Iowa Travel Industry Partners (iTIP), the state’s nonprofit tourism association, marks the start of its fifth fiscal year today by highlighting its accomplishments from FY25, welcoming new board leadership, and affirming a strengthened focus on advocacy, education, professional development, and promotion of Iowa as a premier destination.
Over the past year, iTIP has continued to make measurable progress in unifying and advancing Iowa’s tourism industry. FY25 accomplishments include:
- Connecting with 540 industry professionals through 24 statewide events.
- Mobilizing grassroots advocacy to secure critical tourism funding.
- Launching the Elevate Iowa Tourism: Education Scholarship, in partnership with the Iowa Tourism Office, to support professional development.
- Representing Iowa through a targeted niche marketing campaign, in partnership with the Iowa Tourism Office – including 7 national trade shows, 309 profile packets distributed, 171 one-on-one appointments, and 1,737 planners exposed to the Iowa brand.
- Strengthening iTIP’s statewide network to 130 members with growing participation across all membership sectors.
The FY25 Annual Report, which outlines the full year’s achievements, strategic partnerships, and advocacy efforts, is now available at iowatravelindustry.org/about/.
The association’s leadership transitioned today with Kevin Bourke, President & CEO of Discover Ames, assuming the role of FY26 President of the iTIP Board of Directors. “My goal is to continue and expand upon the great work that has been laid by iTIP’s previous leaders,” said Bourke. “I’m committed to growing our membership across the entire State of Iowa. In turn, this growth will expand the message of how important tourism is to Iowa’s economy.”
Immediate Past President Dave Herrell, President & CEO of Visit Quad Cities, served iTIP throughout FY25 and helped guide the association during a year of strategic initiatives and impactful programming. Reflecting on his tenure, Herrell said: “As I reflect upon serving as President of the Iowa Travel Industry Partners (iTIP), I am incredibly proud of this organization and how it leads and supports Iowa’s travel and tourism industry,” said Herrell. “The value we provide our members and partners, the strong collaborative partnerships with the Iowa Economic Development Authority and Travel Iowa, our relationships with Iowa’s elected officials, and the pride and passion of our Board and dedicated volunteers simply make iTIP a vitally important organization for Iowa’s tourism trajectory. There is a tremendous amount of momentum, results realized, and bright future ahead for iTIP and I can’t wait to see what else we all can accomplish together as we unify around the power of tourism.”
Looking ahead, iTIP’s Board remains committed to building on this foundation by focusing on strengthening member engagement, enhancing advocacy efforts, and expanding strategic partnerships. The board’s ongoing work will continue to help Iowa compete and grow on a national scale.
iTIP is proud to welcome eight new members to its 18-member Board of Directors for FY26:
- Dylan Does, Meet in Marshalltown
- Mary Earnhardt, Iowa Gaming Association
- Trina Flack, Catch Des Moines
- Kerrie Kuiper, Visit Fort Dodge
- Anne Lawrie, RAGBRAI
- Jeremy Parsons, Iowa State Fair
- Val Reinke, Allamakee County Economic Development & Tourism
- Emily Starnes, Villages of Van Buren
Full board member bios are available at iowatravelindustry.org/board-of-directors/.
“Since the formation of iTIP, we’ve remained focused on building an organization that serves Iowa’s tourism professionals with purpose and impact,” said Chelsea Lerud, Executive Director of iTIP. “Entering our fifth year, we’re proud of what we’ve achieved together – and we remain committed to equipping our members with the resources and relationships they need to keep Iowa competitive on the national stage.”
As iTIP enters FY26, the association remains dedicated to advancing Iowa’s tourism industry through collaboration, innovation, and advocacy. With a strong and engaged membership, dynamic leadership, and a clear strategic vision, iTIP is poised to continue delivering meaningful impact for its members and the communities they serve. The association invites all industry partners to join in shaping the future of Iowa tourism and driving economic growth across the state.