March 28, 2024

CVB director travels to D.C. for ‘Destination Capitol Hill’

Linda Bacon, executive director of the Newton Convention & Visitors Bureau attended “Destination Capitol Hill” put on by the U.S. Travel Association.

Bacon was chosen as current President of the Iowa Destination Marketing Alliance and former President of the Travel Federation of Iowa to attend the premier advocacy event in Washington D.C. with the seven-member Iowa Delegation.

The delegation came together to advocate for policies that increase travel to and within the U.S. and allow the industry to fuel economic recovery and lead American job growth. There were nearly 300 travel professionals that convened in our nation’s capitol to share unique, personal and localized stories about the power of travel.

The Iowa Delegation met with the offices Sen. Chuck Grassley, Sen. Joni Ernst, Congressman Dave Loebsack, Congressman Rod Blum, Congressman Steve King and Congressman David Young.

Tourism in Iowa is a nearly $8 billion business annually and supports more than 65,000 jobs. Travel generated state tax receipts of over $353M in Iowa and more than $107M in local governments. These dollars are from visitors in our state not from the personal taxing of our own residents.

Based on The Economic Impact of Travel on Iowa Counties 2013 from the U.S. Travel Association, Jasper County ranks 19th overall of the 99 Iowa counties with $69.88M in travel expenditures, $3.11M in State Tax Receipts, and $.83M in Local Tax Receipts.