One Month Until the 2025 Iowa Tourism Conference!

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.?

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.?

Key Conference Details:?

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

Click here to register!?

The 2025 Iowa Tourism Conference has a discounted room block reserved at Prairie Meadows, which is connected to their Meadows Event Center.?Attendees are encouraged to book their rooms early as the room block is expected to fill quickly.??

Book Your Room!??

Featured Sessions!?

Turning Exceptional Stays into Powerful Promotions?

• Speaker: Sarah Dandashy , Ask A Concierge ? ?
• Date: Wednesday, March 12??
• Time: 3:30 PM-4:30 PM??

Discover how to elevate the guest experience so effectively that your guests become your best marketers. Explore strategies to create memorable, shareable moments and build guest loyalty, turning every stay into an opportunity for organic, word-of-mouth promotion. Use the Seven Pillars of Hospitality to enhance your service and elevate your client interactions and experiences. By embracing these core principles, you'll see how small, intentional actions can leave lasting impressions and greatly increase guest satisfaction and loyalty.??

Learn more here

AI Strategy for Travel Leaders from Search to Sales

Speaker: Greg Oates , Director of AI Advocacy?at Matador Network ??

Date: Wednesday, March 12??

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

Two years since the launch of ChatGPT, generative AI remains both a buzzword and enigma roiling in misperceptions. This session demystifies AI by breaking it into a practical, 3-part framework defining the future of the place/visitor relationship.?

1. The evolution from search engines to answer engines and what that means for content development and customer reach.?
2. The power of AI for enhanced productivity, strategic planning and creative brainstorming.?
3. How AI is eating the travel funnel and chat is the new marketplace.?

Learn more here

Field to Fork: Unlocking Iowa’s Agritourism Potential?

Speakers:??

• Bethany Kriegel, Owner Operator?at Sunset Hills Bison Ranch and Lodging??

• Jessica Baldus , Chef/Entrepreneur/Restaurateur at taste.

• Laura Cunningham , Farmer and Entrepreneur at SKYVIEW FARMS, LTD. ?

Moderators:

• May Schaben, Executive Director at Iowa Restaurant Association ?
• Beth Romer, Choose Iowa Program Director at Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship?

Date: Wednesday, March 12??

Time: 1:00 PM-2:00 PM?

Iowa is well-known for its agricultural heritage. In fact, when travelers are asked what tourism activities they would expect from Iowa, farm-to-table dining, farmers’ markets and on-farm experiences are in the top five responses. Agritourism is one of Iowa’s unique competitive advantages and is ready for the spotlight. This conversation will explore how destination marketers can leverage Iowa’s agritourism assets to promote their communities and connect visitors to the farmers, producers and chefs leading the local food movement.?

Learn more here

Key Conference Details:?

• Date: March 12-13, 2025??

• Location: The Meadows Events Center, Prairie Meadows, Altoona??

• Full Conference Registration: $275, Wednesday Only: Registration $175?

Click here to register!?