eTraveler - September 20, 2023

September 20, 2023

TOMORROW: Attend the Iowa Tourism Update Webinar

The next Iowa Tourism Update webinar will be held TOMORROW, Thursday, September 21 at 2 p.m. It will include tourism marketing grant FAQs, fall content and Localhood tips and tricks, a sneak preview of the Soul of Iowa content being captured now, and more. The webinar will be recorded and posted to the Industry Partners website for those unable to join live. 

To join live, you must register here to attend.
 

DEADLINE: FY24 Iowa Tourism Grants

The Iowa Tourism Grant Program is accepting applications through September 29, 2023. The program promotes tourism in Iowa by funding tourism-related marketing initiatives, meetings and events that benefit both the local and state economies. Preference will be given to projects that support the Iowa Tourism Office's overall marketing plan and applicants must be a tourism-related entity. This can include non-profits, for-profits, cities, counties and regional government and planning entities.

For questions, please reach out to Lora Friest (lora.friest@iowaeda.com).

LEARN MORE
 

Tourism Insider Meeting Registration Now Open

Registration is now open for the next Tourism Insider Meeting, which will be held October 24-25, 2023, in Mason City and Clear Lake. 
The meeting will start at 10 a.m. and lunch will be provided. It will include discussions about off-season tourism, a Localhood workshop, and tours of the Mason City Arena and Historic Park Inn, along with networking and an open forum. 

The bulk of the meeting will occur from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday, but we encourage you to consider spending the night and join us for Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning activities. 

A hotel block is available at the Holiday Inn Express (3041 4th St. SW., Mason City) for the night of Tuesday, October 24. The rate is $132 + tax. Rooms must be reserved by calling the hotel directly at (641) 424-1200. The block is under the name "Travel Iowa." Reservation deadline is October 16. 

REGISTER
 

Upcoming Conferences to Note

We encourage partners to attend other organizations' conferences to learn how we can promote Iowa's tourism opportunities together. Here are some upcoming conferences to note:

Iowa Museum Association Conference - October 3, 2023, Davenport
•    This conference places a heavy focus on the Power of Place and how museums, cultural partners and others can help define and market their destination.

The Iowa Trails Summit - October 5-6, Marshalltown
•    The conference includes a keynote presentation called, "7 Partnerships of Healthy Trail Towns," which discusses leveraging regional assets, incorporating nature experiences and cultivating a trail culture. 
•    There is also a Call for Posters in which communities can fill out a short form and register to have a professionally designed and fabricated poster made for display at the conference.
 

Upcoming Meetings

•    September 21, 2023 - Iowa Tourism Office Update, virtual
•    October 11-12, 2023 - Travel Federation of Iowa Tourism Unity Summit, Manning
•    October 24-25, 2023 - Tourism Insider Meeting, Mason City and Clear Lake
•    November 2, 2023 - CITR Travel Iowa Marketplace, Indianola

Check out the calendar of events for more details and upcoming meetings.

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