Don't Miss Out: Iowa Tourism Conference Just Two Weeks Away!

The annual Iowa Tourism Conference is an essential networking and educational event for anyone who is focused on marketing efforts meant to elevate Iowa’s tourism destinations and attractions.

Key Conference Details:

• Date: March 12-13, 2025
• Location: The Meadows Events Center, Prairie Meadows, Altoona
• Full Conference Registration: $275, Wednesday Only: Registration $175

Attendees will learn best practices in tourism marketing, hear from industry leaders and marketing experts, and network with their peers – all with the goal of coming away with actionable solutions, cutting-edge ideas, and invaluable new relationships.

Click here to register!

Highlights Include:

• Keynote addresses from industry leaders
• Latest trends and innovations in the tourism sector
• Networking opportunities with fellow tourism professionals

Featured Sessions!

Fast Track to Working with the International Tourism Market and Inbound Travel Trade

Speakers:

• Jennifer Ackerson , President/CEO?at Alon Tourism Solutions
• Julie Heizer Ambassador at International Inbound Travel Association (IITA)

Date: Wednesday, March 12, 2025

Time: 11:15 AM-12:00 PM and 2:30 PM-3:15 PM

(Session sponsored by Adara)

Are you ready to position your business for international success? This introductory session will give you a fast-track understanding of the international inbound travel trade, what it is, how it works, and how to prepare your business to engage with international buyers.

In this session, you will:

• Gain a foundational understanding of the international inbound market and its role in driving tourism to Iowa.
• Learn how to make your business sellable to international operators by understanding pricing, packaging, and operational expectations.
• Maximize your tourism marketing opportunities by preparing for major trade events and positioning your product for promotion by Iowa Tourism at IPW 2025 in Chicago.
• Get practical tips and insights on how to showcase your offerings in international promotions.

Whether you are new to the international inbound market or looking to refine your approach, this session will give you actionable steps to succeed in the inbound tourism market.

Learn more here

The Content Factory: The Golden Ticket to Writing, Repurposing and Trendspotting

Speaker:

• Samantha Hakeem , Digital Marketing Manager at Iowa Economic Development Authority and Iowa Finance Authority
• Lucy Cade , Social Media Manager at Iowa Economic Development Authority and Iowa Finance Authority
• Amber Rottinghaus , Content Coordinator at Iowa Economic Development Authority and Travel Iowa

Date: Thursday, March 13, 2025

Time: 11:00 AM-11:45 AM

(session sponsored by Emerge Marketing Solutions LLC )

Join us for an insightful session led by three experts from the Iowa Tourism Office. Discover the secrets to crafting creative and engaging content, effectively repurposing it across multiple platforms and identifying content trends. Learn how to streamline your content creation process and maximize your reach without extra work. This session is your golden ticket to mastering the art of content creation and distribution.

Learn more here

Partner for Success: Tips and Tools for Working with Influencers

Speaker: Allie Wilmes -Baker, Senior Vice President at 福莱

Date: Thursday, March 13, 2025

Time: 11:00 AM-11:45 AM

Whether you're dipping your toe into the waters of influencer marketing for the first time, or looking for ways to evolve your approach, join us for a session focused on maximizing influencer partnerships. Led by influencer marketing expert Allie Wilmes from FleishmanHillard, you’ll come away from this session with best practices for identifying the right influencer partners, contracting, creating authentic content, and the trends you need to know in 2025.

Learn more here

The full schedule and speakers are available at traveliowa.com/conference. We look forward to seeing you there!