination marketing professionals from across the state to gain insight into the most innovative and data-driven tactics happening in the tourism industry and leave with actionable solutions, new inspiration and valuable new professional connections. REGISTER
Book your room: The 2025 Iowa Tourism Conference has a discounted room block reserved at Prairie Meadows, which is connected to their Meadows Event Center. Rooms are available for $134 per night plus taxes and fees.
Attendees are encouraged to book their rooms early as the room block is expected to fill quickly. LEARN MORE
Economic Impact of Tourism is $10.9B in 2023
In 2023, visitors spent over $7.3 billion across the Iowa economy. This direct visitor spending generated a total economic impact of $10.9 billion in Iowa, sustained 70,954 jobs and generated $1.1 billion in state and local tax revenue.
The statewide 2023 Economic Impact Report is now available, as well as county level spending and economic impact numbers. The webinar that goes into detail about the report is linked below.
Catch Up: Watch the Iowa Tourism Office Update Webinar
Thank you to all who were able to join us for the Iowa Tourism Update webinar last week. The webinar included hot the off the press 2023 Economic Impact Report, international marketing training and Arrivalist Co-op. If you were unable to join live, you can watch the webinar recording here.
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.
International Marketing Trainings - Next Steps
Thank you to those who were able to join the first session of 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.
If you missed session one, you are absolutely welcome to join the remaining sessions to hear valuable information about working with the international inbound market.
Mark your calendar for the next two trainings:
All training sessions are virtual and must be joined live – they will not be recorded.
Remnant Space Available in 2025 Iowa Travel Guide
There is limited advertising space still available in the 2025 Iowa Travel Guide. In 2025, 125,000 copies of the travel guide will be printed (an increase over the 100,000 copies produced in 2024). Business Publications coordinates all advertising sales. View the 2025 media kit here and submit your inquiry here.
Share Winter Events and Content Ideas
'Tis (almost) the season for holiday content! Be sure to update and add your holiday and winter events on the Travel Iowa website. We are specifically looking for holiday shopping and retail events, holiday light displays and indoor family-friendly attractions.
Share Winter Events and Content Ideas
'Tis (almost) the season for holiday content! Be sure to update and add your holiday and winter events on the Travel Iowa website. We are specifically looking for holiday shopping and retail events, holiday light displays and indoor family-friendly attractions.
Helpful Tools to Organize Grant Opportunities
When writing a grant, have someone you respect review your application before submitting. They may find punctuation and spelling errors, but it will be infinitely more helpful if they consider the questions you are answering and determine whether or not you actually answered them in an appropriate and compelling manner. They should also determine if your overall project aligns with the goals of the funder. Have them check every aspect of your budget, from addition to percentages and matching funds calculations. Clean up and revise your grant based on their recommendations and you will elevate your proposal to the next level, secure more funding and look smarter in the process.
Featured Grant:
Community foundations fund many important tourism projects. Ask your foundation leadership if they attended the Connect Community Foundations Conference. If they did, remind them they are eligible to apply for Idea Implementation Grants from $250-$2,500. Talk through potential submissions and remind your foundation leaders that the final applications for this grant are due by 5 p.m. on November 15, 2024.
Here are the most important updates this week:
- Register for the 2025 Iowa Tourism Conference in Altoona on March 12-13, 2025.
- See the 2023 Economic Impact Report.
- Mark your calendar for the next International Inbound Travel Association Steps to Success Training on November 21.
Registration Now Open for the 2025 Iowa Tourism Conference
The annual Iowa Tourism Conference will be held on March 12-13, 2025 at The Meadows Events Center in Altoona! This can’t-miss conference is dedicated to promoting Iowa's tourism destinations and attractions through marketing initiatives.
Join destination marketing professionals from across the state to gain insight into the most innovative and data-driven tactics happening in the tourism industry and leave with actionable solutions, new inspiration and valuable new professional connections. REGISTER
Book your room: The 2025 Iowa Tourism Conference has a discounted room block reserved at Prairie Meadows, which is connected to their Meadows Event Center. Rooms are available for $134 per night plus taxes and fees.
Attendees are encouraged to book their rooms early as the room block is expected to fill quickly. LEARN MORE
Economic Impact of Tourism is $10.9B in 2023
In 2023, visitors spent over $7.3 billion across the Iowa economy. This direct visitor spending generated a total economic impact of $10.9 billion in Iowa, sustained 70,954 jobs and generated $1.1 billion in state and local tax revenue.
The statewide 2023 Economic Impact Report is now available, as well as county level spending and economic impact numbers. The webinar that goes into detail about the report is linked below.
Catch Up: Watch the Iowa Tourism Office Update Webinar
Thank you to all who were able to join us for the Iowa Tourism Update webinar last week. The webinar included hot the off the press 2023 Economic Impact Report, international marketing training and Arrivalist Co-op. If you were unable to join live, you can watch the webinar recording here.
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.
International Marketing Trainings - Next Steps
Thank you to those who were able to join the first session of 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.
If you missed session one, you are absolutely welcome to join the remaining sessions to hear valuable information about working with the international inbound market.
Mark your calendar for the next two trainings:
- Step #2: Thursday, November 21, 10:00 – 11:30 a.m. (REGISTER)
- Step #3: Thursday, December 19, 10:00 – 11:30 a.m. (registration coming soon)
All training sessions are virtual and must be joined live – they will not be recorded.
Remnant Space Available in 2025 Iowa Travel Guide
There is limited advertising space still available in the 2025 Iowa Travel Guide. In 2025, 125,000 copies of the travel guide will be printed (an increase over the 100,000 copies produced in 2024). Business Publications coordinates all advertising sales. View the 2025 media kit here and submit your inquiry here.
Share Winter Events and Content Ideas
'Tis (almost) the season for holiday content! Be sure to update and add your holiday and winter events on the Travel Iowa website. We are specifically looking for holiday shopping and retail events, holiday light displays and indoor family-friendly attractions.
Share Winter Events and Content Ideas
'Tis (almost) the season for holiday content! Be sure to update and add your holiday and winter events on the Travel Iowa website. We are specifically looking for holiday shopping and retail events, holiday light displays and indoor family-friendly attractions.
Helpful Tools to Organize Grant Opportunities
When writing a grant, have someone you respect review your application before submitting. They may find punctuation and spelling errors, but it will be infinitely more helpful if they consider the questions you are answering and determine whether or not you actually answered them in an appropriate and compelling manner. They should also determine if your overall project aligns with the goals of the funder. Have them check every aspect of your budget, from addition to percentages and matching funds calculations. Clean up and revise your grant based on their recommendations and you will elevate your proposal to the next level, secure more funding and look smarter in the process.
Featured Grant:
Community foundations fund many important tourism projects. Ask your foundation leadership if they attended the Connect Community Foundations Conference. If they did, remind them they are eligible to apply for Idea Implementation Grants from $250-$2,500. Talk through potential submissions and remind your foundation leaders that the final applications for this grant are due by 5 p.m. on November 15, 2024.
- November 19-20, 2024 – Tourism Insider Meeting, Iowa City
- November 21, 2024 – International Inbound Travel Association Steps to Success Training – Step #2, virtual
- December 19, 2024 – International Inbound Travel Association Steps to Success Training – Step #3, virtual