e-Traveler - See 2025 Travel Trends + More
February 5, 2025
REGISTER NOW: 2025 Iowa Tourism Conference Details
DEADLINE: Tourism Insider Meeting Host Application Now Open
Since 2023, nine Tourism Insider Meetings have been held around the state to provide opportunities for industry partners to gather, collaborate, share ideas and network. Communities, businesses and organizations are invited to express interest in hosting one of these meetings. They are a great opportunity to show off visitor assets and success stories to tourism industry partners around the state.
A few changes for this next cycle of meetings: The meetings will now be held on Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Hosts can choose to coordinate a location for an evening meal but this is not required. Overnights will still be encouraged for all participants, but an activity the next morning will not be offered to the entire group. Instead, the host community can choose to meet with Iowa Tourism Office staff on a topic of their choosing (examples: discuss grant opportunities, review marketing plans, review visitation research, have staff present to community stakeholders).
If you are interested in being a host community for the next cycle, please review the details and apply by 4 p.m. on Friday, February 14. Please reach out to Stephanie Neppl (stephanie.neppl@iowaeda.com) with questions.
Elevate Iowa Tourism: Education Scholarship Accepting Applications
In partnership with Travel Iowa, Iowa Tourism Industry Partners (iTIP) is excited to announce that the second round of applications for the Elevate Iowa Tourism: Education Scholarship is now open. This program offers up to $2,000 per individual to attend tourism specific regional or national educational conferences. This program is open to anyone in the industry.
Applications are being accepted through 4:30 p.m. on February 14, 2025.
Save the Dates for 2025 Iowa Tourism Office Outreach
The 2025 Outreach Schedule is available on the Travel Iowa Industry Partners website events page here. Partners register now for all ITO webinars for the year, and save dates for the Tourism Insider Meetings. This year’s schedule includes:
2025 Travel Trends from TripAdvisor
TripAdvisor analyzed millions of reviews, bookings, and conversations to shed light on 2025 travel trends. Here are some trends to consider in your marketing:
Helpful Tools to Organize Grant Opportunities
How many times have we lamented, “If we could just get money for people!” There are grants for technical assistance that allow you to spend funds on contracting or even hiring people to help you provide assistance to businesses. Just because you have never gotten one doesn’t mean you can’t. Read through all the information you can find on the grantor’s website, talk to program contacts and submit an application. If you don’t get the grant on the first try, don’t be discouraged, try again. It is worth the effort.
Featured Grant:
The USDA's Rural Business Development Grant is intended for communities of fewer than 50,000 people. This grant opportunity is currently open and accepting applications until February 28, 2025. It is a complex grant to write but can be used for training and technical assistance to businesses. This is a great opportunity for tourism offices, chambers, economic development organizations and CVBs to expand their ability to help their members.
Here are the most important updates this week:
- Apply to be a Tourism Insider Meeting host community by February 14, 2025.
- Apply for the Elevate Iowa Tourism: Education Scholarship by February 14, 2025
- See TripAdvisor's 2025 Travel Trends.
REGISTER NOW: 2025 Iowa Tourism Conference Details
WHEN: March 12-13, 2025
RATE: Full Conference Registration - $275
Wednesday Only Registration - $175
REGISTER
WHERE: Prairie Meadows
1 Prairie Meadows Drive
Altoona, Iowa
DIRECTIONS
STAY: Prairie Meadows
Rooms available for $134 per night plus taxes and fees
BOOK ROOM
SPONSORSHIP PACKAGES:
DETAILS
RATE: Full Conference Registration - $275
Wednesday Only Registration - $175
REGISTER
WHERE: Prairie Meadows
1 Prairie Meadows Drive
Altoona, Iowa
DIRECTIONS
STAY: Prairie Meadows
Rooms available for $134 per night plus taxes and fees
BOOK ROOM
SPONSORSHIP PACKAGES:
DETAILS
DEADLINE: Tourism Insider Meeting Host Application Now Open
Since 2023, nine Tourism Insider Meetings have been held around the state to provide opportunities for industry partners to gather, collaborate, share ideas and network. Communities, businesses and organizations are invited to express interest in hosting one of these meetings. They are a great opportunity to show off visitor assets and success stories to tourism industry partners around the state.
A few changes for this next cycle of meetings: The meetings will now be held on Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Hosts can choose to coordinate a location for an evening meal but this is not required. Overnights will still be encouraged for all participants, but an activity the next morning will not be offered to the entire group. Instead, the host community can choose to meet with Iowa Tourism Office staff on a topic of their choosing (examples: discuss grant opportunities, review marketing plans, review visitation research, have staff present to community stakeholders).
If you are interested in being a host community for the next cycle, please review the details and apply by 4 p.m. on Friday, February 14. Please reach out to Stephanie Neppl (stephanie.neppl@iowaeda.com) with questions.
Elevate Iowa Tourism: Education Scholarship Accepting Applications
In partnership with Travel Iowa, Iowa Tourism Industry Partners (iTIP) is excited to announce that the second round of applications for the Elevate Iowa Tourism: Education Scholarship is now open. This program offers up to $2,000 per individual to attend tourism specific regional or national educational conferences. This program is open to anyone in the industry.
Applications are being accepted through 4:30 p.m. on February 14, 2025.
Save the Dates for 2025 Iowa Tourism Office Outreach
The 2025 Outreach Schedule is available on the Travel Iowa Industry Partners website events page here. Partners register now for all ITO webinars for the year, and save dates for the Tourism Insider Meetings. This year’s schedule includes:
- April 17, 2025: Iowa Tourism Office webinar (virtual)
- May 8, 2025: Tourism Insider Meeting, location TBA
- July 24, 2025: Iowa Tourism Office webinar (virtual)
- August 28, 2025: Tourism Insider Meeting, location TBA
- October 23, 2025: Iowa Tourism Office webinar (virtual)
- November 20, 2025: Tourism Insider Meeting, location TBA
2025 Travel Trends from TripAdvisor
TripAdvisor analyzed millions of reviews, bookings, and conversations to shed light on 2025 travel trends. Here are some trends to consider in your marketing:
- Slow Going
- Eco-conscious travelers are choosing to take the long way to slow down and enjoy the journey. The scenic route is becoming the main attraction.
- Investigative Eating
- Learning where our food comes from is becoming a popular itinerary item, from farm stays to restaurants that prioritize sustainability.
- New 'Moons
- Beyond honeymoon and babymoons, travelers are finding new reasons to celebrate with travel - "bestiemoons" for friends getaways, "retiremoons" for retirees to make new connections, etc.
- Family Vacays 2.0
- The future of family travel is more accessible, intentional and enjoyable than ever and includes fun for the whole family. Attractions that offer something for all ages often take priority.
Helpful Tools to Organize Grant Opportunities
How many times have we lamented, “If we could just get money for people!” There are grants for technical assistance that allow you to spend funds on contracting or even hiring people to help you provide assistance to businesses. Just because you have never gotten one doesn’t mean you can’t. Read through all the information you can find on the grantor’s website, talk to program contacts and submit an application. If you don’t get the grant on the first try, don’t be discouraged, try again. It is worth the effort.
Featured Grant:
The USDA's Rural Business Development Grant is intended for communities of fewer than 50,000 people. This grant opportunity is currently open and accepting applications until February 28, 2025. It is a complex grant to write but can be used for training and technical assistance to businesses. This is a great opportunity for tourism offices, chambers, economic development organizations and CVBs to expand their ability to help their members.
- February 14, 2025 – Tourism Insider Meeting host applications due
- March 12-13, 2025 – Iowa Tourism Conference, Altoona
- April 17- 2025 – Iowa Tourism Office Update Webinar, virtual