2026 Statewide Tourism & Hospitality Awards Announced
BURLINGTON, IOWA (May 22, 2026) – Iowa Travel Industry Partners (iTIP), the leading statewide association of the tourism and hospitality industry, has announced the recipients of the annual iTIP Awards. The awards ceremony will take place at the association’s annual meeting on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, in Amana.
“One of the most rewarding parts of these awards is seeing peers recognize peers,” said Chelsea Lerud, Executive Director of Iowa Travel Industry Partners (iTIP). “Behind every nomination is a story of someone going above and beyond for their community, visitors, coworkers, or industry. These recipients reflect the heart of Iowa hospitality.”
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.
“The quality of nominations submitted this year speaks volumes about the talent and innovation happening across Iowa tourism,” said Nick Pfeiffer, Chair of the iTIP Foundation Board of Trustees and Vice President of Public Affairs at Think Iowa City. “From small rural communities to larger destinations, these honorees are creating experiences that leave lasting impressions on visitors and strengthen local economies.”
The 2026 iTIP Awards recipients:
- Arts, Culture & Heritage, presented by Riverboat Twilight and Visit LeClaire, recognizes a business, organization, event, or destination that showcases the arts, culture, or history for the enhancement of tourism experience and economic well-being of the community.
- Iowa Children’s Museum, Coralville
- Culture Club by Catch Des Moines, Des Moines
- Pottawattamie Arts, Culture, and Entertainment, Council Bluffs
- Only in Iowa, presented by the RAGBRAI, recognizes a business, organization, or destination that makes the state of Iowa unique, noteworthy, and proud.
- Small Market: Hansen’s Dairy, Hudson
- Medium Market: River City Riverwalk, Mason City
- Large Market: Union Pacific Railroad Museum, Council Bluffs
- Rising Star 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.
- Small Market: Jackie Cooper, Main Street Lansing
- Medium Market: Beth Meyer, Wells Visitor Center & Ice Cream Parlor
- Large Market: Danielle Wilkinson, CIT Signature Transportation
- 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: Villages of Van Buren, Keosauqua
- Medium Market: The Music Man Square, Mason City
- Large Market: Hyatt Regency Coralville Hotel & Conference Center, Coralville
- Sustainability Initiative awards efforts that reduce the impact of human activity on the environment while promoting tourism in Iowa.
- Small Market: Friends of Yellow River State Forest, Allamakee County
- Large Market: Reiman Gardens, Ames
- 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.
- Representative Gary Mohr, Scott County
- iTIP Partner of the Year, presented by KH + Madden, is awarded to a business, organization, or individual that has provided extraordinary support to iTIP in the past year:
- Bonnie Alley, Discover Ames
- 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.
- Emily Starnes, Villages of Van Buren
- 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 Eckman, Unleash Council Bluffs
“Tourism in Iowa continues to evolve, grow, and find new ways to connect people to our communities,” said Kevin Bourke, President of the iTIP Board of Directors and President & CEO of Discover Ames. “This year’s award recipients represent the leadership, collaboration, and forward-thinking ideas that will continue shaping the future of Iowa’s visitor industry.”
The recipients and their guests are invited to a reception and award ceremony at 11:00 am on Tuesday, June 9 at the Hotel Millwright in the Amana Colonies. The ceremony is sponsored by Unleash Council Bluffs. Details of the annual meeting and awards program can be found at IowaTravelIndustry.org.
*Note: 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.