Left to Right: Travel Iowa State Tourism Manager Amy Zeigler, VFD Community Salesperson Tiffany Conrad, VFD Executive Director

                                                                                                      Kerrie Kuiper, VFD Communications Specialist Geneva Dillon, Iowa Economic Development Authority Director Debi Durham.

The Iowa Tourism Office presented 25 awards recognizing excellence in the tourism industry during the 2023 Iowa Tourism Conference in Altoona this week. Visit Fort Dodge was given the Outstanding Website- Metro award.

“This is the first time Visit Fort Dodge or the Fort Dodge Convention & Visitors Bureau has received an Iowa Tourism Award,” stated Visit Fort Dodge Execute Director Kerrie Kuiper.

Awards, divided into metro and rural distinctions, were made in 13 categories.

“Fort Dodge is in the metro division which means we competed against Iowa communities 10,000+ in population,” explained Kuiper. “Being on the smaller end of our size distinction, the changes we’ve been able to make and receiving recognition for our new website are really exceptional accomplishments.”

Visit Fort Dodge, formerly the Fort Dodge Convention and Visitors Bureau, began the process of replacing its outdated website in 2021. When the new site launched in early 2022, it was met with a flurry of support and engagement.

“We saw our numbers of web visitors, communications through the site, and even social media clicks more than double in the span of a few weeks,” said Kuiper. “It’s been a challenge to provide a quality product, but we are honored to be recognized by the state’s Tourism Office for overcoming that challenge.”

The complete list of 2023 Iowa Tourism Award recipients:

           Outstanding Attraction
           Wilson’s Orchard & Farm, Iowa City (Metro)
           Surf Ballroom & Museum, Clear Lake (Rural)

           Outstanding Community
           Council Bluffs (Metro)
           Winterset (Rural)

           Outstanding Dining Business
           de Kelder Speakeasy, Pella (Metro)
           Harvestville Farm, Donnellson (Rural)

           Outstanding Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Initiative
           Iowa State Fair Sensory-Friendly Morning, Des Moines (Metro)

           Outstanding Event
           Beyond Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience, Council Bluffs (Metro)
           Sidney Iowa Championship Rodeo (Rural)

           Outstanding Individual Leader
           Joshua Schamberger, President at Think Iowa City (Metro)
           Delaney Evers, Tourism and Main Street Director at PACT, Centerville (Rural)

           Outstanding Lodging Property
           King’s Pointe Waterpark Resort, Storm Lake (Metro)
           Field of Dreams Movie Site, Dyersville (Rural)

           Outstanding Marketing Collaboration
           Cedar Falls Tourism & KWWL (Metro)
           Tour O’Brien County (Rural)

           Outstanding Niche Market Initiative
           Catch Des Moines (Metro)

           Outstanding Promotional Material
           Catch Des Moines (Metro)
           Iowa Valley RC&D, Amana (Rural)

           Outstanding Retail Experience
           The District: Czech Village & New Bohemia, Cedar Rapids (Metro)
           Cody Road Shopping District, LeClaire (Rural)

           Outstanding Social Media Execution
           Meet Ottumwa (Metro)
           Wright County Fair (Rural)

           Outstanding Website
           Visit Fort Dodge (Metro)
           Jefferson Matters: A Main Street & Chamber Community (Rural)

           People’s Choice Award
           Travel Dubuque and Voices Productions

The Iowa Tourism Office, part of the Iowa Economic Development Authority, works closely with community partners, attractions and events, to promote the state’s beautifully vast scenery and unique history. Tourism in Iowa generated $1.8 billion in tax revenues in 2021, with more than $1 billion supporting state and local governments, while employing a total of 65,000 people statewide. For more information on everything Iowa has to offer tourists, visit TravelIowa.com.