EASTERN annual report

easterniowatourism.org

Eastern Iowa Tourism Association

117 3rd Street SEP.O. Box 189

Dyersville, Iowa 52040563-875-7269

eita@easterniowatourism.org

Board of DirectorsPresident

Laurie HamanIowa City/Coralville Area CVB

President-ElectKeith Rahe

Dubuque Area CVB

TreasurerMark Wyatt

Iowa Bicycle Coalition

V.P. EducationChristy Decker

Grout Museum District

Director At LargeDaryl Parker

Jackson County Conservation

V.P. LegislativeRustin LippincottFairfield Iowa CVB

V.P. MarketingKim Manning

Cedar Falls CVB

V.P. MembershipCarrie DonaireClinton CVB

EITA Executive DirectorCarrie Koelker

carrie@easterniowatourism.org

State LiaisonShawna Lode

Iowa Tourism Office Manager

fy16

Carrie Donaire, Vice President• Memberships were available to counties in the Eastern region, businesses/organizations,

and others interested in tourism for Eastern Iowa.• In 2016, EITA secured participation and contributions from the Eastern Iowa Counties.

Partnerships with the County Board of Supervisors were maintained and presentations were provided upon request.

• 240 members, processed 13 new memberships in FY’16. • Regional attendance at each meeting ranged from 65-100 industry leaders.• Hosted three bonus statewide opportunities for regional members.

• Solicited and gathered input from members in a “mini” interview format and survey.• Continued a membership campaign encouraging communities to communicate the

benefits of Eastern Iowa Tourism.• Updated the membership section on our website and added additional region business

documents and links.• Attended numerous member events and site visits.• Offered technical assistance to various members, committees, partnerships, and communities. • Secured liaisons to serve on the Iowa Tourism Awards committee.• Appointed delegates to serve on the Iowa Tourism Conference Site Selection committee.

Christy Decker, Vice President

• Hosted educational programs in conjunction with General Membership Meeting. Regional attendance at each meeting ranged from 65-100 industry leaders.• Identifying the Best in Us and UNLEASH STRENGTHS, The Off Shore Event Center – Bellevue• Digital Boot Camp 2.0, Isle Casino – Waterloo• Annual Town Hall Meeting & Roundtable Palooza, The Loft – Burlington• Power of Travel Day/Regional Partnership Meeting – Ames• Compelling, Engaging, and Beneficial Relationships for your Non-Profit Organization

and Volunteers, Washington Public Library – Washington• Opportunities and Platforms & Overcoming Adversity, Carver Hawkeye Arena – Iowa City

Statewide Grant Program• Updated the current scholarship grant application.• The three Iowa Tourism Regions joined forces to provide statewide tourism educational

components.• Appointed delegates to serve on the statewide review grants review process and committee.• Awarded Tourism Conference scholarships to ten regional members.

Eastern Iowa Liaisons to the Travel Federation of IowaBoard: Wes Ehrecke, Aaron Buzza, Keith Rahe, RustinLippincott and Carrie Koelker.

2016 Legislative Priorities:• To support increased funding for Iowa’s three tourism regions and the Iowa Tourism Office with a focus on strategies being developed for the new Iowa Tourism Industry Sector Plan.

• To support other issues that are for the good of the Tourism Industry as a whole. • Co-sponsored the annual Iowa Tourism Conference and Tourism Awards in Ottumwa, Iowa.• Coordinated the Legislative Showcase in Des Moines by bringing together industry

representatives with elected Iowa officials to deliver tourism information and explain theimportance of Tourism to Iowa and the economy.

• Coordinated a statewide District Leader program with industry members.• Held District Leader trainings for delegates.• Coordinated an industry statewide survey to tabulate the legislative needs and priorities.• Connected and communicated industry stakeholders.• Published the TFI Fast Facts for Tourism statistics and awareness information of the

elevated priorities.• Met with elected officials to enhance and grow Iowa’s Tourism Industry.• Continued to contract lobbyists and provide electronic TFI Legislative Updates and

Capital News to the EITA membership.• Assisted specific needs and district leaders with talking points and contacts.• Supported all issues of the TFI 2016 Legislative Priorities.• Attended monthly TFI Board Meetings and various committee meetings.• The Travel Federation of Iowa contributed partnerships to each tourism.• Coordinated a school start date wrap up and enhanced initiatives for this priority.• Monitored and supported various issues impacting the industry.• Served on the Destination Capitol Hill Committee. • Embarked and raised awareness for the Iowa Tourism Sector Plan, a five year industry

vision for tourism in Iowa. • Financially supported the Iowa Tourism Sector Plan Initiative.• Continued to serve on the steering committee of the Iowa Tourism Sector Plan.

The Eastern Iowa Tourism Association is funded on asuccessful and strong private and public partnership.Membership investments and involvement representsbusinesses, organizations, and individuals from every facet of the tourism industry. Membershipinvestments and our Iowa Economic DevelopmentAuthority’s Iowa Tourism contract are a critical pieceto our unified voice.

State Funding $125,600EITA Funding $102,590Total Funds $228,190

travel

GRANTS/SCHOLARSHIPS

COOPERATIVEPARTNERSHIPS &INDUSTRY RELATIONS

EDUCATION

MEMBERSHIP

ADVOCACY/LEGISLATIVE

• Secured membership in Iowa Destination Marketing Alliance and attended the bi-monthlymeetings.

• Served as the IDMA President for 2016.• Maintained membership to the Iowa Group Travel Association and partnered with IGTA

to host the May General Membership Meeting. • Attended various community events, press conferences, and industry events.• Participated in the This Is Iowa Tours to the eastern communities with the IEDA Staff

and Director.• Attended Iowa Tourism Sector Plan meeting and assisted in defining a forward vision for

the industry.• Handled media relations with various outlets to promote tourism and provided tourism statistics.

Kim Manning, Vice President

• Printed the 2016 Eastern Iowa Visitor Guide for distribution in all Iowa Welcome Centers and mailed to ad placement and web site inquiries.

• Partnered with 60 tourism industry members in the 2016 Eastern Iowa Travel Guide and Region website. Ad sales totaled $37,255. The Guide is solely supported from advertiser sales.

• Partnerships and collaboration was key to various projects, including the Visitor Guide and website.• Advertisers received leads from a reader response card included in the Travel Guide.• 22,100 Travel Guides were distributed and downloaded from the region website.• 41,000 website page views took place with over 15,000 users. The site is designed to serve as a portal for all members.• Maintained membership to the Iowa Group Travel Association and partnered with IGTA to host the May General

Membership Meeting.• Secured membership in Iowa Destination Marketing Alliance and attended the bi-monthly meetings. • Formed a partnership and preliminary implementation with Spinutech for a regional website and membership

enhanced components.• Continued to explore and coordinated details for a regional site that best suits the needs of the industry.• Assisted travelers and group tour planners with their itineraries.• Kept website updated with current contact information.• Greeted various groups and travelers that attended conferences, luncheons, and member events. • Handled media interviews and industry news.• Researched partnership and potential marketing options for our membership.

Power of Travel DayA joint partnership between Iowa’s three tourism regions and the Iowa Office of Tourism. This was held April 2016 in Ames, Iowa.• One day education and networking opportunity designed to energize and appreciate

the tourism industry for their partnership and involvement. Perfectly timed to kick off the upcoming spring and summer travel seasons.

• The day included a keynote from Doug Lansky.• A Travel Writer bonus session was added to the conclusion of the day.• 150 statewide attendees participated in this opportunity, an increase from the

2015 event.

Website Membership ComponentEmbarked on building a membership platform based website. This is the initial phase of developing a new site to serve the industry as a quality platform.• Surveyed the members and solicited input on what was needed to enhance their

membership connection.• The site is designed to serve as a portal for all members.• Volunteers and paid professionals are able to access industry announcements,

meeting materials, as well as association business.• A viable tool for the members and the industry of Eastern Iowa.• Additions include enhanced training, photo libraries, job postings, membership documents,

and meeting collateral. • A link to traveliowa.com to view calendar of events and Eastern Iowa’s endless

opportunities for the traveler.

Design On Our DimeTen industry businesses scheduled appointments. The attendees were provided graphic art for web, logos, branding, billboards, banner ads, as well as upcoming publications. All uniquelytargeted to fit their marketing campaign needs in the various outlets including digital.• This was held February-April 2016 with consultations in Waterloo, a central location

within the region.• The freelance writer Ruth Paarman and graphic artist Molly Cook assisted with the

development of the projects.• 10 industry businesses were provided graphic art for web, logo, branding, billboards,

and banner ads, as well as upcoming publications.• Pre-advanced consultations were held with the industry member to garner readiness for

the appointment and clarify the need of the projects had to qualify.• Each attendee was provided finalized templates and ad ready material for their upcoming

placements, branding, and specific tools.

MARKETING

SPECIAL PROJECTSOnce again in FY’16 the Iowa Office of Tourism invited Iowa’s three tourism regions to submit proposals to apply and manage multiple special projects. Each region wasappointed $25,000. After soliciting members of the tourism industry, four ideas were chosen by the Board of Directors of Eastern Iowa. Input was gathered for futurepotential regional efforts.

EITA Membershipfy16

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