Tourism Awards - 2027 Iowa Tourism Conference. Online registration by Cvent

The Iowa Tourism Office is proud to host the annual Iowa Tourism Awards.

The Iowa Tourism Awards recognize communities, attractions, tourism businesses, and the marketing professionals that promote them for excellence in raising the profile of Iowa as a tourism destination. Winners will have demonstrated creativity, innovation, collaboration and strategy grounded in research and results in their projects.

Award winners will be announced on Friday, March 12, during the 2027 Iowa Tourism Conference.

NOMINATION GUIDELINES AND REQUIREMENTS

Nomination forms are linked below
Nominations received in an incorrect category may be moved to a more appropriate category.
All nominations must be submitted online.
An individual or organization may only submit one nomination per year.
Multiple submissions in the same category for a single nominee will be combined into one nomination.
Incomplete submissions will not be judged.
Deadline for nominations is 4 p.m. Friday, January 29, 2027.

ELIGIBILITY

The Iowa Tourism Awards are open to all individuals, private businesses, for-profits and nonprofit organizations offering a tourism product or service in Iowa. All nominated initiatives need to have occurred between January 1, 2026, and December 31, 2026.

Outstanding Niche Marketing Campaign
Recognizes outstanding tourism campaigns by a destination marketing organization or tourism business (attraction, museum, hotel, restaurant, etc.) that effectively targets a specific, well-defined audience (foodies, adventure travelers, etc.). Nominees should provide details about the strategy behind the campaign and relevant metrics on how it impacted visitation or visibility of an Iowa destination or tourism attraction.

NOMINATIONS OPENING IN DECEMBER

Outstanding Marketing Collaboration
Recognizes exceptional collaborations between destination marketing organizations, local businesses and/or other industry partners, resulting in a strategic and impactful marketing campaign or project. Nominees should provide details about the collaboration, why it was unique and why it was a win-win for all participants, as well as how it impacted visitation and visibility of Iowa as a tourism destination.

NOMINATIONS OPENING IN DECEMBER

Outstanding Marketing Campaign (Marketing Budgets $50,000+)
Recognizes an outstanding multi-faceted tourism marketing campaign executed by a destination marketing organization or tourism business (attraction, museum, hotel, restaurant, etc.) with a budget of $50,000+ per year. The campaign should demonstrate creativity, data-driven decision making, and an impact on visitation. Campaigns should use a variety of marketing channels, including but not limited to advertising, website, social media, video and traditional media. Nominees should provide details about the campaign strategy, outline campaign tactics and show relevant metrics on how the campaign impacted visitation and visibility of Iowa as a tourism destination.

NOMINATIONS OPENING IN DECEMBER

Outstanding Marketing Campaign (Marketing Budgets under $50,000)
Recognizes an outstanding multi-faceted tourism marketing campaign executed by a destination marketing organization or tourism business (attraction, museum, hotel, restaurant, etc.) with a budget of less than $50,000 per year. The campaign should demonstrate creativity, data-driven decision making, and an impact on visitation. Campaigns should use a variety of marketing channels, including but not limited to advertising, website, social media, video and traditional media. Nominees should provide details about the campaign strategy, outline campaign tactics and show relevant metrics on how the campaign impacted visitation and visibility of Iowa as a tourism destination.

NOMINATIONS OPENING IN DECEMBER

Innovation in Marketing Award
Recognizes a destination marketing organization or tourism business (attraction, museum, hotel, restaurant, etc.) that has demonstrated innovation and creativity in marketing. Projects or campaigns should have at least one element that showcases the use of a new technology, a new target audience, a way to maximize a limited budget, or otherwise grow tourism to Iowa in an unexpected and creative new way. Nominees should provide details of the project, explain why it was innovative for the nominee, and how the project impacted visitation and visibility of Iowa as a tourism destination.

NOMINATIONS OPENING IN DECEMBER

Champion of Iowa Tourism
Recognizes an individual or organization not traditionally part of the tourism industry (elected officials, media/journalists, economic developers, businesspeople, etc.) that nevertheless made an extraordinary contribution to the Iowa tourism industry in the last year. Nominations should outline how the individual or organization has gone above and beyond to support and create visibility for Iowa tourism.

NOMINATIONS OPENING IN DECEMBER

Iowa Tourism Legacy Award
Presented to individual(s) who worked in the tourism industry for a minimum of 10 years and whose contributions significantly and measurably impacted tourism in Iowa. Nominations should describe the person’s lifetime achievement in tourism and their work to support Iowa’s tourism industry. Legacy Award nominations are reviewed by the Iowa Tourism Advisory Group.

NOMINATIONS OPENING IN DECEMBER

“You Rock” Geode Award

The Iowa Tourism Office will recognize individuals, destination marketing organizations or tourism businesses (attraction, museum, hotel, restaurant, etc.) for going above and beyond and providing an example of excellence to their peers or other industry partners. These organizations or professionals have demonstrated dedication, creativity, and positivity in their actions and have changed their destination for the positive. Their actions may even have the potential to change the industry’s perspective or improve tourism in Iowa in the future. Winners will become the People’s Choice Nominees at the Iowa Tourism Conference.

People’s Choice Winner

Voted on by the attendees of the Iowa Tourism Conference from a slate of nominees who have received a Geode Award. Winner is the individual or organization that receives the most votes from their peers.