Eastin attends state tourism conference

THINK BIG

Hearing Director Durham encourage communities to ‘think big’ reinforces the direction we’re already heading.”

Chi Eastin, Fort Madison Tourism Director

FORT MADISON, Iowa — The Fort Madison Tourism Office joined tourism professionals from across the state at the 2026 Iowa Tourism Conference, held March 12–13 at Prairie Meadows Casino, Racetrack & Hotel.
The annual conference, organized by Travel Iowa, brings together destination marketers, hospitality professionals, and tourism partners to share ideas and strengthen Iowa’s visitor economy.
Approximately 380 attendees participated in this year’s conference, including representatives from Fort Madison, Keokuk, Villages of Van Buren, Nauvoo, and the Fort Madison Cobblestone Inn & Suites.
The conference opened with remarks from Debi Durham, Director of the Iowa Economic Development Authority, who emphasized the growing importance of tourism in Iowa’s economy.
“Tourism is an economic engine — the data tells the story,” Durham said, encouraging communities to continue investing in their destinations and visitor experiences. Durham also challenged attendees to “think big” when it comes to tourism development and marketing.
That message resonated strongly with Chi Eastin, Director for Fort Madison Tourism, which continues to pursue creative initiatives that highlight the community’s history, culture, and Mississippi River setting.
“The Iowa Tourism Conference is a great opportunity to learn what’s working across the state and bring those ideas back to Fort Madison,” Eastin said.
“Hearing Director Durham encourage communities to ‘think big’ reinforces the direction we’re already heading. It was also great to attend with our regional partners from Keokuk, Villages of Van Buren, and Nauvoo. When communities work together to promote southeast Iowa, it strengthens the entire region.”
The conference serves as one of the state’s premier educational and networking events for tourism professionals. Sessions focused on emerging marketing trends, data-driven strategies, artificial intelligence in tourism promotion, and collaborative partnerships within Iowa’s travel industry.
The conference helps attendees learn best practices in tourism marketing while building relationships and discovering new ideas to promote their communities. Participation in the conference allows Fort Madison Tourism to bring back fresh ideas, new partnerships, and proven strategies that help attract visitors to the community and strengthen the local economy