Iowa Travel Industry Partners (iTIP), in collaboration with the Iowa Tourism Office, proudly announces the second and final round of recipients for the Elevate Iowa Tourism: Education Scholarship. This round provides $13,741 in funding to 10 industry professionals, bringing the total FY25 scholarship distribution to $40,000. These scholarships support Iowa’s tourism and hospitality professionals in attending regional and national conferences that enhance their skills and strengthen the state’s tourism industry.
The Elevate Iowa Tourism: Education Scholarship provides financial support for Iowa tourism professionals, covering up to 60% of eligible expenses—including event registration, travel, and lodging—with a maximum award of $2,000 per recipient. Since its launch in January 2025, the program has provided 31 Iowa tourism professionals with opportunities to expand their expertise and bring fresh insights back to their communities.
In this final round, scholarship recipients will attend top-tier industry conferences focused on key areas of tourism, destination marketing, and event management:
- Main Street Now Conference – A gathering of community leaders and placemaking experts dedicated to revitalizing downtown districts and fostering economic growth.
- Tourism Academy by Tempest – An immersive learning experience designed to equip destination marketers with cutting-edge digital strategies, leadership insights, and data-driven decision-making.
- Upper Midwest CVB Conference – A regional forum for convention and visitor bureaus, promoting collaboration, innovation, and shared best practices in tourism development.
- Sports ETA Women’s Summit – A leadership-driven event empowering women in the sports tourism sector through networking, mentorship, and discussions on diversity and inclusion.
- International Festivals & Events Association Convention – A premier gathering of event professionals covering trends in sponsorship, programming, and audience engagement.
- Institute for Organization Management by U.S. Chamber of Commerce – A professional training program that enhances leadership, governance, and strategic planning for tourism and chamber professionals.
- SEE 25 hosted by CrowdRiff – A cutting-edge conference on visual storytelling and destination marketing, highlighting the role of user-generated content and AI-driven engagement.
These conferences provide scholarship recipients with invaluable knowledge, resources, and networking opportunities to help Iowa’s tourism professionals strengthen their communities and enhance the visitor experience.
“With the completion of this second round, we are thrilled to have invested a full $40,000 into the professional growth of Iowa’s tourism professionals,” said Chelsea Lerud, Executive Director of iTIP. “These scholarships ensure that our industry partners have access to the latest trends, strategies, and best practices that will help them drive tourism success in their communities.”
First round scholarship recipients have already seen the impact of these opportunities firsthand. “I’m extremely grateful for the support provided by the Elevate Iowa Tourism Scholarship,” stated scholarship recipient Katie Kramer of Discover Ames. “The funding made it more affordable to attend a new conference, allowing me to participate in the Event Service Professionals Association Annual Conference. The opportunity to connect with industry experts and exchange ideas specific to event services was invaluable. I’m already applying what I’ve learned to improve our daily operations and enhance our services to better serve our groups and visitors.”
By investing in professional development, iTIP and the Iowa Tourism Office are fostering a stronger, more competitive tourism industry in Iowa. The program has helped industry professionals bring back new strategies, fresh ideas, and stronger connections that will benefit destinations across the state.
The full list of scholarship recipients and the conferences they are attending can be viewed online.