MOUNT VERNON-LISBON, IOWA — The Mount Vernon-Lisbon Community Development Group (CDG) is inviting local businesses and attractions to a free, hands-on workshop designed to help them increase their visibility to visitors through TravelIowa.com, Iowa’s official tourism website.
The Travel Iowa Business Listing Workshop will be held Monday, August 17, from 4:30–7:30 p.m. at the Lester Buresh Community Wellness Center Community Room.
The workshop is open to Mount Vernon-Lisbon retailers, restaurants, attractions, lodging providers and other tourism-related businesses interested in creating a new Travel Iowa listing or improving an existing one.
Lora Friest, Tourism Liaison with the Iowa Tourism Office, will begin the evening with an overview of Travel Iowa and how local businesses can use the platform to reach potential visitors. Following the presentation, attendees will have dedicated time to create or update their listings, with Friest and CDG volunteers available to provide one-on-one assistance.
Workshop Schedule
4:30–4:45 p.m. — Light appetizers and networking
4:45–5:15 p.m. — Travel Iowa overview presented by Lora Friest
5:15–7:30 p.m. — Hands-on Travel Iowa listing work session and individual assistance
Businesses planning to participate are encouraged to bring a laptop, business logo, website and social media links, professional high-quality horizontal photos, and a brief summary highlighting what makes their business or attraction unique. Photos featuring people are especially encouraged.
“Visitors are increasingly researching where to eat, shop, stay and explore before they ever arrive in a community,” said Jessie Thurn, Executive Director of the Mount Vernon-Lisbon Community Development Group. “This workshop gives our businesses an opportunity to make sure they are represented on Iowa’s official tourism platform and provides hands-on assistance to make the process as easy as possible.”
There is no cost to create a listing on TravelIowa.com or to attend the workshop.
The workshop is part of CDG’s ongoing efforts to promote Mount Vernon and Lisbon as visitor destinations while providing local businesses with tools and resources to expand their reach.
For more information, visit the Event Page at www.visitmvl.com.
