Iowa Tourism Awards_Covention and Visitors BureauDUBUQUE AREA
CONVENTION &
VISITORS BUREAU
WHERE IT ALL BELONGS.
MEDIA RELEASE
Friday, October 21, 2011
For Immediate Release
Dubuque Increases Tourism Impact to State of Iowa & Receives Awards
Okoboji, IA I Art Market Dubuque received the Niche Marketing Award at the Iowa Tourism
Conference. In its second year of bringing in fine and functional art from highly skilled artists from
around the Midwest, Art Market Dubuque has been able to bring in 500 to 600 visitors at each of its
events, increasing attendance by 100 -125 each weekend. This important event continues to assist with
growing Dubuque's cultural scene.
Joyce Connors, City Councilwoman, also received the Outstanding Elected Official award at the event.
Throughout her years of serving on the Dubuque Convention & Visitors Bureau Board of Directors,
Connors was an avid supporter of many tourism related projects, including America's River Project
Phase I, II and III.
The National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium and Blank Park Zoo also won the People's Choice
Awards in the Collaboration in Tourism category for their partnership to raise awareness of both
organizations through a Facebook competition. The "race" was to see who could attract the most new
Facebook 'likes' at the end of the month. The marketing director from the organization with the least
amount of 'likes' at the end of that month had to volunteer to do a dirty job at the winner's
organization. This year's winner was the Blank Park Zoo.
At the conference, the 2010 ECONOMIC IMPACT OF TRAVEL ON IOWA COUNTIES STUDY was released.
Dubuque County increased the annual tourism expenditures by $21 million. In 2009, the tourism
expenditures in Dubuque County were $254 million. In 2010 it increased to $275 million. (Source Iowa
Tourism Office)
The annual three day conference, sponsored by the Iowa Tourism Office and Travel Federation of Iowa,
brings together more than 300 industry representatives from across the state to network, attend
educational sessions and discuss emerging industry trends. This year's event took place October 19 -21,
2011 at Arrowwood Resort in Okoboji.
Tourism is a $6.6 billion industry in Iowa, employing more than 62,000 people statewide and more than
2,700 people in Dubuque County alone.
For more information, contact:
Keith Rahe, President
Dubuque Convention & Visitors Bureau
563.590.7240 I CeII
563.557.9200 I Office