Iowa Travel Industry Partners (iTIP), the leading statewide association of the tourism and hospitality industry, has announced the recipients of the second annual iTIP Awards. The awards ceremony will take place at the annual meeting on Tuesday, June 11, 2024, in Sioux City.
The iTIP Awards are open to all individuals, private businesses, for-profit and non-profit organizations offering a tourism and/or hospitality service in Iowa. Nominations occurred throughout the spring with the iTIP Foundation Board of Trustees scoring the applications. All recipients were nominated by their peers. Many award categories contained subsections based on market size. Small Market included cities with a population under 10,000. Medium Market is a population 10,000-30,000. Large Market is larger than 30,000.
The 2024 iTIP Awards recipients:
- Arts, Culture & Heritage, presented by The Group Travel Leader, recognizes a business, organization, event, or destination that showcases the arts, culture, or history for the enhancement of the tourism experience and economic well-being of the community.
- Small Market: Town of Colors – Charles City Art Center, Charles City
- Medium Market: Fort Dodge Grain Silo Mural, Fort Dodge
- Only in Iowa recognizes a business, organization, or destination that makes the state of Iowa unique, noteworthy, and proud.
- Small Market: Surf Ballroom and Museum, Clear Lake
- Medium Market: Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad, Boone
- Rising Star, presented by Neapolitan Labs, is an award recognizing someone new to the Iowa tourism industry within the past five years who has demonstrated leadership, commitment, and passion for the Iowa travel industry.
- Medium Market: Dylan Does, Meet in Marshalltown
- Large Market: Kristen Heimgartner, Explore Siouxland
- Service Excellence, presented by Oak View Group, recognizes a business or organization that has achieved significant success and growth by providing exceptional customer service.
- Small Market: Petite Café & Pammel Park Coffee Co., Winterset
- Medium Market: Wright on the Park, Mason City
- Large Market: CIT Signature Transportation, Ames
- Sustainability Initiative awards efforts that reduce the impact of human activity on the environment while promoting tourism in Iowa.
- Wilson’s Orchard & Farm, Iowa City & Des Moines
- Elected Official of the Year, presented by the Iowa Gaming Association, is presented to an elected official, at any governmental level, who dynamically supports activity that bolsters the economic impact that tourism produces for the state.
- John Wills, State Representative, Okoboji
- iTIP Partner of the Year, is awarded to a business, organization, or individual that has provided extraordinary support to iTIP in the past year:
- Ginger Williams, Charles City Chamber & Tourism
- The Abby Kisling Leadership Award, presented by Meet Ottumwa, is named in honor of the late Abby Kisling, longtime member of Iowa’s tourism industry. Kisling worked for Tipton Economic Development, Eastern Iowa Tourism Association, Greater Ottumwa Convention & Visitors Bureau, and the Villages of Van Buren. Her leadership for small and rural Iowa communities provided a strong voice within the industry. She brought spunk and spirit to everything she did.
- Lindsey James, Visit Mason City
- The Joe Taylor Vision Award, presented by Visit Quad Cities, is named in honor of the late Joe Taylor, longtime CEO of Visit Quad Cities and industry visionary. Taylor worked for the region’s official destination marketing and management organization for almost 30 years. He served as executive director of the Davenport Area Convention & Visitors Bureau in 1989. Then on July 1, 1990, the three local tourism organizations officially merged to become the Quad Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau, now Visit Quad Cities.
- Mark Shoemaker, Pottawattamie County Conservation
The recipients and their guests are invited to a reception and award ceremony at 10 AM on Tuesday, June 11 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Sioux City. Details of the annual meeting and awards program can be found at IowaTravelIndustry.org.