Here are the most important updates this week:
|
-
Don't forget to sign up for Arrivalist Co-op by Nov. 21.
- Last chance to apply to host a Tourism Insider Meeting; applications are due Dec. 1.
- See the latest State of the American Traveler Update from October.
|
|
|
Tourism Insider Meeting Tomorrow
|
We are looking forward to seeing many of you tomorrow, November 20, in Dubuque for the Tourism Insider Meeting. If you’ve had a change of plans or wish to join us, please reach out to Stephanie Neppl (stephanie.neppl@iowaeda.com). See the agenda here.
|
|
|
DEADLINE: Tourism Insider Meeting Host Application
|
Since 2023, a dozen Tourism Insider Meetings have been held across the state, each one providing the host community a platform to showcase to other industry members how they are attracting travelers, enhancing tourism infrastructure and elevating visitor experiences.
If you wish to host a Tourism Insider Meeting in 2026, please apply now! New this year, communities selected to host will receive a $2,000 stipend from the Iowa Tourism Office to assist with meeting expenses. As such, communities will be solely responsible for meeting logistics, including securing a venue, planning an agenda, catering/meal planning, securing room blocks for potential overnight guests, etc. The Iowa Tourism Office requires 60-90 minutes of the agenda throughout the day for updates and statewide programming. Otherwise, our community hosts will have the opportunity to tell their tourism story.
If you are interested in being a host community for the next cycle, please apply here by 4 p.m. on Monday, December 1, 2025.
|
|
|
Register Now for the 2026 Iowa Tourism Conference
|
Registration is open for the 2026 Iowa Tourism Conference. This is your chance to join industry leaders, network with peers and gain valuable insights into the latest trends and strategies in tourism marketing. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to enhance your knowledge and grow your connections.
Sponsorship options start at $1,000 and include two registrations. See more details here.
|
|
|
Now Accepting Applications for Iowa Tourism Conference Scholarships
|
During the 2025 Iowa Tourism Conference, IEDA Director Debi Durham announced a new scholarship in honor of Shirley Phillips, a long-time tourism advocate.
Each year, the Iowa Tourism Office will award two scholarships to cover the registration fee for the Iowa Tourism Conference. Awardees will be individuals from a rural Iowa community with a population under 10,000. Each scholarship will cover the full cost of registration for one attendee (travel expenses are not included).
The scholarship application period is now open, and applications are due Friday, December 5, 2025. Awardees will be notified by January 2, 2026.
|
|
|
DEADLINE: Sign Up for the 2026 Arrivalist Co-op by Nov. 21
|
The Iowa Tourism Office is again partnering with Arrivalist to provide partners exclusive access to the State Visitation Dashboard with county and city level visitation data from January 2022 through December 2026. The dashboard allows you to segment visitation by month or day/weekend and provides insights on origin markets, length of stay and more. The 2026 program provides 24/7 access to the dashboard on a sliding scale of investment:
|
- $2,500 (marketing budgets under $500,000/year)
- $5,000 (marketing budgets between $500,000-$2,000,000/year)
- $10,000 (marketing budgets over $2,000,000/year)
|
|
|
The State of the American Traveler Update
|
Recognized as one of the nation's leading travel studies of American leisure travelers, The State of the American Traveler features quarterly research of over 4,000 adult travelers. The most recent report included survey information that was collected October 18-27, 2025. You can view a summary here or access the full recording and download the presentation here.
Here are some highlights:
|
- Traveler Sentiments:
- There has been a minor shift in mood toward travel, with a slight dip this month but still relatively stable.
- 32.9 % feel they are better off financially now vs 2024, whereas 21.1% said they are worse off.
- Americans' appetite for travel is still very high, with 87.4% stating they are excited about travel.
- Spending confidence has gone down since summer, but travel remains a budget priority. 57.1% consider travel a high budget priority in the next three months.
- Travel budgets have dipped but remain elevated.
- The maximum annual travel budget is $5,973.
- Financial expectations are flat. 45.9% say expect to be better off in a year from now.
- 48.5% expect a recession in the next six months, and 20.1% do not. 50.1% are being careful with their spending because of recession concerns.
- Trip Planning:
- 84.6% have one trip planned in the next 12 months.
- Expectations to travel internationally continue to be strong. 47.9% say they plan to travel internationally in the next year.
- The average number of trips planned in the next year is 3.8, which has been increasing since spring.
- Affluent travelers plan 4.8 trips.
- Middle income travelers plan 4 trips.
- Lower income travelers plan 3.1 trips.
|
|
|
Iowa Tourism Office Team on the Road
|
|
|
Tourism Liaison Stephanie Neppl (L) joined Jen Smit (C) of Lyon County Economic Development and Steve Simons (R) of Friends of the Blood Run during a visit to the Blood Run National Historic Landmark. The Friends group is working on enhancements and improvements in the visitor experience at the sacred site.
|
|
|
Helpful Tools to Organize Grant Opportunities
|
Build your capacity by involving public and private partners in project planning, grant writing and grant management. Many of us have a natural tendency to think we have to do everything ourselves, but we don’t. Partnership with other nonprofits, collaboration with businesses and wise use of volunteers during all phases of a project will expand your impact and be a catalyst for community betterment.
Featured Resource:
Iowa’s Community Catalyst Building Remediation Program assists communities with redevelopment or rehab of buildings to stimulate economic growth or reinvestment. It can help you turn an abandoned eyesore that is hurting your downtown into a vibrant business that draws visitors into the heart of your community. The best applications will bring private and public partners together to implement a great plan.
|
|
|
Visit traveliowa.com/industry-partners for more information
|
|
|
Iowa Tourism Office
1963 Bell Avenue, Ste 200 | Des Moines, IA 50315 US
|
|
|
Manage your preferences | Opt Out using TrueRemove™
Got this as a forward? Sign up to receive our future emails.
View this email online.
|
1963 Bell Avenue, Suite 200 | Des Moines, IA 50315 US
|
|
|
This email was sent to james.lee@iowaeda.com.
To continue receiving our emails, add us to your address book.
|
|
|
|
|
