Friday, July 4, 2025

Emily Starnes, a prominent US tourism leader known for her dedication to rural destination development, has been appointed to the Board of Directors of Iowa Travel Industry Partners (iTIP), bringing her deep experience in small-town tourism, community-based promotion, and economic development to the state’s top tourism organization. Her role on the board is set to directly support Iowa’s efforts to revitalize rural communities and foster inclusive, statewide tourism growth by amplifying the needs of underrepresented regions like Van Buren County and driving forward collaborative, strategic initiatives across both urban and rural landscapes.

In a strategic move to strengthen Iowa’s rural tourism initiatives and statewide development, , a distinguished figure in American rural tourism advocacy, has officially joined the . Her appointment signals a renewed focus on inclusive growth, community-based tourism, and rural revitalization that aligns with national trends in sustainable regional development. Emily Starnes steps into a leadership role with Iowa’s top tourism body, contributing her extensive background in rural tourism innovation and small-town economic strategy while representing the Villages of Van Buren in southeastern Iowa.

The appointment of Emily Starnes to the marks a pivotal step in Iowa’s effort to expand tourism leadership representation beyond metropolitan and high-traffic zones. As one of on the 18-seat board, she infuses the organization with invaluable rural insights drawn from years of work across .

Starnes has led tourism and community development initiatives in since 2019, overseeing projects that emphasize heritage preservation, cultural tourism, agritourism, and destination branding. Her perspective will be vital in ensuring that the voices of are represented in statewide tourism strategies.

Her role also reflects broader U.S. goals to support regional tourism as a catalyst for economic growth, job creation, and cultural sustainability—principles deeply embedded in the .

Now entering its sixth fiscal year, has emerged as a powerful force in advancing tourism policy, education, and advocacy across the state. With spanning lodging, attractions, events, and visitor services, iTIP represents a unified front dedicated to promoting Iowa as a destination of choice.

In its most recent fiscal year (FY25), iTIP saw record engagement:

As it steps into FY26, the organization is poised to build on this momentum. iTIP aims to deepen its collaborative framework, invest in innovation, and strengthen representation across both urban and rural areas. With Emily Starnes on the board, the rural dimension of Iowa’s tourism will receive renewed strategic attention.

Emily Starnes’ appointment resonates far beyond Iowa, aligning with national efforts to leverage tourism as a tool for . In recent years, travel and tourism have been increasingly recognized as viable engines of rural economic regeneration.

Her leadership in Van Buren County, often cited as a model for community-led tourism success, showcases the transformative power of cultural heritage, local events, and nature-based tourism in places often overlooked by mainstream travel marketing.

From small town festivals to scenic river trails, the —a collective of twelve historical communities—have become emblematic of how destination branding and rural pride can coexist to attract visitors while preserving authenticity. Through strategic marketing, regional cooperation, and infrastructure improvements, Starnes has helped rural Iowa emerge as a compelling alternative to high-traffic destinations.

Her position on the iTIP board further integrates such rural success stories into , potentially serving as a national model for rural tourism advancement across the U.S.

With many travel boards traditionally dominated by urban or metro-area representatives, Starnes’ appointment brings of policy and promotional planning. By advocating for Van Buren County alongside the wider priorities of southern Iowa, she helps shape tourism initiatives that capture the full range of Iowa’s regional character and economic landscape.

This includes pushing for:

Her voice on the board supports equitable development—ensuring the same opportunities for growth, visibility, and innovation are extended to all corners of the state.

With a dynamic board in place, including leaders like Emily Starnes, centers around several key pillars:

As Iowa prepares to navigate evolving travel behaviors, climate impacts, and economic uncertainties, the board’s inclusive and innovation-focused composition becomes more critical than ever.

While Iowa may not often headline US tourism rankings, the state has steadily carved out a niche for . Its blend of charming small towns, expansive outdoor landscapes, and deep cultural roots position it well for the next wave of domestic tourism.

Leaders like Emily Starnes are instrumental in . By fusing rural community knowledge with statewide ambitions, she helps craft narratives that appeal to both leisure travelers and regional development stakeholders.

Her participation also strengthens Iowa’s standing in national travel forums, enabling deeper cooperation with federal tourism bodies, peer states, and tourism associations across the Midwest and beyond.

Tourism in Iowa isn’t just about scenic drives or weekend getaways. It is a that supports thousands of jobs, powers small businesses, and enriches local culture. However, for these benefits to be equitably distributed, tourism leadership must reflect the full spectrum of Iowa’s geography.

Emily Starnes embodies this principle. Her trajectory from rural tourism director to state board member illustrates how . Through her appointment, Van Buren County and similar communities gain a stronger voice in the decisions that shape their future.

Her involvement also serves as inspiration for other rural leaders across the United States to seek greater inclusion in regional and national tourism platforms.

Across the United States, tourism continues to play a vital role in . States like Iowa are increasingly recognized for their role in diversifying the national travel experience away from coastal congestion and toward inland exploration.

Appointments like that of Emily Starnes reinforce the notion that . By focusing on places that were historically under-promoted, the U.S. travel sector unlocks both resilience and growth.

As a national advocate for rural tourism, Starnes’ work dovetails with federal and private-sector initiatives supporting rural broadband expansion, tourism entrepreneurship, and cultural preservation—efforts that together create a more robust and inclusive travel economy.

Emily Starnes’ appointment to the is far more than a professional milestone. It is a strategic reinforcement of Iowa’s—and the United States’—commitment to equitable tourism development, rural revitalization, and regional innovation. Her leadership brings a fresh and necessary perspective to state-level tourism strategy, one rooted in small-town resilience, cultural pride, and economic opportunity.

Rural tourism pioneer Emily Starnes is the latest board member to join Iowa Travel Industry Partners as part of a drive for economic growth and redevelopment in small towns. Her membership supplements the building of tourism at a statewide scale by offering rural communities like Van Buren County a voice in the strategic travel development within Iowa.

As Iowa continues to position itself as a dynamic and diverse destination in the national travel landscape, leaders like Starnes ensure that no community is left behind—and that every corner of the state can benefit from the power of tourism.

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