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e-Traveler - Sign Up for the Next Iowa Tourism Office Update + More

October 2, 2024




Here are the most important updates this week: 


Register for the Next Iowa Tourism Office Update Webinar
Sign up for the next Iowa Tourism Office Update Webinar, which will be held Thursday, October 17, at 2 p.m. Topics will include the 2023 Economic Impact Report and International Marketing training.


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
By attending all three sessions in the Steps to Success™ program, you will be eligible to receive the “IITA Stamp of Approval.” The Stamp of Approval will validate to inbound operators that you have completed the Steps to Success program and are ready to work with inbound operators. Only partners who have received the IITA Stamp of Approval will be invited to be a part of Travel Iowa’s presence at the IPW tradeshow in Chicago in June 2025.

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)
International Marketing Feedback Requested
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. 

Iowa Travel Guide Ads Now Available 
The 2025 Iowa Travel Guide will feature editorial content centered around the five travel areas. 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 and submit your inquiry here. The ad space reservation deadline is October 14, 2024. 

Partner Shoutout: Travel Dubuque Wins Two Accolades for Meetings
Congratulations to Travel Dubuque for winning two awards celebrating the community as a meeting destination. Dubuque was selected as one of Meetings Today's 2024 Best of MidAmerica CVBs/DMOs. And, the Grand River Center won gold as the 2024 Northstar Stella Award's Best Convention Center in the Midwest. 
 





Iowa Tourism Manager Amy Zeigler Receives IHLA Award
Congratulations to Iowa Tourism Manager Amy Zeigler for being selected as the Iowa Hotel & Lodging Association's (IHLA) 2024 Champion of the Year.



Recent Media Interviews Highlight Iowa's Fall Trips & Events
Jessica O'Riley completed three segments on Quad Cities Live (September 25) to promote fall trip ideas in Southeast Iowa; spooky and spirited adventures near Iowa City; fall color trips along the Grant Wood, Historic Hills and Great River Road Scenic Byways; and a winter/holiday preview.  

KCRG's Everyday Iowa segment (September 26) highlighted October events as well as pumpkin patches and apple orchards within a short drive of Cedar Rapids.

Want to be featured in media interviews? Make sure your events and listings are updated on traveliowa.com. (Pro tip: Adding photos helps!)


Helpful Tools to Organize Grant Opportunities
Historic sites, museums and historic districts are important components of place-based tourism that help visitors have authentic experiences. Unfortunately, many owners and managers of historic sites and museums don’t have grant writing and/or marketing experience. When you find a grant that will help them, pass it along and partner with them to develop a successful application.

Featured Grants:
The Inspire! Grants for Small Museums FY 2025 Notice of Funding Opportunity is due November 15, 2024. It provides $5,000 to $75,000 for projects and has a 1:1 match. It is designed to support small museums of all disciplines in project-based efforts to serve the public through exhibitions, educational/interpretive programs, digital learning resources, community outreach, audience development and/or collections management, curation, care, conservation and other ways. 

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