The Iowa Travel Industry Partners (iTIP), in collaboration with the Iowa Tourism Office under the Iowa Economic Development Authority, has awarded $27,000 in the first round of the Elevate Iowa Tourism: Education Scholarship.
A total of 21 tourism professionals from across the state received funding to attend regional and national conferences aimed at enhancing skills and strengthening Iowa’s tourism industry, a release stated.
Among the recipients is Emily Thole of Cedar Rapids Tourism, who was awarded $1,524 to attend the Destinations International Annual Convention. The scholarship covers up to 60% of eligible expenses, including event registration, travel, and lodging, with a maximum award of $2,000 per individual.
“The Iowa Tourism Office is thrilled to support the growth and development of industry members through the Elevate Iowa scholarship program”, said Amy Zeigler, state tourism manager at the Iowa Tourism Office. “Tourism is a critical component of economic development and ensuring Iowa’s tourism leaders have the skills and knowledge necessary to enhance Iowa as a destination is a key factor in growing visitation to the state.”
Broad range of conferences benefiting Iowa professionals
Recipients will attend conferences across various specialties, including:
- American Museum Membership Conference: Focused on enhancing museum membership programs.
- ASAE CEO Symposium: Supporting executive leadership in associations.
- Chief Executive Summit by Sports ETA: Exploring sports event tourism leadership.
- Destinations International Advocacy Summit: Strengthening advocacy for destination marketing organizations.
- Main Street Now Conference: Promoting downtown revitalization.
Tourism Academy by Tempest: Advancing digital marketing and leadership strategies for destinations. - Upper Midwest CVB Conference: Fostering collaboration among regional tourism bureaus.
- The events cover topics such as marketing, advocacy, leadership, and community development, equipping participants to enhance Iowa’s standing as a travel destination.
“We are thrilled to support these exceptional tourism professionals in their efforts to enhance their expertise and bring new insights back to their communities,” said Chelsea Lerud, executive director of iTIP. “The impact of these scholarships will ripple across Iowa’s tourism industry, further elevating our state as a premier travel destination.”
Second application round opens in January
With $12,664 remaining, iTIP will open a second round of scholarship applications starting Jan. 13. at 10 a.m., through Feb. 14 at 4:30 p.m. Recipients will be announced by March 3.
Tourism professionals statewide are encouraged to apply for this funding to support their continued professional growth.
For more information about the Elevate Iowa Tourism: Education Scholarship and to apply, visit: https://iowatravelindustry.org/news/elevate-iowa-tourism-education-scholarship/.
For a full list of scholarship recipients, visit https://iowatravelindustry.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Elevate-Iowa_Recipients_Dec-2024.pdf
