Webster City Area Chamber of Commerce Hosts Travel Iowa’s Stephanie Neppl to Discuss Impact of Tourism in Hamilton County

Webster City Area Chamber of Commerce Hosts Travel Iowa’s Stephanie Neppl to Discuss Impact of Tourism in Hamilton County

The Webster City Area Chamber of Commerce recently welcomed Stephanie Neppl, State Tourism Liaison with Travel Iowa, for a special visit to engage with members and community stakeholders about the economic impact of tourism in Iowa. The event provided valuable insights into the benefits tourism brings to Hamilton County, as well as free resources and tools available through the state tourism office to support local businesses.

The day included meetings with LIFT WC, where Neppl toured the historic Elks building, as well as a visit to Wildcat Distilling Co. Additionally, a presentation was held that was open to both Chamber members and non-members, providing an opportunity for attendees to learn more about how tourism strengthens the local economy.

According to Travel Iowa, a visitor is defined as an individual who travels 50 miles or more into the county. In 2023 alone, travelers spent an impressive $14 million in Hamilton County, directly supporting the county’s restaurants, recreation, retail, and lodging industries. This spending generated $3.3 million in direct tax revenue, helping to lower tax burdens for local residents. Without tourism, each Hamilton County resident would need to pay an additional $857 annually to maintain the current level of public services. Additionally, the tourism industry directly supports 170 jobs within the county.

To further aid local businesses, Neppl shared a variety of free resources available through Travel Iowa, including:

• Free Marketing Opportunities: Travel Iowa offers promotional tools for businesses to expand their reach. Learn more here.

• Free Vertical Stories Tool: The Localhood tool helps businesses create engaging social media stories. Access it here.

• eTraveler Newsletter: Stay updated with the latest tourism insights by subscribing. Sign up here.

• Build a Trip Tool: Visitors can customize their travel itineraries using Travel Iowa’s interactive planning tool. Explore it here.

Anna Woodward, Chamber Director, emphasizes the importance of leveraging available resources:

"Utilizing the free tools and resources from both Travel Iowa and local communication tools like the community calendar are so important to help ensure member events are amplified and picked up by regional media. In order to move the needle, we have to have the partnership and communication to do so."

The Webster City Area Chamber of Commerce continues to work alongside local businesses and organizations to strengthen the community’s tourism appeal. Those interested in learning more about tourism’s role in community development are encouraged to connect with the Chamber for additional resources and support.