eTraveler - October 18, 2023

October 19, 2023

Deadline: Tourism Insider Meeting Registration

Registration ends at 4 p.m. on Thursday, October 19 for the next Tourism Insider Meeting, which will be held October 24-25, 2023, in Mason City and Clear Lake. Please review the full agenda here. If you can no longer attend, please contact Stephanie Neppl (stephanie.neppl@iowaeda.com).

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Now Accepting Applications for Iowa Tourism Awards

Applications are now open for the annual Iowa Tourism Awards. This year’s awards will recognize the amazing work and innovation by Iowa’s outstanding tourism organizations that have positively contributed to the experience of our visitors. These awards represent the highest honor given for tourism in Iowa. Award winners will be announced on Wednesday, March 20, during the 2024 Iowa Tourism Conference. Deadline to submit nominations is 4 p.m. on Friday, February 2, 2024.

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Iowa Travel Guide Opportunities and Ad Deadline

Space reservations for the annual Iowa Travel Guide are due November 15. View the media kit for pricing and contact information to secure your space. We will be printing 100,000 copies of the annual guide for distribution in early March. (In 2025, the guide will be released in January.) 
Now is the time to make sure your events are listed on traveliowa.com (or add them if they are not!). If you have an event, attraction, restaurant or lodging property opening or celebrating an anniversary in 2024, please send details to Jessica O'Riley (jessica.oriley@iowaeda.com) so it can be considered for inclusion. Thank you for your support of the Iowa Travel Guide.

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Iowa Scenic Byway Passport Updated

In addition to earning points to redeem for Local Legend Trading Cards, Iowa Scenic Byway Passport holders now have an opportunity to receive one FREE poster for each route. The posters are part of a collectable set of 15 and that feature the award-winning logos of Iowa's scenic byways. An announcement is made each month about when and where posters are available.
Three Iowa byways have already had their posters released: Loess Hills National Scenic Byway, Historic Hills Scenic Byway and Covered Bridges Scenic Byway. 
Posters are currently available on a first come, first serve basis to passport holders at the following locations: 
  • Loess Hills National Scenic Byway - Harrison County Historic Village & Iowa Welcome Center
  • Historic Hills Scenic Byway - American Gothic House and Center
  • Covered Bridges Scenic Byway - Madison County Chamber of Commerce Welcome Center

Tagger's 2023 Travel Influencer Marketing Index Highlights

Tagger's newly released 2023 Travel Influencer Marketing Index identifies important trends for travel brands. Here are a few key takeaways from the report:
Video content continues its rise: As we continue to work with influencers to showcase Iowa, their high-quality video content is key to driving performance and engagement across all platforms. 
Smaller-sized creators offer big benefits: Nano-influencers (<5K followers) see the most engagement from their audience. 
Everyone loves travel: When looking at who's engaging with posts, both men and women are interested in travel-related content.
See the full report here.

Upcoming Meetings

  • October 24-25, 2023 - Tourism Insider Meeting, Mason City and Clear Lake
  • November 2, 2023 - CITR Travel Iowa Marketplace, Indianola
  • November 9, 2023 - iTip Webinar: Utilizing Shrpa to Enhance the Work of Your Organization, virtual
  • November 15, 2023 - Financial Assistance for Rural Communities Workshop, Ames
  • November 16, 2023 - Iowa Tourism Office Update, virtual
Check out the calendar of events for more details and upcoming meetings.

 

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