Here are the most important updates this week:

Economic Impact Report during Tourism Office Update Webinar

Join us for the Iowa Tourism Office Update Webinar tomorrow Thursday, October 22, at 2 p.m. We'll take a deep dive into the 2025 Economic Impact Report, including visitor spending, visitor volume and county-level data. The webinar will also include an update on the 2027 Iowa Tourism Conference and 2027 Arrivalist co-op program updates.

No pre-registration needed — just click to join at the time of the webinar.

Register now for the November Tourism Insider Meeting

Registration is open for the next Tourism Insider Meeting, hosted by Appanoose County Tourism, on November 18 in Centerville. Join tourism professionals from across Iowa for candid conversations about destination storytelling, navigating challenges and how local businesses help shape the visitor experience. The day also includes a ‘build your own pizza’ experience at George & Nick’s Pizza and a tour of the newly renovated Majestic Theatre.

Room blocks have been secured at both The Continental Hotel and Westbridge Inn & Suites. Please contact the properties directly and ask for the Tourism Insider Meeting blocks. We hope to see you there!

Register to attend here: Appanoose County Tourism Insider Meeting

Now Accepting Applications for Shirley Phillips Memorial Iowa Tourism Conference Scholarships

Each year, the Iowa Tourism Office will award two scholarships to cover the registration fee for the Iowa Tourism Conference in honor of Shirley Phillips. long-time tourism advocate. Awardees will be individuals from a rural Iowa community of under 10,000 population. Each scholarship will cover the full cost of registration for one attendee (travel expenses are not included).

Applications are now being accepted, and are due Friday, December 4, 2026. Awardees will be notified by January 4, 2027. The Iowa Tourism Conference will be held March 10-11, 2027 at Prairie Meadows Conference Center in Altoona.

 Apply here: Shirley Phillips Memorial Tourism Conference Scholarship

Scholarships Available for Regional and National Conferences

Have a tourism conference on your wish list? The Elevate Iowa Tourism Education Scholarship could help make it happen.

Scholarships cover 60% of eligible conference registration and travel expenses, up to $2,250 per person. This support helps Iowa tourism professionals attend regional and national conferences to strengthen their skills, learn from industry experts, and discover new approaches they can put to work in their own organizations.

Now in its third year, the program has already awarded more than $80,000 in scholarships. Thanks to support from the Iowa Tourism Office, another $40,000 is available for 2027!

Applications are open through November 13, 2026, at 5 p.m. Explore the details and apply.

Partners Attend IMEX to Attract Meetings & Events

This week, Iowa was represented at IMEX in Las Vegas, one of the leading global gatherings for the meetings and events industry. A collaborative effort between several DMOs helped elevate Iowa’s presence within the meetings and events market. Through conversations with industry professionals, the team highlighted the destinations, venues and experiences that make Iowa a compelling choice for meetings and events while building relationships that can create future opportunities for communities and tourism partners across the state.

Thanks to Catch Des Moines, Hello Cedar Rapids, Think Iowa City, Travel Dubuque and Visit Quad Cities for representing Iowa at this tradeshow!

Iowa State University Extension and Travel Iowa Host First Impressions Forum in Avoca

Iowa State University and Travel Iowa took part in the First Impressions community assessment forum in Avoca, Iowa on October 15. The event also marked the grand opening and ribbon cutting of the community’s newly renovated Legion Hall.

The First Impressions program helps communities identify their strengths and areas for improvement through the eyes of first-time visitors. Avoca residents attended the session to see how the assessment team evaluated the town as a travel destination.

Learn more about how your community can take part in the First Impressions program.

Catch Des Moines & Visit Boone County Celebrate Tourism Impact

Travel Iowa staff attended Catch Des Moines’ Annual Celebration and Visit Boone County's Annual Banquet last week.

Catch Des Moines recognized regional efforts to draw conventions, sporting events and leisure travelers to the area. The program reviewed a strong year for the metro: 303 events took place because of Catch Des Moines’ sales efforts, producing an estimated $93 million in economic impact. Read more here.

Visit Boone County celebrated their RAGBRAI overnight stop impact in 2026, as well as the nearly 700 local volunteers that contributed to helping welcome visitors throughout the year. Social media successes were shared, along with visitor spending and tax revenue information.

Bird Friendly Iowa Partners Gather in Buchanan County

Travel Iowa joined Bird Friendly Iowa partners for a training workshop at Fontana Park in Buchanan County. Attendees reviewed the 2025 statewide impacts of the Bird Friendly Iowa program, enjoyed local Amish pizza and learned how Bird Friendly Iowa partnered with three Iowa Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) organizations, through a grant from the Iowa Tourism Office, to bring together local tourism and bird experts to create multi-day birding itineraries.

The partners are now evaluating the best ways to reach birders through online itineraries, social media and more. Visit the Bird Friendly Iowa website for the latest news or to apply to become a Bird Friendly Community.