August 13, 2025

Here are the most important updates this week:

Register Now for the Next Tourism Insider Meeting

Join partners in Webster City for the next Tourism Insider Meeting on Thursday, August 28, 2025. Registration will close on Monday, August 25 at 4 p.m.

The day will include a building transformations panel that will share stories of the three renovation projects creating new attractions and spaces for Webster City, an art walk tour plus an exclusive tour of the community betterment nonprofit LIFT WC, a $3 million renovation of the Historic Elks Building.

Hotel rooms are available for attendees at a rate of $100 + tax at the newly remodeled AmericInn Webster City. To book a room, please call the hotel at 515.832.3999 and use code "Webster City Chamber."

Registration Open for the 2025 CenStates TTRA Chapter Conference

Attend the 2025 TTRA CenStates Chapter Conference in Ann Arbor, Michigan, on October 22-24. The agenda is jam packed with sessions focused on tourism research plus networking opportunities with industry leaders and vendors for participants to share ideas and discuss challenges. Discover the potential for your tourism business and learn how to gain valuable insights and make informed decisions.

FY25 Media Recap

During FY25, Jessica O’Riley appeared a combined 40 times on KFJB Radio in Marshalltown, KXFA and Everyday Iowa in Cedar Rapids and Quad Cities Live in Davenport. During those interviews, she mentioned nearly 500 events, attractions and lodging properties.

Want to be included in future appearances? Add your events to traveliowa.com (hint: adding photos helps!) and include jessica.oriley@iowaeda.com on email announcements.

Iowa Tourism Office Attends Iowa Downtown Conference

Iowa Tourism Office Tourism Liaisons Lora Friest and Stephanie Neppl attended the Iowa Downtown Conference in Muscatine last week, which included a tour of the transformed riverfront. During the tour, the Mayor and Park and Recreation Director reviewed all the work that had occurred to make their riverfront a destination. They also discussed the city’s new plans to further maximize the space between the river and the city.

Explore Siouxland Receives New Wheel the World Designation

Congratulations to Explore Siouxland, who recently announced its new designation as a "Destination Verified" location through Wheel the World, a global leader in accessible travel. This milestone makes Siouxland a recognized, inclusive travel destination. As part of the initiative, 30 regional partners (including hotels, attractions and restaurants) have also completed Wheel the World's Accessibility Verified program and now have listings on Wheel the World's website.

Helpful Tools to Organize Grant Opportunities

Each year when you go in to apply for any grant, read the guidelines and scoring criteria. They may have changed.

That is the case with the Iowa Tourism Marketing Grant. Whether you have applied for the ITO Marketing Grant in the past or are a first-time applicant, read the updated FY26 Guidelines and FY26 Scoring Rubric carefully. Understanding the changes will help you increase your chance of successfully securing the grant.

The FY26 Iowa Tourism Grant application portal will open on August 29, and all necessary resources will also be published at that time. The portal will close at midnight on September 30, 2025.

The Slideroom application portal is an online application portal that simplifies the grant application and scoring process. The application has been updated to align with the guidelines and scoring rubric. If you have any questions, please contact Lora Friest (lora.friest@iowaeda.com).

Visit traveliowa.com/industry-partners for more information

Iowa Tourism Office  
1963 Bell Avenue, Ste 200 | Des Moines, IA 50315 US