Jamie Busch-Upah, John Ernest Vineyard & Winery (Tama), Joann Ruopp, Matchstick Marvels and Tourist Center (Gladbrook), Ellen Young, Salt & Pepper Shaker Gallery & Traer Betterment (Traer), Janet Busch, Central Iowa Art Association (Marshalltown), Shannon Espenscheid and Shauna Banks, Marshalltown Convention and Visitor’s Bureau (Marshalltown) recently attended the 2011 Iowa Tourism Conference in Okoboji.

The annual three-day conference brings together more than 200 industry representatives from across the state to network, attend educational sessions and discuss emerging industry trends. The event was sponsored by the Iowa Tourism Office and the Travel Federation of Iowa.

“The conference provided great enthusiastic and motivational speakers as well as insight on what our tourism entities should be doing to draw tourists to our attractions and events and how to stay current with the travel trends,” Jamie Busch-Upah said. “More businesses should attend this conference to gain expert and ideas on how to build their consumer traffic.”

Tourism in Iowa generates more than $6 billion in expenditures, employs 62,000 people statewide and generates $321 million in state taxes. The Iowa Tourism Office is part of the Iowa Economic Development Authority.

For more information about Iowa tourism, visit www.traveliowa.com, call 800.345.IOWA or stop at any Iowa Welcome Center.